Favorite Internet Resources for Jobseekers

Career CollectiveJob Search

**I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of resume writers and career coaches.  Each month, all members discuss a certain topic.  This month, we are talking about favorite resources for job seekers. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective.  You can also view the other member’s interesting posts at the end of the article.
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When you are looking for your next job, employment agencies, want ads, and networking can all be used to find leads, but you will certainly want to turn to the Internet as well in conducting your research.
What follows are some of the most popular websites for anyone seeking employment.Some I like, some I’m not crazy about, but they all have their pros and cons. Check them out and let me know what you think!

● Execunet is probably my favorite website for $150K+ executive jobseekers. It has a fantastic reputation for having the jobs they say that they will have (unlike some OTHER websites promoting the same thing) and my clients seem to have great luck with it. There is a small monthly fee, but it is nothing in comparison to the job you will get when using it.
● Netshare is another favorite for $100K+ jobs for execs. They have a database of thousands of executive jobs across all disciplines and locations.
● LinkUp With this company, the job openings are indexed from company websites, not from ‘pay-to-post’ job boards.  Thousands of jobs and websites.
● Career Builder is the country’s largest online source for jobs, posting a selection of more than 1.6 million openings. Every month 49.23 million visitors go there, knowing they can find listings for every industry and every type of job. Just remember that number though… 49 million visitors a month. You better have a darn good resume.
● Indeed is a search engine that allows those seeking employment to search jobs posted on a vast array of job boards and company career sites.
● SimplyHired, which is located in Silicon Valley, is in the process of “building the largest online database of jobs on the planet.” They also intend to make job hunting uncomplicated, enjoyable, and effective.
● Exsearches is perfect for individuals seeking government, nonprofit, health, and education sectors of the job market.
● CollegeRecruiter posts a huge number of entry-level online help-wanted listings. Its School Finder program matches individuals who want to continue their education with both traditional and online schools. You will also find a wide selection of blogs, articles, and ‘ask the experts” information here.
● SnagAJob links the United States’ hourly workforce with the jobs they need and want. After registering more than 10 million candidates, they are America’s largest job site for full-time and part-time hourly positions.
Note that you can visit job search engines frequently because they are constantly updated, and they will even tell you how many listings have been added since you last did a search, which will enable you to focus on the ones that are new.
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Other articles of interest from the #Career Collective group:

If your industry does not participate online, you can lead the way, @Keppie_Careers
6 Ideas to Put In Your Toolbox, @WorkWithIllness,
Your Best Job Search Resource? You!, @WalterAkana
In a Job Search, Knowledge is Power, @barbarasafani
Jump Start Your Job Search Now!, @resumeservice
Favourite Resources for Jobseekers, @GayleHoward
The Best Job Search Tool Ever, @careersherpa
Find What You Do Best, Know Your Stuff, and Connect, @chandlee
27 Recommended Blogs for Entry-Level Job Seekers, @heatherhuhman
Invaluable Resources for Job Search Success, @heathermundell
Favorite Social-Media Resources for Job-seekers, @KatCareerGal
Canadian Resources for Job Seekers, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland
A Self-Empowering Job Search Resource, @KCCareerCoach
Covering your bases: 5 ultra-useful online career resources, @LaurieBerenson
Favorite resources for Job seekers, @DawnBugni
Top 3 Resources for Job Seekers to Position Themselves as Experts and Increase their Visibility, @expatcoachmegan
Time as a Career Resource: How “Not” to Squander It, @ValueIntoWords
The Facts Behind Why LinkUp Is the Most Revolutionary Job Search Engine Available to Job Seekers, @GLHoffman

Introvert or Extrovert? Tips for Job Search No Matter Which 'Vert' You Are

Career CollectiveJob Search


**I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of resume writers and career coaches.  Each month, all members discuss a certain topic.  This month, we are talking about networking and job search whether  you are introverted or extroverted. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective.  You can also view the other member’s interesting posts at the end of the article.


