When I was 7 or 8 years old my mother told me this story about a cousin of hers who lost her arm by sticking it outside of a car window (somewhat like the when your parents told you not to run with scissors). Our parents thought (mistakenly I’m sure) that we would learn to take care of ourselves when we got older and not make any life threatening (or career threatening) mistakes. Ha! But if it were true.

So what mistakes could you possibly make that could be life threatening to your career? Where do I start? How about your reputation, as in, what lurks in your Internet presence? Probably not so much of a problem for the “over 50″ crowd, but definitely something to think about for those who’ve grown up with the Internet. Whatever your age and regardless of whether you are looking for a job or not, it does not hurt to check your profile on the Web. So, where to start?

• Google Yourself- Pretty easy to do from the Google main page. Try several variations of your name including “firstname lastname” with quotes on both sides, “first, middle and last”, “first, middle initial and last” – you get the picture. Depending on the popularity of your name you may not get many hits and you should be able to rule out those that are similar names but not you. All of the others, take a good look and verify that the data is correct. If you have bad stuf out there, well, read the links below.

• Spokeo.com- This site focuses on individuals only. You can search by name, email, phone, username and friends. Basic information on the individual is provided, more detailed information requires a fee. I tried it with my name and it got some of the information correct but had the wrong information for one of my kids. The scary part is that it can check usernames (but requires a fee to see more detailed information).

• Zabasearch.com – This site allows a search by name or telephone number. It could not find who owned my cell number (and had a wrong city), but it did find me when I did a name search (with a wrong middle initial). As with the other sites (other than Google), you need to pay an additional fee to get additional information.

Staying on Top of your Internet Profile:

• Google Alerts – You can set-up an alert for your name and Google will send an email when it finds a match (you pick how often you want this to happen). I have “daily” as my selection and I’ve only received one email in the last 3 months (I guess I am very boring).

• How to Delete Yourself from the Internet – Okay, maybe this is a little drastic, but there may be information about you that you want to be “deleted” (nothing is ever really deleted if you know where to look) from the Internet.

Good luck in your search.


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Related posts:

1. Social Disaster – is your Job Search Safe?
2. Job Search Reviews – I Read it on the Web
3. 5 Tips for Leveraging you Social Network in Your Job Search

I was in a meeting the other day (seems like all I do) listening to everyone debate a topic. Of course, everybody has a view and, as you might suspect, everyone has a different view. As I sat there and listened to what seemed like an endless drone of voices (and trying to stay awake) I started to realize that no one has all of the answers and that considering other views is sometimes more important than pushing your own view. That being said, today’s post is dedicated to suggestions from CareerAlley readers.
• OnlineColleges.org – This site provides a database of all online colleges. This is a great site to review if you are thinking about going back to school or starting your college degree program (no matter where you are in you life and your career). With so many industries devastated by the economic downturn, now may be the time to change your career. The home page has an alphabetical list of online colleges (center page) with featured colleges on the left hand side of the page followed by most popular online degrees.

• 10 Job Search Examples: Crashing And Burning on Twitter – You never know who is watching, so you need to be careful – that is the point of this article on Timsstrategy.com. The article provides some great examples, and I don’t want to give them away so take a look. While you are on the site, take a look at the links at the top of the page for the Blog, Tools, 30 Ideas Book and more. Also, you can sign-up for the newsletter (top right hand side of the page).

• JobDescriptions.net – This is a nifty career information source. At the top of the page are tabs for Health, Business, Education, Legal and more. Click on any of those links to see a dedicated page of job descriptions for jobs in that industry. Click on any job description to see a detailed job description followed by training & education requirements, salary & wages and certifications (plus more). Check out the blog as well.

• CareerOverview.com – This is a career and job search resources site. There are tabs at the top for Explore Careers, Job Search, Career Change, Salary Info and more. Directly below the tabs you can search for degrees, courses and career opportunities. Popular careers are on the left hand side of the page (click any of these for a drill down to additional detail). Top training schools are listed on the right hand side of the page and further down on the left hand side is a wealth of information on career development, job search and a career change center. Definitely worth a look.

• Robert Half – Robert Half is a well known recruiting firm. There are tabs at the top of the page for Job Seekers and Research. The right hand side of the page has a search box where you can search for jobs. Select a country and a specialization and you are on your way. Once you get to the detailed page, put in your key word and your location and off you go. There are tons of job opportunities listed on their site. You can also subscribe to a specific search.

Good luck with your search.

