Alison Doyle

RealMatch

RealMatch offers job seekers a new way of job searching.  The way it works is that users select a job title, industry, and location (there are some advanced search options, as well).  RealMatch compares your profile with profiles of jobs, to come up with matches.

The system then grades, filters, and ranks candidates for employers to review. The employer pays only when they opt to see the candidate's contact information.

It's new technology and I'm interested in hearing from job seekers and recruiters who have tried it and what you think?   Email me or contact me via Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook and let me know.

JibberJobber Anniversary Special

JibberJobber is a terrific tool for managing your job search and much more.   It's a way to keep track of where you have sent your resumes, the jobs you apply for, and your your personal networking contacts.

To celebrate JibberJobber's two-year anniversary celebration they are offering a buy-one-year-get-one-year-free, so each month comes down to less than $5. Just login to your account and you’ll see the upgrade link at the top of the page.  Don't wait - the offer expires on Monday.

Besides all of that, which is important, of course, Jason Alba, JibberJobber's CEO is one of my favorite people.  I don't often get to meet my online friends and colleagues in person, but I was thrilled to meet Jason during a visit to Utah last year.  I have plans to meet him again this summer.

Jason is not only a leader in the job searching world, providing a very useful tool to job seekers.  He's an expert in online communications and networking, branding, and relationship building. He's also a  successful author with books on using both LinkedIn and Facebook.  Happy  Anniversary, JibberJobber and congrats, Jason.

One Day, One Job Book Review

I was thrilled to read the review of my book Internet Your Way to a New Job on One Day One Job (an excellent site, by the way, for entry level job and internship seekers).

Willy Frazen, One Day, One Job's founder, says:  "It’s a great resource for any job searcher, but it is especially helpful for new grads who have never been through the process before ...  Despite the fact that we consider ourselves job search experts, we still learned a few things from Alison. Her advice on following up and what to do when you don’t get a reply from an employer is especially helpful. We also like that she uses real life examples to prove that her tips actually work in real life situations.  Internet Your Way to a New Job is a worthwhile investment for any new college grad who is pursuing his or her job search online. Great job, Alison!"

Read the full review: One Day One Job

More Reviews: Internet Your Way to a New Job - How to Really Find a Job Online

Internet Your Way to a New Job: Reviews and Endorsements

I am absolutely thrilled to have received so many positive reviews for my new book Internet Your Way to a New Job - How to Really Find a Job Online from leading career experts and job search site executives.  It's both an affirmation of what I do and encouragement that I'm on the right path in my quest to help job seekers find jobs and build their career.

Here's a sampling of the positive words I have received about my book:

"It’s a great resource for any job searcher, but it is especially helpful for new grads who have never been through the process before...  Despite the fact that we consider ourselves job search experts, we still learned a few things from Alison. Her advice on following up and what to do when you don’t get a reply from an employer is especially helpful. We also like that she uses real life examples to prove that her tips actually work in real life situations.  Internet Your Way to a New Job is a worthwhile investment for any new college grad who is pursuing his or her job search online. Great job, Alison!"
Read the full review: One Day One Job

"When a great job seeking book comes out, The Daily Machete likes to review it for our readership.  That's why it's such a pleasure to showcase one of the best job search books in a long time - Internet Your Way to a New Job, by Alison Doyle…  Doyle also covers some extremely important aspects of modern job hunting, such as writing a blog, optimizing yourself and incorporating SEO (Search Engine Optimization)... Be sure to get your hands on a copy of Internet Your Way to a New Job.  It's one of those books that all job seekers should read and absorb so they can compete in the job market."
Read the full review: The Daily Machete

"When it comes to personal career management and advice you should look no further than Alison Doyle. Regardless of if you are a student, a mid career professional or executive, Alison offers deep insight into what it takes to find the right job and manage your career in this day and age where the rules of the game have changed. Her advice has benefited me professionally and I know will do the same for you."
Mark Newman, CEO, HireVue

"Alison Doyle gets it. With the development of new Web 2.0 tools, the rules of job searching have dramatically changed. Internet Your Way to a New Job goes beyond just showing you how to hunt for jobs. It shows you how to be the hunted."
Rob McGovern, CEO of Jobfox and author of 'Bring Your "A" Game'.