The old adage ‘the grass is always greener on the other side,’ fits many situations. Today, it is especially relevant to job seekers. In the world of the job hunt, two personality types often emerge, each with strengths and weaknesses. Extroverts and introverts alike often find themselves wishing they were exactly opposite of themselves. The truth is that understanding how to craft a resume and how to interview, utilizing the strengths or weaknesses of either an introvert or an extrovert, can mean success in the form of a new job. I think I border both, because in ‘new’ situations I tend to either get quiet or talk more than I would like to. Both can be bad, or good, depending on how you look at it. Which are you?
By determining which you are, introverted or extroverted, and by understanding the strengths and weakness of your personality type, you can begin a successful job search with your resume. If you are most comfortable alone, or in smaller settings and find it difficult to express yourself verbally, you are most likely an introvert.
Those that are social enjoy crowds and talking is typically considered extroverted behavior. You might mistakenly assume that extroverts always interview well while introverts present above par resumes. The truth is actually somewhere in the middle.

The Resume

Both personality types are urged to remember the purpose of a resume. It should be a clear, precise representation of a candidates experience and related skill sets. While introverts, very good at introspection, may have an easier time paring down their resume, they often make the mistake of providing too little information. Extroverts tend to be more inclusive in their resume attempts, but often provide too much information. When writing or updating a resume, both personality types should focus on the format of the resume, including relevant details and facts about themselves and removing any unneeded information.

The Interview

Extroverts, who love to talk, often quickly settle into an interview. Introverts, often find themselves ill at ease and uncomfortable. Unlike the extrovert, the introvert is unlikely to engage the interviewer himself or herself. While it sounds like the extrovert wins the interview round, both personality types need to make adjustment to their interview style in order to be successful. Extroverts need to remember to keep their answers short and to the point, while introverts must allow themselves to be drawn out during the interview process.

In general, the both introverts and extroverts should follow the same guidelines when preparing a resume or interviewing. Resumes should be in the correct format and provide information relevant to the job position. When it comes time to interview, candidates of both types should have had a good nights sleep and should be prepared. It is a good idea to bring a list of questions for the interviewer. Practicing short, informative answers to typically asked questions can be helpful as well.
Always remember that both personality types have strengths and weaknesses and learning to play on these is the best way to be successful in your job hunt. Introverts should take advantage of their inquisitive and analytical nature while extroverts should use their ability to fit into any social situation. By carefully balancing these strengths against their weaknesses, either personality type can be successful. Good luck!
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Don’t forget to check out other similar articles from members of the Career Collective:



    "Heating up" the job search–how to stay motivated during the summer

    Career CollectiveJob Search

    **I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of resume writers and career coaches. Each month, all members discuss a certain topic. This month, we are talking about looking for a job during the summer months. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective . You can also view the other member’s interesting posts at the end of the article.

    Getting through a layoff or firing during the summer months can seem especially cruel. Your employed friends and family are either taking vacation time off in the summer, or even if they just have a paid long weekend, they’re financially able to make the most of it. You might be sitting at home, scrimping on groceries and air conditioning, while the rest of the world seems to be taking paid holidays at exotic locations, or just able to keep up with their bills and maybe buy a kiddie pool.
    It doesn’t have to be a low point. The summer can mean many good things for a job hunter, including the fact that other job seekers might be distracted right now and the competition is a little less fierce. Take this time to do some work for yourself, including: Making a list of what you’d actually like to get done this summer, and how you’ll make that happen. It might mean picking up a part-time job doing something completely different, just for a little extra cash and to get you out of the house. It should also include strong strategies for how you’ll get a real job, including goals for interviews during the summer, updating your wardrobe, and daily goals for just getting your resume out there.

