Workforce Development

Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program

King County is proud to offer annually a limited number of fellowship opportunities for those committed to exploring a career in public service. The Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellowship is named after the revered community leader Ruth Woo. Not only a mentor to many elected officials, Woo also dedicated her life to public service. Selected fellows demonstrate their commitment to building on Ruth Woo’s legacy and achievements of empowering and advocating for youth from economically disadvantaged communities that have historically lacked opportunities to further both educational and career aspirations.

Learn more about Ruth Woo at Northwest Asian Weekly

Learning objectives of the Fellowship Opportunity

• Build knowledge and understanding of specific branches of county government and their operations;
• Learn how projects, policies, and legislation are created and implemented;
• Understand the impact and importance of civic engagement;
• Develop an appreciation for the importance of public service in its many forms from elected officials and staff to partners and clients; and
• Deepen and enhance skills for building a career in the public sector.

The next recruitment for Ruth Woo Emerging Leader Fellows will occur in Spring 2025.

Email KCWorkforceDevelopment@kingcounty.gov for more information.

General career resources

Find documents, useful links and online tools to help you develop your career in public service.

Resume, cover letters, and applications

Interviewing

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

When you begin a journey to grow and develop your career, creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a tool you can use to help strategize and chart a path to your desired destination.

When undertaking your career development journey, don’t go it alone - ask for input and support from those who know you. Consider talking with your supervisor, manager, mentor, or some other person whose input you value, to ask for ideas, feedback, and support. Their input and support could help you to create a more robust IDP and positively affect your ability to achieve your career goals. Below are resources to help you take charge of your career growth.

Locate additional training resources

These websites can help you find training.

Career One-Stop Training Locator

Search locally for training by occupation, school, or program. You can also search for certifications; apprenticeships; and free adult basic education programs to improve your reading, math and writing skills. Site also supplies information around paying for training, financial aid, fields that are in demand and more.

Visit the Career One-Stop Training Locator website

My Next Move

Allows you to search for careers with key words, browse careers by industry and can even ask you questions to help point you in the right direction. As you explore different career occupations, there are links at the bottom of each occupation description to help you find related training, certifications, licenses, and apprenticeships.

Go to the My Next Move website

Washington State Career Bridge

The site lets you explore careers, view job trends, find education and resources to pay for school.

Find more information on the Washington State Career Bridge website

Apprenticeships

Search open apprenticeship job opportunities from employers across the country and directly apply with the employer of the apprenticeship program.

Learn more about apprenticeships

Career exploration and job search

• Use Transferable Skills to Pivot Your Career
• Networking & Information Interviewing
• King County job titles and summary descriptions – Comprehensive description of the general duties, responsibilities and required knowledge and skills for all of King County’s job classifications.
• King County Current pay rates – Link to the current pay rates for each King County job classification.
• O'NET online and My Next Move are interactive applications for exploring and searching hundreds of occupations.
• Self-Assessment Tools – Understanding your transferable skills, what interests you and what you value in a work environment helps you to find a career that is engaging and rewarding to you. Here are links to some free assessment tools.
  • Transferable Skills Assessment Tool
  • Interest Assessment Tool
  • Work Values Assessment Tool
  • Career Assessment Tool
• WorkSource Seattle-King County Offers a variety of job seeker services and resources. Career Coach, created by the Workforce Development Council and WorkSource, provides the most current local data on wages, employment, job postings, and associated education and training.
• Career One Stop – Website providing comprehensive career exploration, training and job search resources, toolkits and links to local service providers.
• Live Career – Another website providing comprehensive job-search resources, services, and up-to-date advice from job search and career experts. Site includes many resume and cover letter examples and templates.
• LinkedIn hosts more than 600 million professional profiles and provides a nearly unlimited ability to network, research companies, keep track of your contacts, receive alerts to new job opportunities, establish credibility in your field, and maintain your personal brand. Almost 90% of recruiters use the platform to locate and learn more about job candidates.