Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The 10 Blogs That Could Revolutionize Your Job Search

By Lucia Radder

This list gives you insight into others just like you: job seekers. If we, as job seekers, have learned anything, it’s that job searching is a learning process. It’s a self-help process, a networking process, a rejection process, and an acceptance process – all rolled into one. Throughout that search, however, the knowledge you gain is invaluable. While a job search is a personal endeavor, it is far from solitary.  

Today’s market is different than what our parents saw; it’s even different from what our older siblings saw.  Lessons aggregated from the personal experiences of others for navigating this new world are more important than ever with the incorporation of social media, mobile apps, online applications, and other virtual tools.

Cue the proliferation of job seeker Blogs. Today, blogs offer insight into the trials and tribulations of other job seekers and professionals. They also allow individuals from across the globe to gain a better understanding of the task ahead.

The rapid development of blogs has created an abundance of job seeker platforms, yet some stand out from the rest.  The best approach is to pick a handful of sites that speak out to you, personally, and subscribe to their posts. So how do you know which are the “right” blogs to follow?
  1. A blog should have a purpose.  Whether it covers a broad spectrum of topics, or focuses solely on the job search, the blog should have a clear intention.  Depending on the blogger, the ideal focus for a job seeker may be roughly described as a “development” blog. This might encompass career development, personal development, among other topics, but this type of blog should help you, as a job seeker, grow and learn.
  2. A blog should be well organized. This speaks to the professionalism of the blogger, but also helps the job seeker navigate the site in order to determine what is most personally relevant or helpful.
  3. The blog should be professional. If you, as a job seeker, are seeking advice and insight into the job search process or career development, guidance should come from a source that maintains its own professional brand.  Blog posts should be appropriate, ethical, and professional.
  4. It is important to find blogs that are relevant to you, specifically. Whether it is due to your own needs, your personal circumstances, or your individual tastes, an ideal blog should work for you (no pun intended).
LinkUp recommends these 10 job seeker blogs (in no particular order):

This blog is an extensive job search tool and is great for job seekers and companies, alike, looking to become more modern and up-to-date.  The blog includes a section for companies that are hiring, as well as a range of sections for job seekers, organized by type of post or tip.

This blog is best for: All job seekers, especially those looking for inspiration beyond resume and interview tips.

The Undercover Recruiter is a comprehensive blog focused solely on the job search and career development processes. Posts include career tips, insightful infographics, job search and interview tips, social media use and technology.

This blog is best for: All job seekers, especially those who enjoy a bit of humor sprinkled in with their career advice.

Penelope Trunk’s blog is bolstered by her experience founding start-ups, as well as other professional endeavors.  The blog is organized by concrete career-related topics, as well as relevant life-topics, like your job and romance.

This blog is best for: job seekers looking to take career risks, found a start up, or just need a little realistic career advice.

This is the blog of SparkHire, a company focused on online interviews and video resumes.  The blog features a range of contributors, near daily posts and a highly organized layout with posts on the mobile job search trend, different career paths, job search tips, resume styles, non-profit work, and more.

This blog is best for: job seekers seeking guidance solely in the job search field and looking for advice or services from professionals.

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