    Make a daily schedule and be rigid about living it. Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean you get to take a break from looking for work. Maintain a regular bedtime, get up at an early hour, take your shower, and get dressed, just as if you were headed to work. Then go to your desk and get on the computer, not to play games, but to pour over the want ads and job boards. Join as many online networking sites as you can, and spread the word that you’re in need of employment. Spend as much time looking for a job as you would at a regular job, each day, every day.
    Regarding resumes, how fresh is yours? Have you tried different versions of the same resume, shifting objectives and experience, trying out different looks? Maybe you should, and send a few variations of them to friends or family you respect to look over and make suggestions. Perhaps your resume is not sending out the message you want, and you don’t even know it because you’re too close to the situation. Is your resume selling you well, or sabotaging you?
    As for your look, take this time to make sure your clothing is in good working order, no holes, missing buttons, stains or tears. If it can be repaired, fix it yourself on the cheap, or get someone who knows what they’re doing to help you. If it needs to be cleaned, have a professional take care of it. If you’re missing some key pieces in your wardrobe, pick some up at a discount store or new at a place like Kohl’s.
    Most importantly, try to keep your mood light and enjoy your summer. Spend time with friends outdoors… Vitamin D is supposed to keep you healthy, so get outside and get some fresh air. Go to barbecues, parties, or visit a friend for coffee. It will do your heart and mind a world of good.
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    Don’t forget to check out other similar articles from members of the Career Collective:

    Turn Off The Computer, Tune Into What’s Happening, & Heat Up the Job Search, @chandlee
    Heating up the Job Search-How to Stay Motivated During the Summer, @erinkennedycprw
    Light the Fire Under Your Feet, @careersherpa
    Cool Job Seekers Heat Up Their Search in the Summer, @barbarasafani
    Some assembly required, @DawnBugni
    Summertime, Sluggish Economy Provide Strong Motivation for an Updated Resume, @KatCareerGal
    9 Ways to Heat Up Your Job Search This Summer, @heatherhuhman
    Getting Out From Under Chronic, @WorkWithIllness
    Upping Your Job Search Flame; Be ‘Needed, Not Needy,‘ @ValueIntoWords
    Is Your Career Trapped in the Matrix? @WalterAkana
    Put some sizzle in your job hunt – how to find a job now, @keppie_careers
    Summertime – and the Job Search Ain’t Easy, @KCCareerCoach
    Heating up your job search. 5 ways to dismiss those winter blues, @GayleHoward
    Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes
    Heat Up Your Job Search: Avoid Job Boards, @JobHuntOrg

    Stop 'Fooling' Yourself about your Job Hunt: Things you may be doing to sabotage yourself

    Career CollectiveJob Search

    **I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of  resume writers and career coaches. Each month, all members discuss a certain topic.  This month, in honor of April Fool’s Day, we are talking about how we fool ourselves about the job search and/or being tricked by common job search blunders. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective



    Unless you are independently wealthy, you’ll be on the job hunt at some point in your life. If you’re lucky, you won’t find yourself looking for a job very often. That also means that when you are seeking a job, you might be out of practice. It’s also possible that you may be inadvertently doing things to sabotage yourself while job hunting. Take a look at some of the common lies people tell themselves about their job search, and how you can avoid them.
    I can wait a few weeks to look for a job. I have money saved up.
    This is a very dangerous job hunting mistake, mostly because it’s a slippery slope. It starts off as a few days of rest, and then a week. One week of sitting at home turns into two, and before you know it, you find that you’ve lost the motivation to look for a good job. Maybe you’ve gotten accustomed to sleeping in, or perhaps you’ve moved in with a relative who is allowing you to mooch without demanding payment. Whatever the reason, this can quickly lead to depression, and worse, the longer the amount of time that lapses from one job to another, the more potential employers want to know why you weren’t working. Do yourself a favor, and start looking immediately.
    My Resume is just fine – I don’t need to re-do it.
    If you’ve sent in your resume to multiple places, and you haven’t gotten a response, it’s probably time to tweak it. Add new experiences, play with the format, or have a professional resume written for you. Ideally, you really should be tweaking your resume every single time you send it out. It should always reflect the job you’re applying for, and it should also use the keywords that were in the job posting.

