Alison Doyle

Best Blogs for Your Job Search

One of the things that's good to do when job searching is to find the time to read career advice. 

There's so much information out there that it's hard to know what's good advice, what isn't, and where to begin.  In order to narrow it down a little here are some lists of the best blogs for job searching.

The Best Blogs for Job Searching

• 100 Best Blogs for Your Job Search
• RiseSmart Career 100
• 10 Great Career Blogs

Fake Employment References

I think (or hope) that everyone knows that fake employment references aren't going to get you a job, even though there are lots of people pitching a site which will provide a fake reference for you if you were fired, quit or whatever from your last job.

First of all, lying usually comes back to haunt you - and using a fake reference is a lie.  Secondly, if you get caught at any time in the future, it's grounds for firing you.  Is it worth the risk? There are also legal issues with giving false information on a job application, which you'd have to do.

Also, many companies use reference checking services that will investigate your background, as well as the checking your references.  The 800# that the site I recently saw is using is going to be a red flag to a potential employer, rather than a direct local number for a manager, supervisor or HR dept. If reference checking is done by mail, a PO box is a red flag, too.

You can add any web site that promises to give you a "good" fake reference to the list of scam sites.  Don't waste your money and don't jeopardize your future employment opportunities by trying to fake it.

More: References

Help a Job Seeker Today

I love JobAngels' mission - to help just one person find a job.  What's important about what JobAngels is doing is that you don't need to be a career coach or resume writer or job search expert or anything like that to help.  We can all help just one person. 

What can we do to help - on a personal basis? Make connections happen. Refer a job seeker to someone you know who might be able to help. If you find a good job site or a job lead, pass it along.  Offer to proof a resume or a cover letter.  Write a recommendation on LinkedIn and offer to be a reference.

If you can afford it, give a friend or family member a gift certificate for groceries or even a check. Again, if you can afford it, pay a bill for someone who can't.  

Most of all, offer encouragement and support. Just knowing someone cares makes a big difference it tough times.

Helping just one person every day can make a big difference in that person's life and in the next person's - because when someone is helped, they are more likely to help someone else and it sort of snowballs into a movement like JobAngels has done.

So, take a few minutes out of your busy day and help just one job seeker. You'll be glad you did.

Think Snow - 09/10 Ski Season Jobs

For everyone who thinks snow, it's not to start looking for a ski job for this ski season, ski resorts are starting to hire.  Cool Works already has a list of current openings, information on the ski resorts, jobs, room and board, and benefits. 

If you have a specific resort you're interested in, you can also check directly with the ski resort web site.  Most resorts have hiring information on their web site, and many plan on having job fairs on site as we get closer to ski season.  Don't forget to follow your favorite ski resorts on Twitter, too - most have a presence there and now's a good time to connect.

Here's more information on the types of ski jobs that are available and how to find a ski job from About.com's Skiing Guide, Mike Doyle (@MikeDoyleSki), who I am lucky enough to get to travel with to some of the top ski resorts here and abroad.

More: Skiing

Pink Slip Parties

What's a Pink Slip Party?  A Pink Slip Party is an opportunity to mingle and mix with companies, recruiters, and other job seekers, and may be an opportunity to network your way to a new job.

Pink Slip Parties are a great way for those who have lost their jobs to make new connections and there are lots of them on the calendar.

Business casual is the most appropriate attire to wear to a Pink Slip Party, unless the invitation says otherwise.   Sign up early, because most events fill up fast.

Pink Slip Parties

JobNob Happy Hours

Pink Slip Parties Toronto (Monthly)

Pink Slip Mixers Calendar
Southern California:
Wednesday July 22 - Pasadena
Tuesday July 28 - Hermosa Beach
Wednesday Aug. 5 - Orange County
Monday Aug. 17 - Long Beach

Northern California:
Monday Aug. 10 - San Jose
Wednesday Aug. 12 - Eastbay location TBD

More:

Pink Slip Parties on Twitter | Pink Slip Party Facebook Group | Network Your Way to a New Job

Minimum Wage to Increase

The federal minimum wage is increasing to $7.25 an hour on Friday, July 24.  That's up from $6.55 an hour, the current federal minimum wage.

