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.

Related Articles

• The Laid Off Chronicles – The Job Search (ncmayhem.wordpress.com)
• Indeed Slips Past Monster, Now Largest Job Site By Unique Visitors (techcrunch.com)
• We List the Top Job Search Engines (brighthub.com)
• How to Find a New Job: Search Sites You Need to Check Out (drdianehamilton.wordpress.com)

Year End Review 2008 Mayhem Style

Image via Wikipedia

Sitting here I am thinking of what lies ahead for me in 2009. Will the economy come back around? Will my career take a turn I am not expecting? Will my wife and kids continue to drive me insane:) But I can’t really get to far ahead of myself without taking a quick look back at how 08 shaped up for me.

Let’s start with the good things.

My loving Wife – after 15 years of marriage she still puts up with my crap.

My awesome kids – bringing constant enjoyment and chaos to my life (I wouldn’t have it any other way).

Bella – added a new addition to the fam. A black lab puppy named Bella.

Metal – This year a ton of great Metal albums came out. Here is a short review:

• Metallica/Death Magnetic: Metal Gods are back
• Motley Crue/Saints of Los Angeles: It’s like they never went away. Oh yeah, I read Nikki Sixx‘s book “Heroin Diaries“. All I can say is WOW!!
• Disturbed/Indestructible: Best album since their debut
• Slipknot/All Hope is Gone: So so effort I felt.
• Guns n Roses/ Chinese Democracy: Good Axl Solo album, but not a GnR album

Things I’ve Learned – I dove into the social media pool earlier in 08 and I am now swimming without help. I learned that it’s bad to mix my wife’s family with my family at Xmas time (the horror). I can now make an awesome Mango Martini

Capitals: Caps winning the SE division and making the playoffs. Ovechkin winning a ton of NHL awards.

Travel: I traveled to Chicago, Buffalo and to Bermuda. Need to travel more in 09.

Movies: Iron Man and the Dark Night were fantastic

Health: I’ve been averagine 8:49 miles. I haven’t done this since high school

Things that went bump in the night:

Gas prices – Seriously, $4 for gas?

The recession – Great that the government finally admitted that we were in a recession. It only took them a year.

My house – cracked foundation yet again:(

Redskins – They started off great but ended the year in shambles.

Looking ahead I can only wonder what’s going to come across my path. I hate to try and predict the future because that eliminates the surprise of life. I once heard that chaos is good. I could not agree more.

Here to an unpredictable 09.

Related Articles

• 10 Best Metal Albums 2009 (mademan.com)
• Nikki Sixx Finds New Success as a Radio Host (spinner.com)
• Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx Now Available 24/7 on iheartradio! (eon.businesswire.com)
• Nikki Sixx Releasing Second Book (noisecreep.com)

So we’re in a recession. Who knew?

This past week the  National Bureau of Economic Research announced that the US economy has been in a recession since December of last year. Wow, it took them a whole year to determine this? This news didn’t come as a surprise to US citizens, what with the housing situation/high gas prices and now the layoffs.The endless news feeds telling us that another bank has problems or that the auto industry is in trouble.

For all of this I have two words. PRESS ON!!

I was recently in a meeting where the speaker talked about “Press On”. He was referring to the fact that the recession we are in right now is a mere moment in time and that it makes no sense to dwell on the abysmal economy. But to focus on what we personally can control. Making sure that your family is safe and secure. Make sure you are in good health both personally and professionally. With the holiday season is full swing it becomes difficult not to dwell on the negative but remember, a new year brings new possibilities. Think about ways to positively effect what you can control. If you have to make monetary cut backs for the time being then do it. Recessions always end, it just may take longer for this one to end.

So Mayhem, aren’t you concerned about the state of the nation?

Yes I am. Working in the advertising field makes me a prime target for layoffs. For a company the first thing they usually look to do is cut marketing budgets. Which means that my job and others in my field are not as secure as we would like. Everything I have heard points to a reduced advertising/marketing pressence for 2009. Even from a QSR stand point the budgets could be lower in 09. One thing that concerns me with QSR’s is the franchisee’s. Not the really big ones but the “little guys”. The guys that own a handful of stores. I am already hearing that the “little guys” are in financial troubles and that a prolonged recession will all but close them down.

Mayhem, How are dealing with things then?

Well, I crank up the metal \m/ to 11 (Spinal Tap reference) and rock out. I also enjoy the time I have with my wife and kids (I know sappy). I also follow my Redskins and Capitals!

Oh, and I “Press On”.

Related Articles

• Make That Two Scoops… (dave-lucas.blogspot.com)
• The Recession Generation: A Graphic Breakdown (creditloan.com)
• Why There’s No Joy Over the Recession’s End (money.usnews.com)
• The Power of the Post-recession Consumer (fredzimny.wordpress.com)
• Tell me the recession’s over. Tell me another one (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• The recession is over and you’re still jobless (walletpop.com)
• When Do Recessions End? (wallstreetpit.com)
• If Things Are Getting Better, Why Are We So Miserable? (wallstreetpit.com)