This is a guest blog post by job hunter Sally Lawton. Career Websites make it seem as if all you have to do is post your resume, and abracadabra, the phone will be ringing off the hook with glamorous job offers. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Checking the count of employers viewing my resume on Monster makes it very clear that job seekers must dust off their offline job skills in order to make the internet job search work for them. For all of the pizazz that career websites offer, it is ultimately the tried and true methods of pounding the pavement, networking, and polishing your resume that will guarantee success. Indeed, those who maintain these skills will have the most success with all aspects of their job search, both online and off. I was reminded of this quite unexpectedly during my most recent, and successful, job search.As any self-respecting Internet nerd would, I began my job search online. I posted my resume to several career Websites, both traditional and … [Read more...] about The Online Job Search Is Not Enough
Your Boss Could Be a Dictator
He got his start laying pipe for the Atlas Water and Sewer company. Eventually, he climbed the ranks, becoming responsible for a staff of 800 and annual revenue exceeding $120 million. His name is Victor Kipling. This is his weekly column. After wishing you, kind readers, the very best for the New Year, you should know that I've been asked - or ordered, more to the point - by my editor, to offer this first article of the new year in as positive a light as possible. After all, we do indeed believe in the possibility of new beginnings, and your humble narrator is no exception. And so we strive to maintain a mostly peaceful co-existence and balancing act between the eternal optimist and the hard-edged cynic. And maybe, just maybe, some truth comes out of this mix.As we're forced to suffer through but another media-saturated and truly pathetic political season, the relationship between politics and the office environment becomes all the more interesting. No, this isn't at … [Read more...] about Your Boss Could Be a Dictator
Gun Made From Office Supplies
This takes being bored at the office to an entirely new level. This gun can really hurt someone. Be careful, and be nice to your cubemates! … [Read more...] about Gun Made From Office Supplies
Road to a Better Driving Commute
The average drive-time to work across the country is approximately 25 minutes. That equals more than 100 hours a year, longer than the amount of vacation time you probably get. We've already shared tips on how to make your driving commute productive. Now we want to help you shake things up. Break the monotony of your drive to and from work by trying one or several of the following tips:CHANGE YOUR ROUTESeveral years at the same job can mean repeating the same commute thousands of times. Even the most interesting drive will become boring. Why not try to get to and from work with a completely new route? Whether it's a change to side roads or highways, a new path will help you: shake up you boring routine; be more alert; you will notice new and interesting things such as restaurants and/or landmarks. Heck, you might even find that you've been taking the long way home for years. Explore Google maps and give this a try several times a month.CHANGE … [Read more...] about Road to a Better Driving Commute
WorkHack: Save Money While at Work
If you're like the Jobacle gang you're likely living paycheck to paycheck. What if we told you that there's a way to save money while you're at work. You'll hardly be able to retire young, but you can set yourself up for some financial wiggle room. Here are some helpful penny-pinching MoneyHacks: Buy In Bulk – The vending machine at work charges $1 for a bottle of water. For the price of three I can buy a 24-pack at the local supermarket. Water often goes on sale for $3.99 for two dozen. Even if you don't want to wait for a sale that standard price is usually $5.99. Either way, it's better than visiting the vending machine. It doesn't have to stop with water. Other good items to buy in bulk include cereal, tea or any other item you like to snack on. Never Order In – Aside from the obvious expense of tax and tip for the delivery person, it's commonplace to overpay for your food when a work group orders in. Bringing food from home will not only save you money, … [Read more...] about WorkHack: Save Money While at Work
Nice Resume Templates With Mployd