    I don’t need to look for a job every day.
    Yes you do. You should be treating your job hunt as a 9-5 job. There are several reasons for this. First, by waking up early every day, networking, visiting businesses, dropping off and printing resumes, and scanning the job listings, you’re setting up a good schedule and work ethic so that you never get out of the habit of working hard. It’s also important, because if a month later you still haven’t found something, you know it won’t be because you aren’t trying. That can help stave off joblessness depression.
    I can do all my job hunting online.
    While the internet is a huge resource for finding a job, it’s certainly not the only one. If fact, the best way to find a job is to get a face to face meeting with someone. Dress in your best every day, and while you’re not scanning online job listings, you should be on the road. Visit every company you think you’d like to work in, and have a chat with whoever is at the front desk. Explain that you’re a skilled person at doing whatever it is you do, and ask politely to see the HR manager, or hiring director. If you’re not allowed to meet with them, leave your resume, along with a handwritten note saying that you dropped by, and you’d love to have a chat with them about filling any needs the company has.
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    The April, 2010, Career Collective Links
    10 Ways to Tell if Your Job Search is a Joke, @careerealism
    April Fool’s Day – Who’s Fooling Who?, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes
    If It’s Not You and It’s Not True, You’re Fooling Yourself, @GayleHoward
    Don’t Kid Yourself! (The Person You See in the Mirror is a Good Hire), @chandlee

    Avoiding the Most Common Blunder, @jobhuntorg
    Are you fooling yourself? Bored at work? Is it your own fault?, @keppie_careers
    Hey, Job Seeker — Don’t Be a Fool!, @resumeservice
    Job Search Is No Joking Matter,  @careersherpa
    Is Your #Career in Recovery or Retreat? (All Joking Aside), @KCCareerCoach
    9 Ways You Might Be Fooling Yourself About Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman
    Don’t get tricked by these 3 job search blunders, @LaurieBerenson
    Trying to hard to be nobody’s fool?,  @WorkWithIllness
    It’s not all about you, @DawnBugni
    Mirror ‘their’ needs, not ‘your’ wants in #jobsearch, @ValueIntoWords
    Stop Fooling Yourself about your Job Hunt: Things you may be doing to sabotage yourself – @erinkennedycprw
    Same as it ever was – @walterakana
    Don’t be fooled. Avoid these – @kat_hansen
    Job Seekers: You Are Fooling Yourself If...@barbarasafani

    Dancing in the rain—kicking the job search blues

    Career CollectiveJob Search

    I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of  resume writers and career coaches. Each month, all members discuss a certain topic. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective
    This month we are discussing helping job seekers stay positive during the job search process.  I encourage you to visit the links below to read other members’ posts as well!     +++++

    They say life’s not about making it through the storm, it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Well if you’ve ever been “between jobs,” or “unemployed” for the more realistic of us, this saying has probably inspired and/or discouraged you at some point. We’ve all heard the statistics—unemployment rates are flitting on the edge of 15%. That means that more than likely, either you or people you are close to are unemployed. Heck, you probably know several unemployed people at the moment.
    For those of you who directly relate to this predicament, you’re all to familiar with the uninspired words of supposed comfort from your loved ones—“let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” Meanwhile your inner voice is screaming “give your boss my resume!” or “let me mow your lawn!” depending on your current length of unemployment. But here’s the rub: you can sit there letting your inner voice make all the assertions, or you can take some proactive steps towards bringing some positive energy back into your life.