"This is an important book and a must-read for all job seekers who don't want to be left behind yesterday's hill. About.com job search guide Alison Doyle unwraps the mysteries of Internet job search, the transformative technology that increasingly determines who gets what job. Living in a super-competitive job market, it's now crystal clear that the decade-old strategy of zipping-off-resumes-to-job boards-and-waiting-for-a-call isn't working the way it once did. In 'Internet Your Way to a New Job', Alison rounds up and explains in plain words all the new tools (which, like Blackberry resumes, seem to have been invented last week). Her topics range from branding yourself and smarter online networking, to confidential job search and trendspotting (what's likely to be invented next week). Millenial or Boomer, trust Alison to make understanding the new tools easy for you."
Joyce Lain Kennedy, Syndicated careers columnist and author of 'Job Interviews For Dummies, 3rd Edition'

Alison Doyle is a tremendous resource in the world of job searching, in general. Now, Alison takes her knowledge of job searching to a whole new level and shares her expertise in the world of online job searching. She covers everything a job searcher needs to know to utilize the online world in his or her job search. From building a professional brand - what you want potential employers to find out about you, when they search for your name online - to making contact through social and professional networking sites, Alison lays out the best steps, tips, tactics, and tools.

Want to speed up your job search? Alison tells you the best places to find jobs and the best methods for searching. Looking passively for a new opportunity? Alison tells you the steps to take to make yourself available to potential employers. And, if all of this isn't enough, Alison covers all of the online professional communication required for a successful job search. She even looks to the future, and discusses the trends she sees in online job searching going forward. Never heard of a job fair in Second Life? You need this book. In fact, "Internet Your Way to a New Job" is so thorough and downright useful, you won't need any other resource at all to fuel your online job search.
Susan Heathfield, Heathfield Consulting Associates, Guide to Human Resources at About.com, humanresources.about.com

"Job seekers are competing against thousands of others who are taking full advantage of the speed and efficiency of online job searches. Alison Doyle clearly explains the steps, resources and tools necessary to land a job in today’s workplace. This will help anyone looking for a new job!"
Paul Forster, CEO, Indeed.com

"This book is an excellent resource for anyone who needs to find a job in today's market. It is packed with sound advice on personal branding, networking, etiquette, best practices, case studies, favorite resources and more. Whether you are coming out of school or close to retirement, this is a must-read to understand how the Internet fits into your job search strategy."
Jason Alba, CEO, JibberJobber.com

"Online job hunting is much more complex and competitive that it was even 12 months ago.  Now, a successful job search requires much more than resume posting or emailing and searching through job postings - it requires cultivating (and protecting) a  personal online "brand" and growing (and maintaining) an extensive personal network as well as having an effective resume and cover letter.  Don’t waste time trying to figure all this out yourself.  Alison has already done it.   Internet Your Way to a New Job is an excellent step-by-step guide to a successful job search in the current online marketplace - short and sweet, an easy read – it is complete and full of examples and carefully-selected tools and resources. Alison tells you everything you need to know to find a job right NOW!  Alison has studied and researched the current marketplace, knows how this whole process works, and shows you how to succeed.
Susan P. Joyce, Editor/Webmaster, Job-Hunt.org

"Stop your job search immediately and read this book. Alison provides first hand experiences, as well as resources you can leverage to have a successful career. From selecting the most effective tools, to proven methodologies and expert perspectives, you will be prepared to enter a competitive job market with confidence. Unlike most books, Alison doesn't just preach about traditional resumes and cover letters, but explains that it's the new marketing vehicles that will make you stand out, such as a video resume and LinkedIn profile. To survive and thrive in this generation, it's critical to understand what works and what doesn't and Alison teaches you both."
Dan Schawbel, Publisher, Personal Branding Magazine

"It is very timely and refreshing to see Alison Doyle capture the true power of career networking and the urgent priority of developing an online presence to prosper in today's Internet-driven world! Her play-by-play professional brand building techniques and optimization tactics put success within everyone's reach! With more than 64 million active Facebook users today and more than 17 million professional LinkedIn profiles online, it is not surprising that employers are turning to these leading networks as a top recruitment source, and Alison has done a brilliant job of not only identifying these 'must-use' job seeker networks, but she has provided the online tools to take your career to the next level! This is a supurb resource and practical guide for every active or passive job seeker!"
Julie Craft, VP, Simply Hired, Adjunct Professor & Career Consultant

"The Internet can mystify even the most tech savvy amongst us when it comes to conducting an effective job search. In her book 'Internet Your Way to a New Job', Alison Doyle has demystified the process by providing concrete, easy to follow strategies for job seekers to incorporate internet resources in their quest for a new job. Doyle's vast experience as the Job Search Guide at About.com and as a college career services professional has enabled her to outline cutting edge approaches which emphasize proactive techniques for creating a personal brand, enlisting the assistance of networking contacts and finding jobs online."
Michael Profita, Director, Career Services, Skidmore College

Order Your Paperback or eBook copy:

• Internet Your Way to a New Job - How to Really Find a Job Online by Alison Doyle.

What to Wear When You Interview

I've been unpleasantly surprised more than a few times at what people wear for job interviews.  In fact, my husband is driving clothes for daughter's friend who was prepared for her interview this afternoon.  My daughter, who has probably learned something from her mom even though she won't admit it, I'm sure, decided her friend needed a quick change.

