5 Job Blogs to Read in '09

If you are looking for a little bit of motivation and straight talk to get you going in 2009, here is a list of 5 great sites to get some solid career advice from. They are a part of my daily reads and I learn from them every time the keyboard hits the screen. Enjoy.

1. Brazen Careerist - This site is geared towards Gen-Y and the younger worker and has over 100 of the top young bloggers telling it like it is. Love them or hate them, Gen-Y is coming strong into the workforce over the next few years and Brazen Careerist is a great place to learn from the mouth itself.
2. Wiser Worker Blog - WiserWorker.com, a job site for older and mature workers has a fantastic resource for job seekers that are making a transition in careers or are looking to get back into the labor pool after retirement. It is written by Amy Hoster and is updated a few times a week with great content.
3. Lindsey Pollak Career Advice Blog - A JobSpot favorite and consistent advice giver. Look for Lindsey on Podcasts, her own writing and new syndication with ABC News on Campus.
4. Personal Branding Blog - While not a job specific blog, Dan Schawbel does an excellent job in helping you understand hwo your personal brand will ultimately help your career. As an added bonus, Dan interviews top CEO's and business leaders to gain their perspective on their job, career and branding outlook.
5. ERE.net - This is a great series of blogs that works from the recruiter end. If you ever wanted to get into the head of a top recruiter to see what they are looking for, trends in the industry and how you can get a step ahead, this is a great resource for you.

Those are my top 5. What do you have that you can bring to the table?

Have a great holiday.

Making a Difference in Your Job Search Today

While browsing through job tip articles across the web, I ran across an article by Lindsey Pollak that highlighted 11 key tips in finding a job in today's landscape. I find Lindsey's work refreshing, as she stresses the importance of working hard to find a job and that if you put in the time, have the resources and build your network, there is an opportunity out there for you.

Some of the highlights in her post include:
#7 - Volunteer. Lindsey says,

"Instead of using this time to worry about when you’ll land a job, use this time to help other people. Especially during the holiday season, volunteer opportunities are everywhere."

I agree. I think that volunteering not only allows you to help others, but also fosters your soft skills like communication, team work and leadership abilities.

#9 - Build your personal brand. Here Lindsey says,

"It includes developing personal “marketing materials” (your resume, a website or career-related blog, a work portfolio, business cards, etc.), having a professional online presence, practicing the way you introduce yourself and more."

With the tools that web provides and the low start up cost (use Blogger to get a FREE blog and all Social Networks cost you nothing but time) there is no reason not to be online, networking and building up credibility for yourself and the industry that you want to work in.

#10 - Send holiday greetings.

"use the holiday season as an excuse to reach out to every single person you know or even sort-of know,"

says Lindsey. Break out the old school pen and paper and foster the relationships that you have build throughout the years, whether it is a past co-worker, former boss, relatives or past clients and customers. Be genuine in your approach and the communication channels will re-open.

Head over to Lindsey Pollak's blog to read the rest of the tips and be sure to subscribe to her RSS feeds for the latest in job seeking advice.

To read more from Lindsey and a conversation she had with the Orlando JobSpot click here.

-Greg Rollett