This is a guest blog post by job hunter Sally Lawton. Company: mployd.comSlogan: Where Hiring HappensPros: Slick resume templates Cons: Hard to use job search engine, limited sample size, you can get more from more traditional sitesIn Job Search 2.0, there are several key features that every career site should have: social networking, sophisticated marketing tools, and a robust job search engine. Unfortunately, having all of these components doesn't necessarily mean success. Mployd, with its kicky name and sharp display, has all of these characteristics, but they won’t necessarily help you find a job. Social networking on Mployd consists of a system where a user’s colleagues can vouch for them. Vouching is supposed to work like a recommendation; however, it is unclear how much value an employer will place on a user’s vouches. After all, there is no way of knowing if the vouches are valid data on a user’s employability. Because of this, it seems … [Read more...] about Nice Resume Templates With Mployd
Oprah Listens to the Working Podcast on Jobacle
Or not. Back on May 24, 2005 the 11th episode of the Working Podcast featured a clip from a street musician I discovered underground at Penn Station. It was the first time I actually heard music that I didn't have to run away from as I waited for my train. Fast forward to December 31, 2007 (the show originally aired on May 10, 2007) and guess who pops up on Oprah's "Discovered on a Subway" episode? None other then the very same singer, Susan Cagle. Apparently, years back she wrote a letter to Miss O and has now recorded it as a song. I've always prided myself on "calling" bands. From up-and-coming artists signed to a label, to the guys playing the local dive - even friends' bands. I have a knack for who's gonna make it to the big show. Most of the time it's a no-brainer. Hearing Susan's pop-friendly sound several years back was memorable enough for me to fly out of my chair as my wife watched Oprah. "I know that girl," I said repeatedly. Browsing the Working Podcast archives today … [Read more...] about Oprah Listens to the Working Podcast on Jobacle
13 Career Resolutions for YOU in 2008
When it comes to work, many of us have the same resolutions. We figured we'd save you the time and type them up for you. If you truly want to get your career on the right track or just have a better attitude towards work, we recommend you start off slow, picking one or two of the items below and building from there.Set a Deadline on "Perfecting" Your ResumeThe longer you wait to send it out, the longer it will take you to land a new job. You need to get it error-free but not at the expense of never finishing it. Resumes are fluid. Do not be afraid to hit the send button.Narrow Down What You Want to DoJust saying that you want a new job is a temporary solution. You must ask yourself the hard questions. You also need to rely on family and friends to give you an unbiased view at what you are good (and not so good) at.Stop Reading This WebsiteOk. I really don't want you to give up your Jobacle addiction but I would like you to take more action and do less research. Trolling … [Read more...] about 13 Career Resolutions for YOU in 2008
Sick Day Calendar 2008
A new year is upon us and that means it's time for the Official Sick Day Calendar from your friends at Jobacle. Get your excuses ready now! Remember, only a sucker loses days at the end the year!BLACK Calendar // WHITE Calendar Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: You have a dream. And it's four straight days away from your boss's ugly mug and Microsoft Outlook. Call in sick on Friday, January 18 and Tuesday, January 22. Winter's in full swing and the "flu" is hard to fight. Make MLK proud!Valentine's Day: Romance has a price. You'll be oozing so much love that a full 24 hours to recover is in order. Get the sniffles so you can snuggle on Friday, February 15.President's Day: Honor thy country. Since you didn't even know Hayes and Tyler were presidents, you better take off Friday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 19 to study. I sense a headache.And for those of you with big cajones, you can bridge Valentine's Day and President's Day … [Read more...] about Sick Day Calendar 2008
Best of Jobacle 2007
What an amazing year! I can bore you with details on our ridiculous traffic growth or how Jobacle continues to establish itself as a major career advice and employment news destination. Instead, I rather thank each and every one of our loyal readers and listeners from the bottom of my heart. Jobacle was partially created because of a void I felt existed with career Websites. The advice they dish is generic, many of their writers have no clue what it's like to live in the trenches and they all have an agenda to sell, sell, sell!At the rapid rate we've grown, you have proven that I am not the only one who thinks this way. You're tired too. We might not be able to eradicate the world of people still willing to click on "How to Network at the Holiday Party" or "Bullet Points and Your Resume," but we sure can try!We have huge plans for 2008. We hope you'll join us for the ride by subscribing to the blog and the podcast.Now let's take a … [Read more...] about Best of Jobacle 2007