A very Chic Geek from geeksugar.onsugar.com has posted The 10 Best Online Job Search Sites. I think she's "right-on". Even if you have your own top 10 or top 2, it'll do you good to see what she's has to say. Take a look and consider offering a comment there if you have one; and let us HERE know what your thoughts are too. Everyone's curious and the opinions on Job Search Sites go from one extreme to the other and every point in between.In case you forget to come back after visiting Geek Sugar's website, I'll offer my comment now, which is simply just a note of caution with a sprinkle of advice...
First, “Geek IS chic” and this Chic Geek's post is ABSOLUTELY correct: You CAN “do (you job search) in the comfort of your PJ's and wrapped in the loving arms of your couch”, nonetheless, I SAY, Proceed with Caution and a little moderation won’t hurt either.
The Internet search using Job Search Sites et al (a.k.a. Job Boards) is only ONE avenue in the blueprint (planning) of getting quality interviews and a new opportunity. A key to most successful job searches has often been simultaneously utilizing ALL your job search avenues - "marketing channels", and too, being prepared to do that which you may not want to do, i.e. cold calling and networking which means getting off the computer! In fact, I believe you have to be prepared to network 70% of the time to REALLY be effective in your job search (that can be social networking too with portals like LinkedIn or on the sidelines of you daughter's Lacrosse game).
Beware of the Internet Job Search being too convenient - it can get very comfortable...TOO COMFORTABLE... and the next thing you know you may become complacent in your “busy work”, comfortably at home, working away at your computer, and weeks or even months may float by.
RT
Here's one for you all!Please take a few minutes and "click" to read "7 Top Tips For Keeping Your Job In A Recession"
from The Adventures of a Job Search Ninja, a blog by Todd Bavol Todd's motto: 'LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST" (which must be written in caps). You can also follow Todd on Twitter at twitter.com/jobsearchninja; I do!(Oh yes, and don't forget to come back after you're finished --RT)
Seeking occurs in time, and follows a path out of the present moment into an imagined future.
Discovery is grounded in the present moment, centered here and now.
Seeking focuses on a distant goal.
Discovery focuses on immediate Reality.
Seeking is fueled by restlessness and longing.
Discovery is delighted, fulfilled and satisfied.
Seeking is predicated on lack and grasping,
-- and a sense of something missing.
Discovery is completely open and receptive accepting and embracing Reality, exactly as it is.Rob: Again ... Just because :)
Pass (Why It's an Essential Skill) is a enjoyable article with an interesting take (or maybe I should say "pass") on job searching and job leads by Chandlee Ryan, former college recruiter and Ivy League Career Services Director who also has a great website at http://www.bestfitforward.com/.
Chandlee writes "in today's tight job market, conventional wisdom is that you need to be able to demonstrate what differentiates you from others--and show the "slam dunks" that you've made over the course of your career."