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2. Who’s Hiring in Finance Vol 2- Targeted Job Search
3. Overwhelmed with Job Search – Job Search Boards

The longer you’ve been out of work, the harder it is to find a job. True or not? Hard to say as there are several factors that impact the validity of that statement. First, a long job search can lead to a lack of commitment to follow through. If whatever you’ve been doing to find a job has not worked over the last (enter a number here) months, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your methods and process and try something new. Second, being out of work for an extended period of time can impact the way a potential employer looks at you. The usual question is “What have you been doing lately”. If you’ve been out of work for several months, “looking for a job” is not a good answer (true as it may be). So what’s the point? If you’ve been out of work for awhile you should consider a part-time job or volunteering. Why? Because it will show that you are motivated to do something useful (not that looking for a job is not useful), you will meet new people (contacts) – you never know where that will lead and lastly, you will learn new things that could potentially be leveraged in your job search.

• Citizens Financial Group, Inc. – This company is a financial services company with over 23,000 employees across 40 states in the US. Their career site is well organized, with a brief company overview at top center, followed by Jobs by Category (left center), Jobs by Location (center) and Browse by Groups (right center). The right hand side of the page has a Search Jobs box at the top, followed by links to company related information. Tough to say how many job openings are available, I would guess 60 or so when I checked.

• 15 CAREERS YOU THOUGHT WERE EXTINCT – Thinking about a career change or selecting a very different career? Take a look at this article from Careeroverview.com. At first look you might think this is an article from 100 years ago, but look again. Some very interesting careers here (Worm Grunter is my favorite). While you are there, take a look at the other career related links on the site (check out the tabs at the top of the page).

• AOL Jobs – This is AOL’s job search site and it is well constructed. There are tabs at the top of the page for Find a Job, Resume Center, Interviews & Salaries and more. Right below this is a search jobs box (driven by careerbuilder.com). Right hand side of the page – check out “Who’s Got Jobs” where jobs are categorized by job type. Center page are additional resources, such as Career Research and a section on Workplace Solutions which includes Skills Training. Take a look.

• Redundancy Hub – This is an interesting career related site. There are three main sections on the main page – Legal and Finance (covers off on legal rights and your financials), Emotional Support (if you’ve ever lost a job, you will know the value of this section) and Training and Careers (need new skills, need a new career, etc.).  The Training and Careers page has a link at the top for jobs which links to a page that lists recommended job search sites.

• THE LIST: Companies Recruiting on Twitter – The technology of job search (yes, there is such a thing) has been changing very rapidly over the last few years and, if you want to find a job, you need to change too. This list, from susanstrayer.com, provides a list of companies (and their Twitter accounts) that recruit via Twitter. Click on the link of any the listed companies and their Twitter page will be displayed. Follow them on your Twitter account or just click when you are interested. Definitely worth a look. Also take a look at some of the other links at the top of the page for related links.

Special mention: Need some motivation? Take a look at “50 Compelling Quotes from the World’s Most Brilliant Business Minds” from bestuniversities.com. This list of quotes is sorted by topic and is definitely worth a read.

Good luck in your search.


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Summertime in New York. Hot, humid and lots of tourists. You know how it is, everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere on very crowded sidewalks. But when you throw in the “wandering texter” to the mix, it’s almost impossible to get to where you are going. So what is a “wandering texter”? This is someone who is walking on the street with their head down typing either emails on a Blackberry or texting on a smartphone. Somehow they think they are saving time doing two things at once (like walking and texting), but what they are really doing is slowing down traffic on the sidewalk. Sooner or later they will walk into some obstacle (or person). I’d like to yell MOVE OVER (but of course I don’t). This is a somewhat perfect segue to today’s topic – leveraging the latest websites in your job search (okay, so maybe not so perfect a segue). Thanks to my Twitter friends for today’s links.

• Vsoid.com – “Your virtual social identity on the Web” is their tag line. So exactly what is “Vsoid”? Well for one, you can “look for a suitable job that matches your skills and potential”. There are lots of other things you can do on the site, but we are going to focus on the job piece. Click the “find job” box on the left hand side of the page (or click the link center page). The click leads to a very simple job search page (just enter your career type) and the search engine returns a listing of jobs. Click on “Apply for this job” and off you go.

• Talenopoly.com – This website is in beta, but don’t let that stop you. The main page has links for Resumes (top left hand side) or login / create an account on the top right hand side of the page. Center page is the job search function (enter the job type and your location). Further down on the page is additional information on the site (free resume database, personalized resume link – take a look).

• Emurse.com – Another site where you can create, store and share your resume. Top of the page starts with a job search tool (enter your search terms and then use the filter on the next page). They have a job search specific page as well (with lots more options). Create an account to get started. Once you’ve signed up, you can create a private or public listing of your resume. Once you’ve signed up, you are ready to go. The site guides you through the steps.

• Work From Home Jobs and Companies – Everybody’s dream is to work from home and make lots of money doing it. This article, from About.com, provides a list of work from home jobs with links. Additional links are given to the “work from home” section of existing sites. Take a look at the topics at the top left hand side of the page. There are links for listings, types of jobs, companies that specialize this and let’s not forget the work from home scams (there is a link for that to).

