CAREER MANAGEMENT: Your Career Management Toolbox

Career Management with Jason Alba

Job search is important, but one purpose of career management is to keep the length of job searches down. I can't say that doing all of these things will guarantee your job searches go faster, but you should be in more control. I'm amazed at the number of professionals who come to JibberJobber, or read my LinkedIn book, who have been excellent at doing their job but have no idea what to do in a job search.

I understand - I assumed my job search tactics would lean heavily on job boards and recruiters. I spent hundreds of hours spinning the wrong wheels - it's no wonder I wasn't getting anywhere! And the thought of doing a job search every three to five years was petrifying!

As I learned more about Career Management I became more empowered. Here's is the key to career management: relationships.

Not "collecting business cards," or "growing your network on LinkedIn." I'm talking about real networking. Once I read Keith Ferrazzi's Never Eat Alone I started to understand what real relationships and networking was all about - not me, but how I could help others. There are multiple benefits of helping others, but the key is that it helps your relationship go beyond typical superficial networking, and it puts you into a completely different league.

Everything in career management revolves around relationships. Consider "target companies." You've heard you should network your way into companies, right? No matter where you find them, you need to figure out how to get in... what if you had a strong, nurtured network you could tap into easily and quickly.

So, considering this, what do YOU think belongs in your career management toolbox? Here are some ideas... I'm not saying whether they should be in yours or not, but think about how each of these tools helps (or doesn't help) you nurture relationships:

• Job boards
• classified ads
• business cards
• JibberJobber (a website to organize your job search)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter
• resume(s)
• cell phone
• email account (not sexylegs@____.com)

What else is in your toolbox? Are there tools in there that are not really helping with anything? Are they helping you manage and nurture professional relationships - longterm?

---

Jason Alba developed JibberJobber.com to replace the job search spreadsheet. He recently created LinkedIn for Job Seekers - the DVD. He is the author I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??? and author of I'm on Facebook -- Now What???, both of which are designed to help professionals get more value out of these social networking tools. Learn more about Jason at http://twitter.com/jasonalba.

####
Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. All rights reserved.
####
To subscribe for your free TNNW Newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.

You are also invited to click our buttons:




-------
Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

CAREER MANAGEMENT: Your Career Management Toolbox

Online Job Resources from the Princeton Public Library

TNNW Readers, I attended a great presentation by Cynthia on Friday during the Trenton Professional Services Group's meeting. As a librarian at the Princeton Public Library, Cynthia is constantly looking for valuable resources to pass along. Since job hunting and career management are brought up in just about every conversation these days, I asked her if it was okay to repost her wealth of knowledge on this subject. Something that Cynthia impressed upon me was that every public library is full of resources to help with your career -- so many that you shouldn't be afraid to ask your friendly librarian. - Regards, Wendy Kovitz, V.P. Research & Development

From Cynthia M. Lambert

Princeton Public Library
Princeton, NJ

Online Job Resources:

SELF ASSESSMENT RESOURCES:

These tools can help you to recognize your goals, write a better resume, focus your job search, and identify search terms:

http://www.rileyguide.com/assess.html

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/selfassessment/Self_Assessment.htm

http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/counseling/

http://www.job-hunt.org/career-change/self-assessment.shtml

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_assessment.html

http://resources.monster.com/tools/

SAlary / Industry / Company Assessment:

http://www.salary.com/

http://salary.money.cnn.com/

http://www.bls.gov/emp/

Don’t forget:

Company web pages

Industry & Professional Assoc.

College Career Centers

RESUME RESOURCES:

These tools can help you to write a better resume, refine the resume you have, and learn about a variety of resume styles. Most of these sites also provide information on cover letters. Remember—try to match your resume terms to the terms being used in the job posting (example, trainer vs. instructor).

http://www.resume-help.org/ (this is a terrific resource—it covers everything about resumes and cover letters—be sure to check out the articles section where you can get tips for choosing references, advice for new grads or older job seekers, etc.)

http://www.resume-help.org/resume_action_words.htm (this section is specifically for action words on the resume—it is good for finding search terms too!)

http://www.bestsampleresume.com/

http://www.freeresumesamples.org/

RESUME RESOURCES (continued):

http://susanireland.com/

http://www.rockportinstitute.com

http://careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resumes/SR_Start.aspx?cblid=scpruhpt004

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/MSN/Category.aspx?categoryid=CL

http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/resumesandletters/tp/Resumes---Tips-and-Samples.htm

http://www.technical-resumes.com/examples.html (this is an industry specific resume site—for the technology industry. If you want a similar resource for your industry, search for XYZ resume help).

NETWORKING RESOURCES:

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/networking/a/networking.htm

http://www.quintcareers.com/networking_guide.html

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.facebook.com/

http://www.friendster.com/

http://newjerseyjobnetwork.com/

http://www.trinityprinceton.org/jobseekers.cfm

http://www.bpwnj.org/ (woman specific)

Don’t forget to check with industry specific professional associations, alumni associations, churches, and community centers.

