I have a frightening number of friends who are looking for jobs right now; either they have been laid off or they feel they might be about to. Fantastic people, with lots of qualifications in a variety of domains and great personalities, reliable, experienced. Web designers, technical writers, librarians, teachers, purchasers, project analysts, plant ecologists, jacks-of-all-trades, and more.
I wish I could be more helpful in assisting their networking efforts, but in the mean time, I’ like to offer them a new collection of links to places that have good tips on professional networking, job search, career planning, or related topics. First, I want to point to some of my previous posts on my best tools during my recent job search, and on LinkedIn and its applications.
Next, here are some free ebooks, small PDF resources offered by savvy people:
- Insider’s Guides to Networking, Interviewing, Resume Writing, and Job Search, four very substantive ebooks (70+ pages each) on Career Hub
- Using Craigslist to Find a Job, by Susan P. Joyce
- Using the Social Web to Find Work, by Chris Brogan
- Social Media and Social Networks, by Chris Brogan
- Personal Branding for the Business Professional, by Chris Brogan
- Trust Economies, by Chris Brogan and Julian Smith
- The Essential Guide to Social Media, by Brian Solis
- Media Savvy in the Internet Era, by David Henderson
- Career Success Recipe for Newbies, by Long Yun Siang
- Effective Internet Presence, by Ted Demopoulos
- The Best Career Strategies of 2009, by various authors
Some of these may seem almost too simple, but I’ve found that a lot of the things that seem incredibly obvious are too often overlooked (including by me, usually to my chagrin later down the road.)
Next, some links to useful resource sites for job seekers, full of handy information:
- Career Hub, providing free advice
- Connecting Redefined, a resource for social networking
- JibberJobber, a job search management tool and a great blog
- Quintessential Careers, career and job-search advice, lots of useful links
- Emurse, resume builder
- Glassdoor, where you can read salaries, ratings, and reviews posted anonymously by employees of various companies
- O*NET, a database of occupation descriptions and qualifications
- JobVent — read the skinny about a company from current and former employees
- Vault, a job search resource site (requires signing up)
- The Riley Guide: Employment Opportunities and Job Resources on the Internet
- Mind Tools: Online management, leadership, and career training
- Career Management News on the Wall Street Journal site
- Laid Off and Looking, a Wall Street Journal blog
For my next trick, I shall regale you with observations on what worked best in my recent job search and what I would do differently if I had to start over again tomorrow.
- I would register immediately for unemployment benefits. Don’t wait a minute to do this — I was so glad I hadn’t when a family emergency arose less than 4 days after I was laid off, which would have made it difficult to take care of these details. This is where I admonish everyone to swallow any false or ill-placed pride. Some people are “ashamed” to register for unemployment benefits. Screw that! You worked for those benefits, money was taken out of your pay cheques, it’s a benefit. It’s yours. Use it. Plus, the unemployment office — e.g., WorkSource in Washington, CalJOBS in California — offers tons of free job seeker resources that are really awesome.
- I’d consider hiring a consultant. Some — probably most — people need help with their resume. It’s appalling the number of truly crappy resumes really qualified people send out. Some people need a career counsellor to help them figure out where they really want to go, particularly if they have been unhappy in recent jobs. Some people need a job coach to help them through the grind of getting the job search done — I was fortunate that my husband was my job coach but often you want more distance than a friend or loved one can provide.
- I would register immediately with JibberJobber — well, if I wasn’t already registered — and start using it as I organize my job search, so I don’t waste any time scribbling appointment times and to-do lists that I would start forgetting within a day.
- I would go check my profile on LinkedIn and Facebook — or register for one — and make sure that my profile is updated and on-message. I might have to do this a few times as I got my resume together and perhaps got help from a career consultant. What is on-message? Shows all the good information about me and none of the bad, and reflects the kind of job I’m looking for. I would NOT use Facebook in my job search, but if an employer looked at my profile, I wouldn’t want them to read things that would cost me a job. I definitely WOULD want them to read my LinkedIn profile. Your mileage may vary: not everyone’s job search works with LinkedIn but you’d be surprised how helpful it can be.
- I would check out which of the mega-job search/job bank sites I want to use and register: Monster.com, BounceBase, whatever. But only one or two big ones at a time, and route everything through my feeds at JibberJobber so I can check them all from one place.
- I’d create a search for my local craigslist, and also route its RSS feed through JibberJobber. One or more searches on craigslist can provide avenues not covered by the big sites. I would also check other local lists; for example, I used NWJobs in my last search.
- I’d research small, specialized job boards in my professional field, such as the ones provided by trade associations, professional journals, interest groups, etc. For example, as an environmental engineer interested in water quality issues, I looked at professional engineering associations and the Association of Women in Environmental Professions (AWEP)’s and the American Waterworks Association’s lists.
- OK, that’s it for job boards for now: a few big ones, a few local ones, a few professional ones. I would use them to track which jobs are open, how long the employer has been looking, and how wide the search is.
- Under no circumstances would I waste an hour of my time submitting my resume to companies’ automated systems. Partway through my job search last year, I gave my impressions on the four basic approaches to recruitment; they only were confirmed as time passed. Despite getting slews of interviews, not a single one of them came from one of these automated systems. Nothing. I believe they are big virtual round files. A resume should be submitted to a person, whether a contact, human resources, or a recruiter.
- Before and throughout the job search, I would use the online networking thing like crazy. I’ve been getting really great results from using LinkedIn and its applications, along with this blog, and cross-posting to all my sites using Ping.fm. I try to keep it low-key and stick to the basics of online networking: leave substantive comments on other people’s blogs — stay courteous, stay on message — use LinkedIn and other similar sites to display your professionalism — get your own blog if you can commit to it — plan on several months’ lead time before you see results. I do not use the aggressive approach, “friending” everyone in sight and leaving self-promoting messages. I find this style tacky and a big turn-off.