Regardless of the type of job you're interviewing for, it's important to be dressed appropriately.  That means a suit if you're interviewing for a professional position, and to be neat, tidy, and well-groomed, if you're applying for a teen, part-time, or non-professional position.

Here's more on what to wear when you interview.

Where to Look for Jobs

I talked to someone the other day who was just starting out on a job search. She had no idea where to look or how to begin.  That reminded me of how confusing it can be if you haven't used the Internet to job search in a while or at all.

One way to get started is to use my book Internet Your Way to a New Job - How to Really Find a Job Online. It will step you through the process of online job searching, including getting your resume and cover letters ready, professional networking, and finding and applying for jobs.

I also have a lot of information on my About.com Job Searching site on how to find a job and where to find free job search help. The best way to get started is to take it one step at a time and to get organized (JibberJobber is a good tool for that) otherwise it is easy to get overwhelmed, and that's not a good way to feel when you need to find a new job.

Then, take a look at the job listings - most companies post positions online, so you'll have lots of opportunities to look through and apply for.

Using the Chamber of Commerce to Job Search

This is the second time my daughter has found a job via our local Chamber of Commerce.  My niece and her friend also found local jobs using the chamber web site, as did several of my daughter's friends - all first-time job seekers.

There's a couple of different ways to do it, but if you're interested in a local full-time, part-time job, or summer job and your town has a Chamber of Commerce with a web site, it's worth checking. First of all, many chambers have job boards for members.  Members can list jobs free and candidates can apply for jobs via the job board.    There often isn't as much competition. My niece got a phone call within an hour of sending her resume via email. She interviewed that afternoon and had a job offer later in the day.

Besides a job board, if there is in, the directory of members is another good source of job leads.  My daughter cold-emailed many of the local Bed & Breakfasts inquiring whether they had job openings for the summer.  She did the same thing last summer with local stores.  In both cases, she got more responses than she could readily manage - her email In Box was full and the phone was ringing constantly.

So, remember to think local when you want to find a job in your home town.  Your job search might just be easier than you expect.

Local Job Search

• Chamber of Commerce Directory
• Local Job Search Resources
• Part-time Jobs
• Summer Jobs

Tips for Answering Interview Questions

Getting ready to go on a job interview? If so, it's important to be prepared to answer questions about your background, skills, and experience.

These tips for answering job interview questions, along with sample answers, will help you figure out the right responses - before you get put on the spot in an interview.

Eight Belles - The End of Her Watch

I love horse racing.  I hate horse racing.  I don't think I've ever won money on a dead race horse before and I'm not going to cash the ticket.  Mostly because I knew that I probably shouldn't bet on a filly running against the boys, though I don't know if that had anything to do with Eight Belle's tragic end on the dirt during the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

A US Today article (which is well worth reading) about the questions that linger about the safety of horse racing, mentions that eight bells, in nautical terms, means the end of a watch.  I am saddened that Eight Belles ended her watch like this and my heart goes out to her owner, trainers, grooms, and everyone who loved her.   

One of the most heartbreaking things is to watch is a horse break down like that. I'm always reminded of Ruffian (whose picture is on my office wall), Go For Wand, Barbaro, George Washington, and the others whose names I'm sorry I don't remember or that I never heard.

As Jerry Izenberg said, "...she tried.  It's what race horses do."  That's true and that's part of what I love about race horsing - if you've ever seen mares and babies turned out in a field or a paddock full of yearlings, they do it as soon as they can. 

They run, they try, and those with heart and talent make it to the race track.  We hope that their people (and the industry and race tracks) do right by them and don't race them until they are ready, and do their best to run safe races and prevent injuries.

As much as I hate to look at it, I'm glad that Eight Belle's photo, in the last minutes of her life, made it to the cover of the New York Times.  It's painful to watch, but it reminds us of the fragility of thoroughbreds despite their size and what can happen for sometimes no apparant reason at all, especially when the race was over and she had already finished a strong second.  I hope it serves as a reminder that we need to do what we can so race horsing is as safe as possible Acknowledging the fact that three years perhaps aren't physically ready to race is worthing considering, as is the point made by someone who posted on the New York Times Rail blog: "I train and race horses in Europe where no medication is allowed and the fatal breakdown rate is half what it is here."

That said, congratulations to Big Brown - he's an awesome horse and it was a well earned victory in the run of the roses, and rest in peace, Eight Belles.

Creating a Consistent Personal Brand

Dan Schawbel, the person everyone should be paying attention to when it comes to personal branding, has an excellent blog post on the importance of creating a consistent brand image on all social networks.

As an example of consistency, here's what I've done:

• My VisualCV
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

As you can see, I've used the same photo and basic information on all my profiles. When you Google "Alison Doyle" all of these profiles rank well, helping me with my personal and professional branding.

It's also important, Dan also notes, to make sure that you claim your name. The last thing you need, especially if you're job seeking is to have someone else showing up as you.