• TEXT, TWEET, BLOG AND SURF YOUR WAY TO A NEW JOB – Okay, so this link is really for the “wandering texters” I mentioned at the beginning of the post. But seriously, we all know that so much of job search is done over the web. This article, posted on Youngmoney.com, provides some background on all of the required ingredients (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).  Additionally, there are some pointers on finding recruiters and searching your connections.

Good luck in your search.

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3. Careers – Of Special Interest

Author Byline: Matthew Warzel

Author Website: http://www.mjwcareers.com

Here is a list of the ways to market you on the Internet. We discuss each topic in more detail throughout this handout.

• Setting up profiles on company portals and job boards to showcase your resume and skills.

• Creating a personal resume website that is tailored towards your skills and resume. Although it can be expensive, the chances on being found increase due to the Internet being used a main search tool for recruiters. Post projects you have worked on and a portfolio of your services you can offer to a prospective employer.

• Posting your availability as a job seeker and a brief summary to free classified-based websites including Craigslist, MySpace and Backpage.

• Joining social networking sites including LinkedIn and Facebook. Set up profiles/blogs on those sites and post your resume and credentials, divulge industry knowledge, share activities you are engaged in, provide your own networking tips or tips on advancing in a given career.

• Starting a blog on well-known sites such as Twitter, Blogger, TypePad or WordPress to share your professional knowledge and get information from other bloggers. This lets you be proactive, forward-thinking and draws people to you.

• Joining discussion groups on social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Myspace, Yahoo Groups and Google Groups to create an Internet presence that you can use to market yourself. Discussion and networking groups exist for different industries, companies, interests, etc.

• Making connections (building your network) on these networking sites. Get advice and give advice. Search company names, co-workers, etc. to see with whom you have connections.

Personal Resume Website and Blog

You may also consider creating your own website for your skills and resume. Although it can be expensive, the chances on being found increase due to the Internet being used a main search tool for recruiters. Post projects you have worked on, and a portfolio of the services you can offer to a prospective employer. When sending out emails, include a link to your personal marketing website; it makes you stand out from everyone else as someone who is serious about their job search!

A personal Website is one of the best ways to promote and let the world read all about the benefits of your career brand. Your portfolio should include all important brand artifacts: resume(s), mission statement, detailed accomplishments list, samples of work, articles and working papers, speech transcripts, awards and honors, testimonials, and more.

Even better, publish content-rich articles, and other keyword-rich materials that lead prospective employers looking for someone with your qualifications directly to your site.

If you are a decent writer and can commit to writing regularly, creating a professional blog is a great tool for building your career brand. A blog is a specialized Website that focuses on a particular subject (person, industry, profession) that can include news, analysis, commentary, and links in a variety of formats (including print, audio, images, and video). Your blog showcases your expertise and knowledge of your industry or profession and is an excellent way to build your career brand. In your professional blog (or anywhere a hiring manager might see) never mention anything about sex, religion or politics. This handout talks more about blogs, including Twitter, later on.

Setting Up Your Website in 5 Easy Steps

1. Create a www.godaddy.com account.
2. Search domain names via the domain search tool. (We suggest using your name and try to stick with a “.com” or “.net” domain). Once you have established an exclusive domain, click Add and Proceed to Checkout.
3. Upon approval and receipt, go back to the GoDaddy homepage (make sure you are still logged in) and select Website Tonight under “My Products”. (If you cannot see the Website Tonight button, click Show All of My Products and it is listed there.)
4. In the Website Tonight section, click Use Credit in the yellow box. On the right-hand side, select your website and click Continue. It guides you through the remainder of the process.
5. Once you have a Website Tonight domain established, go back into the Website Tonight section and check the box next to your domain and click Launch. It guides you through a tutorial step-by-step process on developing your website.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Good luck in your search.

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways to Leverage the Internet in Your Job Search
2. Job Search from the Beginning – Recruiters Part 3
3. Why You Need a Job Search Marketing Toolkit

Author Byline: Ali Webster, Pinstripe
Author Website: http://www.pinstripetalent.com/recruitalicious

A few weeks ago, I held a roundtable discussion with recruiters on their opinions of and experience with social media sites. Mentioning LinkedIn elicited a positive response and Facebook stimulated a robust discussion about balancing their personal and professional lives. When I brought up Twitter, one of the recruiters responded “eh…” and another shrugged her shoulders (sigh).

After the crickets stopped chirping, they only expressed concerns:

• My daily schedule is full. How do I have enough time to be twittering?
• I get how LinkedIn works, I’m getting the hang of Facebook, but Twitter is a mystery.
• Who will follow me on The Twitter? I’m not that interesting.

Recruiters recognized that some companies were successful recruiting candidates on Twitter, but could not picture themselves as active users.