Some states have a higher minimum wage. California, for example, is $8 an hour. Workers in those states won't see an increase. However, if your state's is lower you'll get a raise.  Federal and state law have different minimum wage rates, the higher standard applies.

The Department of Labor has a chart you can take a look at to see what the minimum wage is in your state.

More: Minimum Wage

You Don't Have to Tweet to Find a Job

One of the questions I get asked all the time is how important is social media to job searching.  Job seekers wonder, especially those who aren't there already, if they need be to on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or any or all of the other networking sites in order to find a job. 

The question is a good one. Especially when you haven't used social media and don't have an online presence. There's a time investment in getting started and the outcome, to be honest, is going to vary.  Some people's job search will be enhanced, others won't get mileage out of it.  It really depends on who you are and what type of job you're looking for.

In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say for most people you don't need to tweet to find a job. It's time consuming and can be annoying, even though you can good job leads and career advice.  It's helpful, but not a necessity.

If I had to recommend one - and only one - networking site, it would be LinkedIn.  It's quick and easy to sign up and create a Profile. Everyone should have one and it's a terrific resource for connecting on a professional level.  Here's more on using  LinkedIn to job search.

For those who want more, and it certainly can benefit your job search, here's how to get started using social media as part of your job search strategy.

How to Really Find a Job Online

Need help job searching online?  Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online will provide you with everything you need to know about the process of online job searching, professional branding, social and professional networking, and using social media to job search with uncomplicated advice, tips, and techniques on how to effectively find a new job and grow your career.

The new edition includes all the latest job search sites, tools, trends, including Twitter, VisualCV, professional branding, online networking, video, and podcasts, along with the top sites for job seekers and career changers.

Special Offer for Job Seekers
Save 15% on the paperwork or 20% on the eBook
Internet Your Way to a New Job

Who Needs Job Search Help?

When you looking at the magnitude of the official unemployment numbers - 14.7 million, it's mind boggling, and I don't think the numbers tell the whole story of how bad the job market really is.

It's even more mind boggling, for me, when I look at it on a personal level.  In addition to all the job seekers I hear from daily (and it's a lot), this is the first time in all the years I've been writing about jobs and careers that so many of my friends, family, and others I know personally are out of work.

It's Lena's daughter and Suzanne's son, it's someone I worked with years ago and someone I've worked with recently, it's a colleague's husband and another colleague's fiancee, it's my cousin and it's my nephew, it's my neighbor's son, just to mention a few.  I should probably try and get a count, but I think I'd rather not know.

I'm sure it's the same for everyone reading this - the people affected by the economy, if it's not ourselves, are all someone one of us knows - it runs across the spectrum of workers. From teens who can't find a summer job to top executives. 

What can we do to help - on a personal basis? Make connections happen. Refer a job seeker to someone you know who might be able to help. If you find a good job site or a job lead, pass it along.  Offer to proof a resume or a cover letter.  Write a recommendation on LinkedIn and offer to be reference.

If you can afford it, give a friend or family member a gift certificate for groceries or even a check. Again, if you can afford it, pay a bill for someone who can't.  

Most of all, offer encouragement and support. Just knowing someone cares makes a big difference it tough times.

New Good Job Sites

A colleague and I were talking yesterday about how back in the "old days" of the Internet, the mission of new job sites was two-fold - of course to make money, but also to actually help job seekers. 

The goal was to make job searching easier (the job search engines), to help people connect professional (LinkedIn) and to reinvent the wheel.  A lot of that, along with ethics, have gone by the wayside in an attempt to make a quick buck off job seekers in a down job market.

However, after griping and complaining about bad job search advice and bad job sites the other day, I'm thrilled to switch to the positive and to be able to recommend some new job sites.

Here are some good new job sites that are worthing incorporating into your job search:

• Jobsphere (for students and recent grads)
• OneWire (finance jobs)
• AllianceQ (Fortune 500 companies recruiting site)

Plus, here are a few that are not brand new, but are definitely worth using:

• Jobnob (salary info and jobs)
• Jobshouts (jobs on Twitter)
• Twitter Job Search (jobs on Twitter)

I'm always interested in taking a look at new sites, so if you know of more good (that's the important sites) please let me know.