6/18/09: Top Career Posts this Week
Every week I check dozens of “career” blogs and other online publications, looking for things that will help you find a job, get promoted, develop your skills, and keep everything in perspective and balance. Here’s the pick of the lot for this week. I’m pointing you to items about finding a job when you’ve just graduated, lists of job search resources, and what to do if you’ve gotten a job after a long layoff.
From Escape from Cubicle Nation: Open letter to recent college graduates
“Here is my advice to you, based on thirteen years working in and studying career development, learning, human behavior and performance inside and outside of corporations.”
Wally’s Comment: Great stuff. Pam Slim offers good advice for right now and most of your career.
From Forbes: How To Behave At Your First Job
“You’ve landed your first job out of college. That wasn’t easy, in this tough time. Now you’ve got to make sure you keep it and succeed at it.”
Wally’s Comment: OK, you got that first job. How do you act? What do you do? What do you avoid? That’s what this article sets out to answer.
From Career Rocketeer: Top 20 LinkedIn Groups ALL Job Seekers MUST Join
“LinkedIn is the leading professional network on the web, so if you don’t have an account already, get one today! If you have one already, you’re off to a great start. LinkedIn is an invaluable asset to all you job seekers out there, providing you many unique features, including your own professional online resume, its own job board, a comprehensive company directory and more. One feature you job seekers may not know about or have fully explored is LinkedIn Groups.”
Wally’s Comment: Joining a LinkedIn group isn’t THE answer to your job search. Nothing is. There are no “musts,” just intelligent choices. But this list will help you become familiar with LinkedIn groups and make some decisions about whether and how to make them part of your career strategy.
From Devans Cosmos: Helpful Twitter Job Search Links
“If you are looking for web application or software development project management work like me or any job really, here are a few sites to help you look for work on the Twitter platform.”
Wally’s Comment: Twitter is the hot new social medium of the moment. And there are lots of recruiters camped out there looking for the right people. Is that you? Here’s how to use Twitter to increase your chances of finding the job you want.
From the Wall Street Journal: Making an Easy Re-Entry Into the Work Force
“If you’ve been unemployed for months and have finally found a job, you’re likely thrilled at first. But anxiety often follows that excitement. Starting any new job is hard, and coming back to work after a long layoff can be even harder. You have to re-establish a routine, refresh your skills and rebuild your confidence. Here’s how to make a successful re-entry.”
Wally’s Comment: When you’ve been out of work for a while you change your daily routines and some of your “work habits” fall away. Here’s a review what you should be thinking about when you go back to work.