Rewind to January 2010, when I found myself in a situation that has nothing to do with social media…

After doing some research, I found that buying a house provided a substantial return-on-investment, better than purchasing a condo, renting or living in my mother’s basement, especially with the current tax credit. Minor problem: I had no idea how to go about buying a house. So I took a trip to Barnes & Noble and bought the most obvious book possible, “Home Buying for Dummies.” Bringing the book to closing at the bank elicited some laughter from my loan officer and sitting on the floor in front of the sump pumps at Home Depot with my subsequent purchase of “Home Maintenance for Dummies” provoked stares from more savvy home-owners. However, I overcame my worries about how time consuming this would be and the dread of spending entire weekends trimming trees & gardening after learning about the process. I did the research, absorbed a lot of information and eventually purchased a house.

Leaping into some unfamiliar terrain (i.e. Twitter) is worth the time it takes to learn something new and make some mistakes along the way for that ever-so-satisfying ROI. With the right tools and resources, recruiters who can alleviate their fears about Twitter, become consistent users and feel a glow of satisfaction when that first candidate rolls right into their applicant tracking system. Don’t believe me? Talk to attendees of ERE’s #SocialRecruiting Summit.

I’m looking for recruiters who don’t have enough time to pick up a copy The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Twitter. What questions do you have? How can I help you understand Twitter enough so that you can improve your sourcing & recruiting efforts? Tell me (I won’t make you fork over $26.99). Too shy to comment? Fine. Read Geoff Peterson’s post on 3 Ways Recruiter Can Get a Jump Start in Social Media instead.

Seriously, do not go buy that book. Post a comment below & get ready for an answer.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Good luck in your search.

Related posts:

1. Job Search from the Beginning – Recruiters Part 3
2. Modern Tools for Modern Job Search
3. Executives Have to Eat too – Resources for Executive Job Search

Photo courtesy Photos8.com

“Let us be thankful for fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.” – Mark Twain

This is not my first post on leveraging Twitter for job search (see Tweet Your Way to a New Job – Twitter for Job Search) and I know it is not my last (although I’ve found a different bird for this post, albeit, not the Twitter bird). Given the sheer diversity of Twitter resources for job search, this is a first in a series of posts on this topic. Today’s focus is a few articles on leveraging Twitter for job search followed by reviews of a few Twitter job search sites.

Twitter for Job Search:

• Leverage Twitter for Your Job Search – This article, posted on Twitip.com and written by Miriam Salpeter from Keppie Careers, provides a detailed “how to” for using Twitter to further your job search. The article covers what Twitter can do for you, What to do First, Sustain your Twitter Network and more. The article covers branding yourself (like a name that won’t embarrass you), creating the right profile and building a network you can leverage in your search.

• 20 Ways To Get a Job Through Twitter – This list of ideas (20 to be exact) is provided by Newgradlife.com and covers many of the basics for launching your job search via Twitter. From the basic stuff like Sign Up for Twitter to more comprehensive ideas (like creating your profile), the article covers full range of topics. Ideas on how to keep “Twitter ready” versions of your resume and building your network are all covered.

Twitter Feeds for Job Search: Like just about everything on the web, there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of Twitter feeds for job search. While I can’t cover them all, I’ve listed a few of the feeds that I’m familiar with. There will be more feeds in future posts. Links at the start of each of the following paragraphs are to each site’s Twitter site.

• Postajobonline – This feed provides regular updates of job opportunities. Like what you see, just click on the link which will take you to their website (jobindexonline.com) and provides details on the listing. Once on the website, you can visit their job board (postajobonline.com) and search jobs and post your resume. There are tabs at the top of this page for various job functions. There are also links on the right hand side of the page for jobs by category, top employers, job type and location.

• JobHitsUS – JobHits has a number of feeds depending on what you are looking for, they have feeds for the UK, Finance jobs, IT jobs and more. JobHits is a job search engine with updated vacancies from major job sites. Their feed (depending on the feed you follow) lists specific jobs. Click on the link in the feed and this will load the website page with that particular listing. Their US based web job search engine (they also have web sites for other locations) – Jobhits.net, leads with a search engine (keywords, location and then search), followed by popular search links (saves some time). Once you’ve done a search, you can use the filters on the left hand side of the page to narrow your search. They also have a link to their blog at the top left hand side of the page.

• Jobsonwashpost – This is the Washington Post’s Twitter job feed. Similar to the other feeds mentioned above, this feed posts specific jobs. Click on any of these links and the Washington Post’s job page will load with detail on the specific job mentioned in the tweet. You can apply for any of these jobs by clicking “apply now” at the bottom of the job description. Their website has over 10,000 job opportunities posted and also provides a job search engine with career resource links at the top of the page.

Good luck in your search.

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