I recommend you "click" here to read Pass (Why It's an Essential Skill) then come back to comment on Chandlee's article or just let us know your reaction by "clicking" the appropriate tab. This is all about helping in the community.RT
Excerpt: “The résumé is the trickiest component in career marketing communication in which to tell stories because the clipped, bulleted format we’ve come to expect of résumés doesn’t lend itself well to storytelling,” said Katharine Hansen, PhD, author of “Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career.” Also, if you havent read Part 1: Cover letters, click here: http://twurl.nl/2zzxuz Posted using ShareThis
Susan Joyce, of course, who had a terrific article on Job-Hunt.Org on March 19th that I Blogged about in one of my recent posts right here. Make sure you read my post on her article below and, if you haven't already, link on to the complete article, "Feel Like A Job Search Failure?" at http://tinyurl.com/dgw243. Susan is an online job search expert and her website, Job-Hunt.Org, is an award winning employment portal with links to over 10 thousand employers and resources! You'll want to follow Susan Joyce on Twitter and her own Job-Hunt.Org/ Heather Huhman. Heather is an author, a columnist and has been a mentor to individuals seeking to launch careers for many years, particularly those starting out for the first time and many of them starting in the public relations field; but that's not all. She has "been there, done that" when it comes to young on-the-rise-professionals and careers and is truly your "Generation-Y career expert". Contact Heather at this address, follow her on Twitter, and add her to your favorites; BUT FIRST ... read her column on "Tell Me About Yourself". She also has some fine links to recommend for Interviews. "Click" here for Heather Huhman's column http://twurl.nl/j7fp6u, and afterwards, visit her website at Heather_Huhman where you can download her e-Books! (But don't forget to come back)
Miriam Salpeter of Keppie Careers is an accomplished writer and editor, formally trained at one of the best institutions for career advising and counseling in the country (although in MY opinion, THE best). As a career coach, job-search consultant and "career insider" with vast knowledge and insights, Miriam has been enlightening and empowering job-searchers for over a decade. I suggest you visit her at BOTH Career Coach Examiner and on her Web site and make a point to tap into the dozen or so recent articles she has on these sites on Career Management, Interviewing, Networking and more (and again...don't forget to comeback). I recommend as a must read, "How to advance your career in a recession"; the message is spot-on! You can also follow Miram Salpeter on http://twitter.com/Keppie_Careers and you'll certainly want to add her as a Favorite too!-RT
Auction Yourself Off At JobaPhile Or Do A TwitterJobSearch
by Erick Schonfeld on March 17, 2009 Eric Shares two ways to electronically search for jobs in his article. It may work for some better than others, nevertheless, I recommend you read his post. Not only is it a good info piece, but is includes a few other links that may be worth while at http://tinyurl.com/cn28n6RT
CNBC Article -- Finding a Job Now: What It Takes In This EconomyOnofrio Patafio was laid off from his project management position at an Internet marketing company in January. Being unemployed has made him realize how times have changed when it comes to finding a new job. "Everything was paper based years ago," says the 42-year-old Patafio, who lives in Norwalk, Conn. "You mailed in your resume or made phone calls. Everything is technology today. You have to have some sort of social blog or network to get anywhere" ........See completet CNBC Article at http://www.cnbc.com/id/29640399
Feel Like a Job Search Failure?
Job-Hunt.Org, March 19th, 2009 by Susan P. Joyce
You’ve been unemployed for an extended period. Too long! You’ve applied for hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. You’ve sent out hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes. Your savings are running out or gone. You feel like a failure, and you’re desperate. Probably difficult for you to believe, but it’s NOT you . . .
Please take some time to review Susan's complete post which provides a number of productive options that will help you deal with feeling like a "Job Search Failure".
Follow this link to Susan P. Joyce's post on Job-Hunt.org: http://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-news/2009/03/19/feel-like-a-job-search-failure/ ... and don't forget to come back and read the comment by Career Marketplace and my comment "Go Underground!"2 Comments for “Feel Like a Job Search Failure?”
Career Marketplace says: This is a great post. So many people are feeling down about being out of a job and the economy is bad and bla bla bla. The news is quite depressing for those who have recently found themselves in the job hunt or those graduating soon. The key to everything that you said above is the word “NEW”. The days of working for “the company” for your entire career are unfortunately over for now. With multi-national corporations, the internet, and advanced electronic equipment the workforce has changed dramatically since the late 1980s. The modern job market in the US has many people having to learn dig up old skills they haven’t used in ages or learn new ones. This is a fantastic opportunity if approached with an open mind. There are many emerging fields that have no experts yet, and many fields in deep need of workers willing to learn a new trade. Most cities have unemployment networking groups that you can join. These are great places to meet people in the same boat as you that may even be able to help you out in being more efficient in your job search.Rob Taub (March 19th, 2009 at 7:02 pm) also says: "Excellent post!"
