We are incredibly excited to welcome Beza Ayele (she/her) to the Career and Culture team as our Ruth Woo Fellow. Originally from Seattle, Beza brings a wealth of passion and experience to our team. She has a profound love for writing, critical thinking, and continuous learning. Beza recently completed her Masters in Cultural Studies, where she focused her research on the intersections of Black women, ADHD, and education, with the aim of expanding the notion of Black excellence. Before joining King County, Beza dedicated her time to nonprofit organizations in Seattle, demonstrating a strong commitment to community well-being and social justice. In her free time, she actively volunteers at the Ethiopian Community in Seattle (ECS), enjoys attending live music events, indulges in the occasional game of Bejeweled, and has a particular fondness for Tillamook cookie dough ice cream.

Beza has joined the Learning and Development team as one of six Ruth Woo Emerging Leader Fellows placed in different Departments across the County. Inspired by Ruth Woo, a dedicated advocate of public service and mentor to elected officials, the Fellowship provides immersive experiences across various County departments. Fellows roles differ based on their home Department, but each will contribute to projects aligned with King County's core values of equity, social justice, and community well-being, engaging in tasks ranging from supporting government initiatives and strategic planning to tracking legislation and internal operations. The goal is to provide these emerging leaders with deep insights and real-world experience in the realm of public service.

Beza's first day was September 18. Please join us in extending a warm and heartfelt welcome to her as she joins our team!

To reach our True North – a welcoming community where every person can thrive – we must achieve racial justice. “We Are Racially Just” is a core value of King County. Through personal testimonies from King County employees, the We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work eLearning course explores what it means to be racially just and helps to familiarize employees with King County’s Pro-Equity and Anti-Racist actions and identify behaviors that can support these actions at work. This training helps to ensure that each of us understands what it means to be racially just and what we can do in our own work to advance racial justice at King County.

If taking this eLearning is still on your NEOGOV To Do list, employees who have regular computer access at work should complete the eLearning by December 31, 2023. Those without regular computer access have until September 30, 2024. This NEOGOV eLearning can be accessed here: We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work. Thank you again to everyone involved in creating a welcoming community at King County where every person can thrive.

Created in partnership with the Office of Equity and Social Justice, Equity and Leadership is designed to support participants’ ability to recognize the role that race and racism have on disparities in our workforce and to understand the responsibility for people leaders to create racially equitable work environments for their teams.

• Thursday, November 2, from noon to 4:00 p.m. Register here.

Equity, Racial, and Social Justice Fundamentals is the first in a series of trainings designed to support King County employees in learning about equity and social justice and in particular racial justice at King County. Using videos, small group conversations, and sharing of information and resources, participants will be able to: explain the concepts of equity and inequity; examine King County disparities related to race and racism; summarize King County’s commitment to equity, racial, and social justice; and identify ways you can advance equity in your everyday interactions. 

• Monday, November 6, from 8:00 to noon. Register here.

In this workshop, participants will gain a foundational understanding of gender identity, terminology, and transgender history, learn best practices to create a gender inclusive workplace, and understand their role as managers and supervisors in supporting transgender and non-binary employees in the workplace. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County and in their teams. Our next session still has openings!

• Thursday, November 16, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Are you looking to prepare for your next job interview? Career Support Services has migrated its virtual Strategic Interviewing Skills training to a one-hour eLearning course on NEOGOV Learn. It is now available to you 24/7 to be taken at your leisure.  

Several major updates have been made to the training content to prepare you for questions you may face from a King County interview panel. Even if you have taken this training before, there are a handful of new strategies, tips, and techniques that will enhance your interviewing skills. Register here.

This 60-minute virtual instructor-led, small group workshop is designed to provide mock interview practice and feedback using the STAR-LA method as taught by King County Career Support Services. This workshop is for participants who have attended the Career Support Services led Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques online workshop or have watched the 10-minute STAR-LA method video found on the Career Support Services website at www.kingcounty.gov/CSS. 

• Thursday, November 16, from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Register here. 

Career Support Services has migrated its virtual Creating Effective Application Materials training to a one-hour video on NEOGOV Learn. It is now available to you 24/7 to be viewed at your convenience.

This training provides tips and strategies on how to make application materials stand out. Learn the purpose of the job application, resume, cover letter, and supplemental questions, and how to make each of them more effective. It covers what to include in your resume and the best format to showcase your qualifications, how to write a tailored cover letter, and how to showcase your accomplishments and transferable skills. Register here.

Brain-based Time Management – Online – Do you procrastinate, get distracted, have a hard time prioritizing, or feel overwhelmed? What we do and how we do it are driven by how our brains are wired. Neuroscience tells us we have 10 brain skills and each one of us has skills that are strong (and skills that are not strong). In this class, you’ll hear about each of these skills so you can identify where the weak areas are for you and most importantly, learn what you can do about it. Imagine finishing your workday with confidence that you remembered and handled everything you needed to!

• Monday, November 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fees apply.

  Register here.

Brain-based Planning – Online – Are you overwhelmed by your To Do list(s)? Find out what your brain needs to: keep all your tasks in perspective, prioritize, and have a clear path to get them finished. This class includes information about multitasking, a mindfulness practice to reduce physical stress, and techniques to work with interruptions and distractions. We will also practice effective weekly planning.

• Friday, November 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fees apply. 

  Register here.

5 Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Work Environment 

This lesson provides five strategies for creating a more inclusive work environment. While there is not a specific roadmap to achieve an inclusive workplace, any step you take to further help employees feel valued and respected can greatly benefit your organization. If you already have an inclusion program in place, or are just getting started, these strategies can help your organization be a place where employees from all backgrounds feel welcomed.

Self-guided | Any Time | Register here