OK, that was ten tips — probably more than anyone wanted to read. 
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awesome list Sophie – thanks for sharing this! And huge thanks for listing JibberJobber as a recommended tool
Jason Alba
CEO – JibberJobber.com
This post is a really nice overview of resources and steps to finding a job… but two things I would change/add… first, you need to network like crazy online AND offline — don’t just use LinkedIn and Facebook and the like — actually go out and TALK to people and MEET new people and build and grow your network. Second, don’t waste your time on Monster and such, but if you have a list of 10 companies you want to work for — then DO invest the time posting your credentials. Even network contacts will tell you there is nothing they can do to help your chances until you are “in the system.”
And, of course, thanks for inking to QuintCareers.com, the most comprehensive career site on the Web. We also have an e-book publishing arm that has a number of useful titles — especially for interviewing. Go to: Quintessential Careers Press.
Very true, Dr. Hansen! I’m glad you clarified the importance of importance of talking to people. I was trying to get at that idea but it got lost in the middle.
As for target companies, they are a useful mental picture to have in order to refine the type of job you are seeking, but many of us may not be able to rely on this approach. For example, I certainly do not ignore larger companies, but I love to work for small to medium “niche” companies; doing the research on the myriad of good small companies out there would have been horribly time-consuming, so I wanted a wide enough net in my search to catch a lot of possibilities.
Sophie:
I love the listing of information and resources. This is perfect for the job seeker.
I teach LinkedIn and other social media tools to Job Seekers in the Atlanta Area (many for free) and this is a great summary to share with them. May I share it?
If I can help, please let me know.
Jim Browning
Browning Business Solutions, LLC
http://www.NetworkingGA.com
Want to join my LinkedIn Network? – http://tinyurl.com/LinkingToJim
Network with Jim on other Networking Groups!- http://www.networkingga.com/networkingwithjim!
Jim’s Training Calendar! – http://www.networkingga.com/jimbrowning’slinkedintrainingcalendar
@ Jim: You may certainly share this — my hope is that I can be of help to other people, having just had to go through the tedious, expensive and anxiety-ridden process of a layoff and job search last year. We have to help one another!
Sophie -
Thank you for this post. It is one of the most comprehensive lists of resources that I have seen in recent years. I am sure it will be helpful to lots of people and I will certainly forward a link to my network—friends, family, and colleagues—who will certainly benefit from your efforts. I know I certainly will.
I agree that some of these appear almost too simple. Unfortunately, I find myself in “transition” again and despite my previous experience, I’ve overlooked some of these resources this go round. I plan to reintroduce some of them immediately.
I would like to add just a few other resources that might be helpful to some. I’ve found sites like TheLadders and executive networking organizations, such as Execunet and Netshare, helpful, as well. Since these are paid resources people will have to consider their economic situation, but utilizing a site like TheLadders to find opportunities and LinkedIn, Execunet and Netshare to network into those opportunities may be worth the effort. As you and Dr. Hansen pointed out there is nothing more important than talking to people, meeting new people, and building and growing your network and using this approach may facilitate a conversation. As we all know it might not be who we know, but who our contacts know that could provide the next opportunity. It is also a wonderful way to get advice and insight and to give advice and insight on an ongoing basis once you foster a connection.
Thank you again.
Thank you for the additional resources. However, given all I’ve read recently regarding The Ladders (read through the comments to the post), I would stay well away from that particularly site and company.
Really excellent post, Sophie – I’ve bookmarked it and will link/blog on it later this week.
Yes, if you’re out of work get to the unemployment department immediately – keep some income rolling in before you get immersed in the search.
If you can’t afford a resume writer, there are plenty of templates that can work. Keep it succinct and pointed at the audience. Customize your resume for the company/job you’re seeking. Double check for spelling and grammar and do have someone you trust read it before you send it out.
LinkedIn is a very valuable resource – definitely important.
If you’re a Gen Y searcher, keep in mind you’ve got to get your achievements front and center. Save demand questions (What about benefits? How much time off? Any bonuses?) for later in the discussion cycle, after you’ve impressed them, and use a softer tone than you might have a year ago – you’re in the group that’s most unemployed right now.
[...] wrote a post a couple of weeks ago to talk about the best online resources I had found for networking, job search, and career planning. Now I’d like my many friends to [...]
[...] wrote a post a couple of weeks ago to talk about the best online resources* I had found for networking, job search, and career planning. Now I’d like my many friends to [...]
[...] My job search and career planning tips and tools Filed under: friends — Sophie Lagacé @ 6:50 am Tags: friends, job search, networking, social I have a lot of friends who are looking for a job right now. It’s a crappy economy and a crappy job market. I wish I could be more helpful, but aside from the times when I can help put job seekers in contact with more helpful people, my help is limited. So at least I thought I’d compile the things were helpful to me in my own job search last year, and the things I’ve learned then and since about job search and career planning (two different bu related themes.) You can read them on my professional blog. [...]
Hello! This is a wonderful post and thanks to much for sharing. I also appreciate the recommendation of the Connecting Redefined blog! It’s a high compliment for it to be on this list.
I am sure the economy will turn around. It’s time to get a little unconventional in job hunting. Social networking is the way to go. You can literally be in a million places at once.
Good luck to you job seekers out there! Keep moving forward.
Loved the list – I put it on my blog to make sure it gets exposure.