    The first step to keeping afloat during your job search woes is to stay on top of your game. This means to remain in touch with your industry (or preferred industry, if you’re looking into switching careers). This will not only distract you from your lack of work, but will actually boost your self-confidence, expand your knowledge base, and possibly lead to job opportunities. If this technique doesn’t automatically lead to a traditional job opportunity, you can also take initiative and create an industry related project of your own. For example, if you’re in the marketing industry, take an example of a crisis situation a company in the field is facing at the moment and write up a proposal on how to solve this problem. If nothing else, it is a piece to add to your portfolio and might lead you to become more aware of technologies and resources out there that you haven’t looked into yet. You can also use this time to become an expert at a technology or system you didn’t know of before. Look at it this way—if your resume isn’t getting you a job as is, then add to it. There is no better way to distinguish yourself than to become an expert at something your competition is not proficient in.
    Secondly, use this time to establish a good life habit that you can continue when you do land that dream (or just-for-now) job. Take up old hobbies or healthy habits such as exercising. Not only will the endorphins kick your blues, but a set schedule will allow you to set reachable goals which will help your self-esteem in a situation which would otherwise bring you down. But make sure your goals are logical for both the time-being and the future (read—when you have a 9 to 5), as you don’t want to set up any system which defines that you won’t have a job for a while. Always live as if you could have a job tomorrow, and this positive frame of mind will lead you to the manifestation of these thoughts, if by no other means than confidence alone.
    Lastly, enjoy! Yes, it is horrible to be a part of the 15% statistic. And yes, you’re probably tired of hearing that you should enjoy these days, but people say it for a reason. When you’re sitting in that office looking forward to your next paycheck, don’t let yourself ruminate on the things you wish you would’ve done when you had more time. Visit family and old friends, even if you spend time job searching while visiting, any time spent is better than none. Go for a walk in the middle of the day and enjoy the sunshine those 9-to-5ers are envying right now. And if the sunshine turns to rain every once in a while, dance. You won’t regret it.
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    Please visit the links below to read what other Career Collective members have to say about struggling with job search.
    @MartinBuckland, Job Search Made Positive
    @GayleHoward, Job Search: When It All Turns Sour
    @chandlee, Strategy for Getting “Unstuck” and Feeling Better: Watch Lemonade
    @heathermundell, Help for the Job Search Blues
    @heatherhuhman, 10 Ways to Turn Your Job Search Frown Upside-Down
    @KCCareerCoach, You Can Beat the Job Search Blues: 5 + 3 Tips to Get Re-energized
    @WalterAkana, Light at the End of the Tunnel
    @resumeservice, Don’t Sweat The Job Search
    @careersherpa, Mind Over Matter: Moving Your Stalled Search Forward
    @WorkWithIllness, Finding Opportunity in Quicksand
    @KatCareerGal, Job-Hunting in a Weak Job Market: 5 Strategies for Staying Upbeat (and Improving Your Chances of Success)
    @ErinKennedyCPRW, Dancing in the Rain–Kicking the Job Search Blues
    @keppie_careers, What to do when you are discouraged with your job search
    @DawnBugni, It’s the little things
    @ValueIntoWords, Restoring Your Joy in Job Search
    @LaurieBerenson, 3 Ways to Keep Your Glass Half Full
    @JobHuntOrg, Just SO VERY Discouraged, https://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-news/2010/02/25/just-so-very-discouraged/
    @expatcoachmegan, Dealing with Job Search Stress: Getting to the Source of the Problem
    @BarbaraSafani, Making Job Search Fun (Yeah, That’s Right), https://www.careersolvers.com/blog/2010/02/24/making-job-search-fun-yeah-thats-right/
    @GLHoffman, How to Overcome the Negativity of a Job Search, https://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2010/02/25/how-to-overcome-the-negativity-of-a-job-search/

    Advice to Job Seekers in 2010-learn Yoga?

