Hint: it's a new Google tool.  Think: Wikipedia, with a twist.

Possible uses related to careers: researching topics ... exploring industries ... learning from experts on topics related to your interests & goals. 

Find out more by clicking here & here.

I’ve had my normally happy little world rocked by hard luck in the last week, and unfortunately (and totally coincidentally) so have several of my close friends. And while everything has turned out alright, these trials got me thinking about what’s really important in life... and my tendency to lose track of those things in the everyday shuffle.

We’ve all been there. Your gas tank’s running on empty, your MP3 player broke two days after the warranty ran out, you have to get to the grocery store in between work and your evening Pilates class, and let’s not even talk about your roommate’s dishes that have been in the sink for three weeks. But when some outside force threatens that which is truly valuable, those everyday worries melt away, suddenly seeming frivolous and unimportant.

There is a quote from Goethe has been particularly inspirational to me this week: “The things which matter the most must never be at the mercy of the things which matter least.” Allow me to take this opportunity to reveal to you that I am secretly a total sap. Here’s the proof: I want to encourage you—in  your day-to-day lives, in your career decisions, in your life—to  discover that which is truly important to you, and to fiercely protect it. Whether or not that thing is important to society or to others is irrelevant—if it holds value for you, my advice is to defend and nurture it to the best of your ability.

Reminders that we’ve lost track of what’s important are often unexpected and sometimes cruel. Take a moment today to check in with yourself and make sure what really matters to you isn’t getting too cold over there on the back burner. And if you have a second, give a loved one a call in between work and Pilates. They’d love to hear from you.

What's important to you? Comment here...

This week I came across a neat blog ya’ll might be interested in exploring – it’s The Life Science Blog, provided by Seattle P.I. Staff Reporter Joe Tartakoff.   Spending time on an information-based blog like this may help you target your local job search, research employers of interest & learn more about these dynamic industries. Thanks Joe for your blog – we appreciate it!

• WABIO [key sections: ‘directory’ & ‘job search’]
• UWAA [contacts!]
• NW100 [target your local search]
• Seattle Networking Guide [key section: science/technology]
• Research Employment @ the UW!
• People’s Pick “best biotech” [Seattle-based employers; '08 list out soon]
• Sloan Foundation’s Career Cornerstone [career info, podcasts & PDF’s!]
• UW Undergraduate Research Program [get experience!]
• HuskyJobs [listings & employer research]

Curious about what a day in the life of a sports photographer is all about?   Or maybe you're interested in knowing what it's like to run a winery, be a high school english teacher, or even work as an academic counselor in higher education.

Then check out Inspired2Work, a website dedicated to "celebrating the World's work", which offers short video clips and video interviews with people doing all of the job functions mentioned above, as well as many more.

Because hey, the world is a pretty darn big and interesting place, and we Huskies have varied fulfilling, challenging and interesting careers to look forward to. So check it out!  A career as a Foie Gras Farmer might be waiting for you :)

Don't miss out!

Find out more by clicking here.

Latin Career Expo

July 24th, 2008; 1-6pm; Mountaineers Club; 300 3rd Ave W., Seattle

* Presented by Think Latin *

Call for more info: 206.453.3480

Also, check out these excellent links via our Diversity Resources page.

Yahoo Green has a good article with lots of useful links on this important topic.

Also, here's a Green Energy Career Guide, via the Green Energy Jobs website.

Check it out!

Did you get a chance to see the mama duck and her nine babies in Drumheller Fountain? Born June 30th, the darling ducklings captivated onlookers for nearly two weeks. Passing the ducks during my daily commute got me thinking about the “duck test” – a funny way of describing inductive reasoning that goes something like “if it looks like duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.” The duck test, in turn, got me thinking about the role of induction and inference in the job search. Many students assume potential employers will automatically know they are intelligent, have useful skills, and can contribute to the bottom line simply because they have a college degree. The reality is that employers won’t spend time trying to connect the dots because they’re sifting through dozens, if not hundreds, of applications. Therefore, you need to take advantage of opportunities, gain skills critical to workplace success, develop a deep understanding of your strengths, and continually convince employers of your value – from resumes, to interviews, to negotiations. Don’t make employers use the duck test to figure out if you’re a good fit – let the Career Center help you look and sound like the amazing job candidate you are!

On Friday this week, your friends at the UW Career Center are closing-up-shop for the day, as we are embarking on our annual staff retreat, held usually in mid-summer. We are excited to visit the beautiful campus of Bastyr University [up the road in Kirkland, WA] for all the usual retreat type activities. If you are new to the blog and not sure what we do at the Career Center, check out our mission statement and how we are organized into teams.

Hey there Huskies!

From all of us here at the UW Career Center, have a safe and happy holiday weekend!!  In between BBQ's, afternoons at the lake, fireworks shows and, apparently, thundershowers :), I want to encourage you to spend some time thinking about what's meaningful to you, what you enjoy doing, and how you'd like to spend your days when it comes to a major, career or internship......

It might come as a surprise to some, but when it comes to summer attire, what's cute when sunbathing at Greenlake or enjoying lunch on a sunny patio with friends in Fremont might not fly at the office.

According to a recent Monster.com poll of visitors to their site, a whopping 63% of respondents have identified "visible undergarments and tanktops" as the worst summertime office attire faux pas.  Flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts round out the top four biggest summertime fashion crimes.

So if you're sitting behind your desk on this gorgeous sunny day in your halter top, shorts and flip-flops, consider checking out Monster.com's Guide to Summer Office Attire. 

And if you're desperate for that summer feelin', then pop a pair of shorts, that fun summer dress or a pair of flip-flops into a backpack and bring it with you to work. A quick-change after work gets you ready for happy hour on Alki, lounging at Greenlake or the first leg of that long weekend roadtrip with friends....all while saving you a visit from the workplace fashion police.