The Washington Post Jobs Career Blog

The open office environment was praised as a godsend for companies and employees alike. Breaking down the office walls was supposed to establish a vibrant work environment that would not only increase productivity and minimize costs, but also improve morale. But for many of us, the open office is...

It doesn't matter whether you love the spotlight or break into a cold sweat at the mere mention of public speaking—we can all improve our presentation skills. Holding an audience's attention to convey a message is an acquired talent—especially when (as is often the case in business) your subject ...

At some point, we've all been bored at work. Maybe the busy season is over or you're the unlucky soul alone in the office between Christmas and New Year's. No matter the reason, at some point you're going to find yourself with some extra time to fill. Here are a few ideas to keep you out of troub...

Whether your boss gravitates toward big meetings and group projects or prefers to work individually with their employees, he will have to conduct one-on-one meetings. Some take the buddy-buddy approach, some use a coaching or mentoring style, and others take advantage of the opportunity to microm...

“Can I excel at my job, enjoy a social life, and get enough sleep?” We’ve all asked ourselves some version of this question, and our answers typically fall somewhere between a self-defeating no and derisive laughter at our own foolishness. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It is possible to exc...

Mornings are the worst. The hazy headspace, the heavy eyelids, the leaden steps… Everything about everything makes you want to slump over. And. Just. Not. We get it, and we’ve got a few ideas to help. Here’s what to do if you’re not a morning person.

Most people spend a large portion of their lives earning a living. It’s inevitable that you’ll have bad days at work, but have you found the occasional “My job is the worst” venting session has become the norm? Sometimes it requires a major life overhaul, including a career switch, to set things...

We all have a list of companies we aspire to work at during the pinnacle of our careers. To get one step closer to making that dream a reality, consider these tips to get your foot in the door of your dream company — whether or not it has an open position you’re interested in right now.

Much has been written about the quest for power. Some studies indicate that human beings universally long not for freedom, per se, but power. Whole civilizations have risen through the use of power. Whole civilizations have fallen through the use of power. But what does it mean to have power ...

Job searches can be incredibly stressful. Whether we’re burning through savings or pining for something different, our haste to end the search successfully can lead us to make some novice errors, like sending applications where we definitely don’t fit or coming across as mechanical in our interac...

Imagine you’re back in first grade. Your teacher asks you to draw what you want to be when you grow up. Now you’re in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, and you wonder why you still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. Is something wrong with you?

The workday can feel so long…and your email inbox or Slack channel can seem like such a private haven—a secret clubhouse where you can share jokes and kvetch with your work spouse. But don't let a false sense of security lull you into making a career-derailing mistake. There are certain things yo...

Let's not sugarcoat it: Rejection stinks. Nothing is fun about being turned down for a job opportunity. And while circumstances are often beyond your control (they went with an internal candidate, or the position wasn't filled), if you’re consistently coming in second or third during the hiring p...

Everyone knows that how you quit your job is important. But not everyone realizes that knowing when to do so is just as—if not more—important. So you’ve decided to move on? Read on for a general guide of quitting times that will reveal to future employers more about you than you might expect.

You want to get a job in a different city or state, and you’re not quite sure how to go about navigating the interview process. While in many ways the out-of-town job hunt mirrors the local search, there are definitely curves in the road that need to be navigated differently. But don’t worry; we’...

How’s the hiring outlook for college graduates this year? There’s still no cause for worry. The Class of 2018 is leaving campus at a particularly fortunate time. Even if you started late, it doesn’t mean you can’t start smart. Begin devoting time now—on a daily basis—to your search. Here are some...

We all need a break now and then, especially at work. Workers who don’t take regular breaks are shown to have a higher burnout rate, lower productivity, and a decreased resistance to distractions. So, whether you’re shrouded in brain fog or tearing through that to-do list, you should regularly ta...

Imagine your potential employer is standing next to you in an elevator, and you have less than a minute to convince him he should hire you. Would you be prepared to sell yourself in 60 seconds or less? If your answer is “no” you may not even get a chance to get in on the ground floor. In today’s ...

Identifying the right candidate can be a frustrating and overwhelming process. You need to pinpoint an applicant who possesses the right technical skills, experience and knowledge. You’ll also want to find someone with the right soft skills—the personal attributes and innate skills that can’t be ...

Should you apply for two jobs at one company? It’s one of those questions. You know the type—you ask ten different people, you get ten different answers. Half will say yes, half will say no, and all ten will feature subtle, yet irreconcilable, differences. It’s just not a question with a one-size...