To Susan's 5 terrific suggestions, I'd like to add a Number 6: "Go Underground!” … and use the current recession to your advantage.If you can scratch beneath the surface of the “public” or “published” job market you may find many more jobs than you originally thought existed AND fewer people competing for them. Go “underground” and attack the “unadvertised” job market as part of your multiple-prong approach that the post ” Feel like a job search failure?” encourages.For example, look for well-capitalized firms with growth or expansion strategies or acquisition strategies unfolding, or in place. This is the time recession, when well-funded companies can find those companies that need a savior to stay in business; and too, pick them up on the cheap. All these organizations will eventually be hiring. You begin to see hiring patterns unfolding, usually within a 3 to 5 months after the acquisition or merger. That’s YOUR opportunity to get in with a proposal – your value-proposition – and before the crowd gets there… before the public is aware. Another avenue for getting “underground” may be through the smaller or mid-size firms that see this market as a buyer’s market; ready to scoop up some real good talent from a very fat labor pool. There’s also the troubled company that could be facing Chapter 11 or 7 looking for someone to rescue them – liberate them. You’ll always recognize such companies because of their massive lay-offs, ironically, the clue to you that there may be real job opportunities there. Would “normal thinking” suggest that massive-layoffs, severe corporate downsizing, are signals that job opportunities exist? Today, you have to think not just creatively, but differently. Where you think job opportunities are non-existent may actually be where they abound. Think differently and get hired differently: Use the recession to your advantage and go underground. Make the recession work for you. RT
Comments: HAVE you done everything? Aside from contacting your colleagues, job postings and career fairs ... what else have you done? Have you researched the market to see exactly where ELSE other than where you were last that you are marketable AND WHY you are? In other words, have you explored your "other" options (not like the local burger shop)? Consider also the various avenues or tools you are using; are you maximizing on that which is available to you? Do you honestly know all that is available to you to help uncover opportunities and decision-makers? You see, many people do all that think they CAN do, but you'd be surprised how much they (you) may NOT be doing. For example, have you thought to review companies that have gone through recent mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures? These are all clues for where there may be a future opportunity or a hiring pattern unfolding. Consider that there's usually a 3 to 5 month window after a merger ... after systems and people have been integrated; duplication has been eliminated and now the organization is preparing to re-emerge. THAT's when you have to make contact, not after the "help wanted" sign goes up and EVERYBODY knows. By getting in early and demonstrating your "brand" - you know, your unique value-mix (skills, characteristics, competencies, experience, core values, education et al) - you are in a unique position to present yourself and a personalized solution to some of their needs going forward.There are many examples of these "spot opportunities" and many avenues for uncovering them: Emergence of new markets; product introductions; leadership vacuums; Board-level changes; IPO's LBO's, relocations and expansions and many more. If you catch wind on a company relocating from a major metro area to say, Central PA, it's likely many of the folks won't sell their homes in this market at a loss and relocate with the company; so there are going to be new opportunities. Rather than waiting for the relo to take place and then have to compete with the new locals, get in there now - again, ahead of the crowd.Most people are doing all they can do with all that they know, but do they know it all ... really? Simply stated, if I had to go to court for something serious, I would probably NOT go to law school first, nor even bone up and a lot of Law - I'd get a lawyer. (I also wouldn't drill my own teeth). I don't mean to be harsh, but most job searchers don't know a heck of a lot about the art and science of job searching. But there are those that do. If you haven't investigated getting help beyond resume critiques maybe you should now. You sound as though you could use that type of counsel. Like a serious legal issue or a problem with you teeth, the result can be profound. Is that not the same with you career search? The result will affect everything in your life, the quality of your life and that of your loved ones...and for that matter others who also care about you. That's Profound ... AND you health! It's already affected your health: Your self-esteem taking such hits and your waning confidence.There is a lot of free advice, here and everywhere else, but there are always some people who need extra help pulling it all together. Could you be one? Invest in yourself for this go’ round. I think it makes sense.
Original String: T.A.P. Q#36 - Feel Like A Failure at Job Search - What Else Should I Do?
