Part of the WTIA’s mission is to grow a strong and sustainable workforce, which means we’re passionate about keeping local talent plugged into our state’s technology industry. In addition to our job board, every Wednesday we’ll be keeping you connected to Washington’s job market with the latest in local hiring news.

 

Textio Raises $8M as Major Tech Companies Use Its Tools to Attract More Diverse Job Applicants

GeekWire | Jacob Demmitt | Dec. 16

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/textio-raises-8m-as-most-major-tech-companies-try-its-tools-to-attract-more-diverse-job-applicants/

“Textio tells GeekWire it plans to use the money to move into a new downtown Seattle headquarters early next year, at least double its headcount in 2016 and launch new tools. The key to Textio’s offering is the use of artificial intelligence to sift through job postings and make recommendations for edits based on what kind of language is going to appeal — or scare away — certain demographics.”

Latest Local Job Postings at Textio

 

The 2016 Job Market Is Looking Bright for Workers

Fortune | Anne Fisher | Dec. 16

http://fortune.com/2015/12/16/job-market-hiring-workers/

“Hoping to snag top IT talent in 2016? Best of luck. You’ll be competing against a record 78% of hiring managers who plan to do the same, according to the latest Dice.com survey. About 70% told Dice’s pollsters they hope to bolster their tech staff by 11% or more in the first six months of the new year. To do that, more than half (53%) say they’re offering juicier perks like free lunches and gym memberships, and almost as many (48%) are stepping up sweeteners like sign-on bonuses and relocation packages. They’re also reaching deeper into the tiny talent pool for less seasoned candidates. More than a quarter (27%) of hiring managers told Dice they’re planning to scoop up entry-level applicants, up nine points from 2015, and 62% said they’ll consider tech staffers with two to five years of experience, an eight-point rise.”

 

Seattle Becomes First City to Allow Uber, Lyft Drivers to Unionize

Puget Sound Business Journal | Ashley Stewart | Dec. 15

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/12/seattle-becomes-first-city-to-allow-uber-lyft.html

“Seattle is the first city in the nation to give Uber and Lyft drivers the right to form a union. That’s after the City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve extending collective bargaining rights to drivers from taxi, for-hire and app-based transportation companies. Under the National Labor Relations Act, independent contractors who lack the right to unionize include paid drivers, but the classification has been the subject of debate as the so-called sharing economy grows and companies with non-traditional business models bring on more people.”

 

Tableau Software Set to Hire Another 1,000 Employees in 2016; Ceo Says Business ‘Flourishing’

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | Dec. 14

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/tableau-software-set-hire-another-1000-employees-2016-ceo-says-business-flourishing/

“In an interview with GeekWire, Chabot revealed that the 2,800-person data visualization software company plans to hire another 1,000 employees in 2016. About 600 of those new positions will be in Seattle, where Tableau already employs 1,200 across four offices. In the second half of 2016, the company will open the new headquarters at the four-story NorthEdge building — it will also keep all of its current offices spread across Fremont, in addition to two other buildings in Kirkland.”

Latest Local Job Postings at Tableau

 

Seattle Startup TinyPulse Raises $6 Million from Investors

Seattle Times | Rachel Lerman | Dec. 10

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-startup-tinypulse-raises-6million-from-investors/

“Niu has ambitious plans for the next year, saying the company will hire at least 50 people and up to 100, doubling the current 100-employee staff. The company had 20 employees one year ago when it raised a $3.5 million seed funding round, led by San Francisco-based Baseline Ventures.”

Latest Local Job Postings at TinyPulse

 

Apptio Executive: Engineering Outposts Will Be a Necessity to Compete for Talent

Puget Sound Business Journal | Ashley Stewart | Dec. 10

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/12/apptio-executive-engineering-outposts-will-be-a.html

“‘Every software engineering organization in the growth category is going to get to a place where they need to get great at multi-site development so they can tap into another great talent pool,’ he [Ted Kummert, Apptio’s vice president of engineering] said. Recruiting talent locally is cheaper and workers typically stick around longer if they don’t have to relocate. Instead of bringing in workers from outside the state, many technology companies set up offices in regions with an established talent pool. The Puget Sound area – which has more software engineers than any other region, according to the Washington Technology Industry Association – has become a destination for engineering centers. More than 60 out-of-state companies have offices in the region, a 1,400 percent increase from 2007.”

 

Holiday Don’ts for Job Seekers and Careerists

Seattle Times | Karen Burns | Dec. 10

http://www.seattletimes.com/nwshowcase/careers/holiday-donts-for-job-seekers-and-careerists/

“The year-end holiday season presents both opportunities and pitfalls to people looking for new jobs, as well as to those seeking to improve their positions at the jobs they already have.  Opportunities include enhanced networking opportunities (all those parties!) and potential access to hiring managers (the gatekeepers are maybe taking some time off).”