    Career Collective

    I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of  resume writers and career coaches. Each month, all members discuss a topic. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective
    This month we are discussing helping job seekers navigate the new year.  I encourage you to visit the links below to read other members’ posts as well!     +++++

    There’s been a lot of talk the past few years about jobs, the economy, and how bad things have been if you’re unfortunate enough to live on planet earth right now. For those with jobs, wages are depressed and security is low. For those without jobs, new ones are hard to find. It’s as though they’ve all been filtered out and what’s left is plain and boring, like a gold prospector whose sieve leaves the sand and sifts out the gold.
    But there are always ways to be better at what you’re doing, even if what you’re doing means being unemployed. Here are a few solid suggestions for those in between incomes, and out of luck:
    I once was told that “It’s better to have a dependable income than be fascinating.” I disagree.
    The truth is, being fascinating is as dependable as income. Often people hire those they admire and engage well with, or just those they like to talk to. A friend of mine, for example, was in a tough spot: he quit the advertising business at the top level—chief executive—and now wanted to get back in, but he was overqualified for every job he applied for. What did he decide to do? Practice yoga. He began going to a Bikram Yoga center four times a week. In the locker room before the session, he would talk to the other people there, and eventually befriended many of them. One he liked so much, he invited him to lunch. This person, it turns out, was the head of a multi-million dollar company.

    As they talked my friend found that this person really needed a lot of advice on how to run the company better; so my friend gave it to him, and pretty soon this person hired my friend in a senior position as Lead Strategic Officer of the company!
    All this because my friend was (as all good friends should be) friendly, outgoing, and open to trying a new discipline—in this case, Yoga. Often, when people have worked in the same field for many years, their social networks become ossified. They know the same kinds of people in the same kinds of fields for years on end. Within this framework, losing a job can seem like a real nightmare, because everywhere you look, there are no new opportunities or people to ask about jobs. You already know everyone, and what they’re doing. This is why taking a new hobby—yoga, which happens to be a pretty social hobby, to boot—was such a good idea: he branched out of his social network and formed new ones. In these new networks he was a dynamic personality, a new voice, and he could see other people’s situations as an outsider. Thus he was able not only to find opportunities he never would have heard about within the staid network of his old employment,  but he was also having a great time in a new adventure.
    An underlying reason this worked for him is because many of his friends worked in the same field. If his own company couldn’t rehire him, chances are it’s because the entire field is suffering. And because everyone he knows was in the same field, none of them would be of much help in finding a new job. This is another reason why it was so wise to branch out, to look elsewhere, and to change careers. If one industry is sagging, another may not be.
    When looking for a new job this year, the best thing you can do for yourself may be to look in an industry you’ve never thought of before by taking on a new hobby with an unlikely cast of strangers. Every one of these people share an interest you have (in my friend’s case, it was yoga) and one of them may be a door through which you can step to a new career.
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    Career Collective Member’s Posts:
    @KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Art of Being Gracious: Much Needed in Today’s Job Search,”
    @MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes,  Career Trends and Transition 2010
    @heathermundell, life@work, Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search
    @barbarasafani, Career Solvers, Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball
    @resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign
    @kat_hansen,  Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career
    @keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, Help for job seekers in a rut
    @heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, Job seekers: 5 tips for making the most of 20
    @DawnBugni, The Write Solution, Ya, but
    @ErinKennedyCPRW, Professional Resume Services, Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga?
    @Chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog,
    Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference
    @ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, Is Your Job Search Strategy a Snore?
    @debrawheatman, Resumes Done Write, Making the most of a new year
    @walterakana, Threshold Consulting, Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career
    @careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, The Year of the Tiger
    @WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithIllness.com, Dogs Can Do It, Can You?
    @JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, Lifelong Learning for Career Security
    @AndyInNaples, Career Success, What Are You Getting Better At? Make This the Year You Become the Best You Can Be!