JOB BOARDS:

http://www.monster.com/

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

http://www.vault.com/jobs/jobboard/searchform.jsp

http://www.internetinc.com/top-100-job-board-niches (This is a list of the 100 best job boards for specific niche areas—very helpful)

http://www.dice.com/ (technology specific—to look for similar niche sites in your area simply Google search XYZ job postings)

http://www.indeed.com/

http://www.simplyhired.com/

http://www.workforce50.com/ (specifically for older workers)

http://www.usajobs.gov/ (Federal Government Postions)

http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_index.html (NJ specific information)

http://www.state.nj.us/personnel/jobs/index.htm (NJ State Jobs)

INTERVIEW RESOURCES:

http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/

http://www.rileyguide.com/interview.html

http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/questions.htm (Nice overview of interviewing from Virginia Tech)

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm

http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org/

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/dressforsuccess.htm

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-462-Getting-Hired-What-Not-to-Wear-to-an-Interview/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Privacy Information

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122695845250534813.html (A Wall Street Journal Article on Protecting Your Privacy while job searching.)

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs25-JobSeekerPriv.htm

http://www.job-hunt.org/privacy.shtml

General Research Sources:

Librarian’s Internet Index: http://lii.org/

Delicious: http://delicious.com/ (use to keep track of your favorite links for easy access away from home)

Ta-Da Lists: http://tadalist.com/ (electronic lists that you can access from anywhere—use to keep organized)

Website Evaluation:

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webcrit.html

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

* Posted with permission from Cynthia M. Lambert, Princeton Public Library, Copyright 2009

___________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free, continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com. You are also invited to click our buttons:


Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

Online Job Resources from the Princeton Public Library

Force Yourself To Go Out

By Jason Alba
Career Transition Editor

This morning I did something I haven't done for over a year: I went to a big networking event downtown... one I used to go to every week, without fail.

I stopped going to this networking event, for professional job seekers, because it really was inconvenient. I had to dress up in a suit, drive about an hour (both ways), and sit through some non-networking housekeeping stuff. I spent more than four hours outside of my office. Away from my email. Away from my phone. Four hours. I thought "I could have done so much in those four hours! I'm already behind as it is!" As a job seeker I would rationalize not going to those meetings because in four hours I could find a few jobs to apply to, and maybe apply to two or three.

Four hours. It is a lot of time, if you are productive.

But magic happens in those four hours. I met a guy who was the #2 sales guy for one of the largest computer companies in the world, and will pass his resume to a specialized tech recruiter. I met professionals from various industries, who had rich relationships with people who I want to get to know better. I renewed a relationship I had let go dormant, and talked with an old friend (who has been a great JibberJobber evangelist since we first met), and got an update on what he's up to and what he's doing now. I met the people in charge of the networking event... these are people you should have a strong relationship with, since they are usually power connectors and help you know who you need to know.

I needed to get out. I needed to invest four hours in my career, and my network. And you do, too. No matter how inconvenient it is, you need to take the time to get out of the house, away from the computer, turn off your blackberry, and go meet with other people. You will find people who can help you. Listen to the 30 Second Commercials to see who worked in your industry, profession or at your target companies. Listen to others when you talk with them, and try and figure out what connections they might make for you.

More importantly, listen to what their needs are - whether they are making their pitch to the group, or one-on-one with just you, listen to them. Try and figure out who you can connect them with. When I was in my job search I wanted to give, give, give, but I felt I had nothing to give. I could not give other job seekers money, or a job, or anything with monetary value. After reading Never Eat Alone I realized I did have something I could give, something that could be priceless. You have it to. As a job seeker, a networker, you have the ability to connect Person A with Person B. YOU can be a connector, even a power connector. This is so valuable. It's more valuable than if I were to give them money, or a better resume. Even after you land your next job, continue to connect people.

But it all starts with going out. If you don't feel like it, that's okay. Still force yourself to go out. Maybe not to get, but to give. And the getting will follow.

___________________________________________________________________

Jason Alba is the CEO and creator of JibberJobber.com, and author of “I’m on LinkedIn – Now What???” After a corporate downsizing impacted Jason in 2006, he experienced firsthand the difficulties of conducting a job search. Drawing on his extensive computer software and IT experience, Jason analyzed the job search process and developed JibberJobber.com, the gold standard in career management technology.

Widely acknowledged as a leading career management evangelist, Jason continues to spread the word to job seekers through his blog, JibberJobber.com/blog. He is co-author of “I’m on Facebook – Now What???”and offers tutorials on how to fulfill the role of being CEO of You, Inc.

Jason Alba is: CEO of JibberJobber.com Author of I’m on LinkedIn – Now What??? Co-author of I’m on Facebook – Now What??? Founder of CEO Training for Me Inc.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

Force Yourself To Go Out