The Laid Off Chronicles – The Job Search

Week 2:
Looking for a new job is like staring at the open ocean. It’s vast and filled
with a ton of great possibilities. Ok, maybe that’s not the best analogy but it works for me.
 
It has been a while since my last real job search and I have been amazed at all
the online job searching sites on the web. You have to remember I was apart of
this new fangled website called Monster.com when I worked with TMP Worldwide (aka Stackig Advertising). At the time Monster was new and exciting. There had never been a site like Monster. Fast forward to 2010.

Now there is CareerBuilder, Indeed, TheLadders, TalentZoo, HotJobs, SimplyHired, LinkedIn, Hound and it goes on and on. This endless list of job sites was  intimidating to look through. I asked myself, what is the right job board?” It’s not like Google can just tell me, so I had to go and track them all down.  The answer lies in researching the sites first. I needed to make sure the sites delivered what I was looking for. It is a personal preference on the sites I use. Obviously, I use Monster since I have been using them from the beginning.

Looking for overall jobs at places like Monster or CareerBuilder can be broad at times. I’m a marketer, so I needed to drill down deeper into my field. So instead of having to look at multiple sites all the time, I use Indeed to pull jobs from job boards like Monster and CareerBuilder. Indeed is a good site to use but I also use niche sites like Talent Zoo and Mashable for marketing and social media job postings. One of the coolest sites I’ve found is Elance.com. Elance.com is a  website designed to partner freelancers with employers seeking help. There are listings for admin, finance, account service, creative copywriting and social media freelance work that are posted frequently. If you need a freelance gig this is the site to be apart of.

During my researching of job sites I ran across some helpful guides to reference.  I found two posts in particular:

The Top 20 Job Sites posted on pcmag.com.  This article give highlights from the top 20 job searching sites on the web.

The Top 100 Niche Job Sites posted on Internet Inc.com.  In 2009 Internet Inc.com posted a blog listing the top 100 niche job search websites of 2009. This blog helped me in finding those sites that I may have missed. I highly suggest you check it out.

As you can see searching for a job can be a daunting task. My piece of advise to someone looking for a new job. Start by putting together a plan of what job sites work best for your search. Make sure you have posted your resume to those sites and set up email alerts. I set aside time every morning to look through the job listing. I then revisit these sites throughout the day to see if there are new posting coming in. Putting this time to do research first will enable you to hit the ground running when looking for that perfect job.

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The Laid Off Chronicles.

Week 1:

It was a Monday morning just like any other Monday morning. I got up at 7. Walked the dogs, got the kids ready for school and got myself ready for work.

It was a balmy morning. I had condensation on my car windows. I backed out of the driveway without being able to see almost hitting the mailbox. That should have been a sign that the day was not going to go well.

Before I went to work I needed to stop by a clients shop to pick up a camera we were going to use for a shoot. I picked it up and went on my way to work. While driving to work I felt a bump on my lip. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the beginnings of a cold sore. That was sign number two that I should just turn around and go home.

I arrived at work and started my daily routine of checking email and some online sites for news and content. I received a call from my boss asking me to come by and chat. It did not go well…..

Laid Off!!

D’OH!

I left my boss’s office thinking about what a great opportunity this was going to be. You must be thinking that I am crazy but I really felt good about the lay off. Yes, money is going to be an issue but I now have freedom. Being laid off forces me to branch out of my comfort zone and look for opportunities around the country (just don’t tell my wife). I immediately started to network. I first posted my situation on Facebook and the outpouring of good thoughts and people wanting to help was phenomenal. I then went on to LinkedIn and made sure all my setting were up to date. I contacted old collegues and asked for recommendations. One thing to note: You should ask for recommendations way before something like this happens. Also, keep your resume fresh. It helps when you have to post it on a job board quickly.

So with that I am starting a series of blog posts dealing with my being laid off. I might even add some video content as well. I am a little camera shy though…..

Oh, and if you are reading this and need a communications professional send me a message. Click Communications Professional to view my resume. 🙂

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