Alison Doyle

Bittersweet Job Search Success

I should know by now the bittersweet feeling I get when a colleague I helped gets an offer for their dream job - and takes it.   I happily review resumes, tweak cover letters, share job leads, and offer whatever assistance I can with their job search.

I'm thrilled when they get a new job, especially when they did all the right things to expedite and manage their job search.  I forget though, until it happens, that I feel a little sad, as well. 

When someone you work closely with moves on, it isn't quite the same.  You're still friends, of course, and you'll stay in touch, but that close working relationship you had is going to be over.  I miss them, even though I wish them the best of success in their new position that has moved them a notch or two up the career ladder.

On the other hand, it's not like the old days where you had to call someone to stay in touch. With LinkedIn and Facebook it's easy to keep up - with the little details of life, as well as the big milestones. And that's good.

When You Ask Me to Look at Your Job Site

I get requests every day from job sites asking me to add links from my site.  Some of the sites are worth adding and are valuable resources for job seekers, some aren't.

I got a nice polite request from Mployd this week, asking me to take a look and asking for any advice I might have.  I liked the site and I added a link. It was as simple as that.

On the other hand, I got a request from a site that does video interviewing and said it was the only site that offers video interviews. Huh? When I asked if he had heard of HireVue or LiveHire, I got a snippy reply asking why I gave them preferential treatment. Huh? Again.

I got a similar message from someone who said his site was better than Glassdoor.com. It was hard to tell whether it was, or wasn't, because there were so many ads I could barely see the content. My guess is it wasn't.

Then they are the sites that require registration.  Please send me a user name/password I can use to login and review your site.  I am not going to register - there aren't enough hours in the day.

The more polite and honest you are, and the easier you make it for me to look at your site, the more likely I am to take a look in a timely manner.  I don't have much time to waste, so it will help both of us.

Unemployment Extension Signed

President Bush signed legislation yesterday that extends unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks for those who have exhausted regular benefits.

The unemployment extension covers workers who have exhausted benefits (the beginning date varies by state) through  March 2009.  If you are already receiving unemployment, you won't need to reapply.  If you have run out of benefits check with your state unemployment office to see if you're eligible for additional unemployment compensation.

This is good news for workers who are out of benefits, some of whom are close to losing everything. Take a look at these comments on my unemployment extension post, to get an idea of what people are up against.

Do You Have a Cool Job?

I'm getting some good contributions to my collection of cool jobs articles:

• Alaska Fishing Jobs
• Climbing Jobs
• Culinary Arts Careers
• Disney Employment
• Sales Coach
• Ski Resort Jobs

I'm hoping to be able to create a "top ten" list of cool jobs for an an article on my About.com Job Search site, so I'd love some additions for the list.

If you have a cool job and would like to share your story, you can contribute a guest article here.

Job Search Facebook Group

Are you interested in job searching and career building advice, tips, and techniques,  job searching technology, online networking, and professional branding? 

Are you looking to grow your career or find a job?  Do you need job search assistance or tips on making connections and advice on how to use all the available resources to help expedite your job search?

Join the Facebook Job Search Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17420995086

The Job Search Group is open to everyone who's interested in jobs and careers.

Happy Anniversary to Me

It's my 10th anniversary today.  My About.com Job Search site went live 10 years ago today.  I can't even begin to track how job searching has changed over those years.  Job search engines didn't exist, the technology that allows job seekers to easily create and upload resumes and cover letters wasn't even close to as effective as it is now.  There weren't any of the tools or widgets or gadgets that make a job seeker's life easier, let alone blogs or social and professional networking sites.  Online job searching is a total different world than it was back then.

That's part of why my job is still fun, even after all these years.  Keeping track of the new job search sites, trying to figure out what's good - and what's not, what will be hot - and what will be a bust, keeps things interesting.

The other part of why I love my job, is all the people - career experts, About.com Guides and staff, and job seekers, I have met (mostly online, some in person) over the years.  I appreciate the support, advice,  wisdom, and friendship you have shared with me.   

To add a little bit of irony to the day, 10 years ago, my daughter had just graduated from kindergarten.  She's in high school and thinking about college now.  Today, she started volunteering at the same child care center where she spent her pre-school years.  Many of the teachers are still there and they all remembered her, so it was like deja vu for me, dropping her off there morning. I had a twinge of regret at how fast the years have flown by...

Where to Get Job Search Help

Do you need to find a job and not getting anywhere?   That can happen readily enough, even when you're doing all right things.   There is help an assistance available, both online and in-person for job seekers:

About.com Job Search Forum
Ask (oranswer) job search and employment questions, start a new discussion, and connect with other job seekers and with career experts.

Job Search Facebook Group
Interested in job searching and career building advice, tips, and techniques,  job searching technology, online networking, and professional branding?

Job Search Books
My job search books will help you organize an effective job search and find a job new - fast.   

• The About.com Guide to Job Searching
• Internet Your Way to a New JobPlease note: Special pricing is available for career counselors and coaches (email me for details).

OneStop Job Search Guide
Here are all the resources you'll need for a successful job search including how to write resumes, CVs, cover letters and other employment letters,
where to look for jobs, how to conduct a job search, how to interview successfully and negotiate compensation, and how to research employment
related benefits and legal matters.

Rock Star Moments

My dear friend and colleague, Susan Heathfield, About.com's Guide to Human Resources shared her rock star moment this week.   I was thrilled to hear about how well her presentation went and the accolades it received.

In seems to have been a week for moments, for us.  A colleague told me that my book, Internet Your Way to a New Job, was a big hit at a conference he attended.  Someone else informed me that both my books were promoted at another career event. I've been interviewed and quoted quite a bit over the last week and my In Box keeps getting so full that my head is spinning a little.   

All of which is good. Despite the fact that the job market isn't great, there is still action on the careers/job front, which means that there are more resources available that job seekers can use to expedite and focus their job search.  I'm not quite there yet, but I almost have a top ten new job search sites list and we're only half way through the year!

Extending Unemployment Benefits

I'm glad to hear that there appears to be a deal in Congress to extend unemployment benefits.  I've heard from too many people recently who are out of unemployment benefits or about to run out, both via email and comments on my About.com Job Search blog.

It's really sad when you hear from people who have lost their retirement, are close to losing their apartment, are behind in all their payments - and are out of unemployment.  These aren't people, contrary to what some elected leaders might think, who are waiting for the extension as a way to stay out of work longer. These are people who have sent out hundreds of resumes, interviewed, and done all the right things, without success, in a difficult job market.

The House approved legislation yesterday that includes a 13 week extension and the Senate should pass it next week.  I hope the President signs it in short order, so there's a little relief for out of work job seekers who are about out of options.

Good New Job Search Sites?

I can't remember the last time I was impressed by two new job search sites in the same week. However, it just happened for the first time in a long time. 

GigaChef.com is full of career resources for culinary professionals and Glassdoor.com is full of reviews, ratings, company information, salaries, CEO approval rating, competitors, content providers, and more company information. You will need to register for both of them, but it's worth the few seconds it takes to sign up.

If you know of any other good sites I should be taking a look at, please let me know.  I'm always interested in what's new and noteworthy.