    How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays

    Career CollectiveJob Search


    I am a member of the Career Collective, a group of  resume writers and career coaches. Each month, all members discuss a topic. Please follow our tweets on Twitter #careercollective
    This month we are discussing helping job seekers stay focused and encouraged during the holiday season.  I encourage you to visit the links below to read other members’ posts as well!     +++++
    manwishingforjob
    The holidays can be one of the worst times to find yourself out of a job.
    Not only do you face pressure to attend family functions and buy presents, but it can also be very difficult to get an interview during the short work weeks, and all the vacation time that tends to pop up for recruiters and HR staff during winter. Still, it’s important that you don’t give up your job search over the holidays simply because people are hard to reach. In fact, this time can be an excellent point to begin a job search, for several reasons.
    First, you have the greatest opportunity for networking during the holiday season. If you’re attending a lot of parties and functions, you’re guaranteed to run into acquaintances that may or may not know you’re looking for employment. Go to dinner parties and family gatherings as often as you can. Be ready to pass out your business card or resume at a moment’s notice. You’d be surprised how often a conversation over a punch bowl can serve as a preliminary interview. You’ll be exposed to plenty of people in a variety of fields. It’s an excellent way to build some connections.
    Another often overlooked benefit of job hunting during the holidays is that most people don’t do it. Because so many quit just before the holiday season, or put off hunting for a job until after the new year, you have a great opportunity to get yourself out there before the glut of new applicants drifts in. Work with HR employees and recruiters now, while everyone else is still polishing their resumes to show on January 3rd. You’ll be forefront in everybody’s mind, even if you don’t get the interview until later.
    December is also a great time for you to work on putting together a great presentation online. Because so many hiring executives will be traveling or spending vacation time at their homes, email and the internet may be the best way to get in touch with them. Make sure you have a great presence on all the social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. You can also put together a slide show resume on SlideShare. You never know – an employer may get your cover letter while he’s eating Christmas dinner, but just because he’s not in the office doesn’t mean he won’t read it.
    Most importantly, don’t get discouraged, no matter how long the job search takes. If you convince yourself that you’re never going to land an interview, or get your foot in the door of a new career, you probably won’t. Perseverance will serve you much better than luck. If you give up on the job hunt until it’s business as usual in the places you want to work, chances are that they’ll have already filled the position you want to occupy.
    Treat the holiday season like any other job hunting time, and give it everything you’ve got.
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    Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective and read these posts:


    @MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, “Season’s Greetings and your Job Search”
    @GayleHoward, The Executive Brand, “It’s Christmas: And a ho-ho-ho-hum?”
    @KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs”
    @resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog,“Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob”
    @heathermundell, life@work, “Have a Holly Jolly Job Search”
    @sweetcareers,Sweet Careers, “Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009″
    @careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers”
    @careerealism, CAREEREALISM.com, “Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism”
    @heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, “4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting”
    @LaurieBerenson, Sterling Career Concepts, “Three Resolutions to Take It Up a Notch”
    @KatCareerGal, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, “Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search”
    @WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithillness.com, “Avoid this Minefield: Drive Your Bus!”
    @DawnBugni, The Write Solution “Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays?“
    @andyinnaples, “Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time”
    @erinkennedycprw, Professional Resume Services, “How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays”
    @keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, “Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year”
    @ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, “Navigating the Mistletoe of Job Search”
    @GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, “Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?”
    @BarbaraSafani, Career Solvers, “Holiday Networking Can Facilitate New Year Opportunities”
    @expatcoachmegan, Career By Choice Blog, “Expat Networking: Holidays Are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow Your Network”
    @chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, “Footprints & Associations: Job Search Tips for the Holidays”
    @JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, “(Holiday) Party Your Way to a New Job”



    The Career Collective

    Resume Writing
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    What is Career Collective?

    The Career Collective was formed by Miriam Salpeter (www.keppiecareers.com) and Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter (www.careertrend.com) as a way for resume writers and career coaches to utilize social media and share ideas on certain topics monthly.
    Each month a topic is decided upon and each member of the group offers their thoughts on their own blogs. We then link to each other to offer readers every member’s view on the topic.
    This is a fantastic tool for job seekers as there isn’t another resume writer/career coach social network community out there like this. You get the benefit of having 23 career experts all neatly linked on one page.
    Check in around the first of the month for the next great topic. You might want to follow the thread on Twitter:  #careercollective
    Until next month!
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