Job Search Tools

In The Layoff Survival Guide, I provide extensive information and resources to help you launch an effective job search campaign. Here is a sampling of some of the lesser known resources mentioned in the guide:

Company research, salary surveys and "insider" guides: Good research is an essential component of successful interviewing. Performing due diligence when researching people and companies pays off on several fronts – you’ll uncover leads, be able to dazzle the interviewer with your insights, and when it comes to salary negotiation, you’ll be prepared with solid facts and figures.

Vault.com is a favorite site of mine for in-depth research on companies, industries, law firms and consulting firms. They have an impressive array of "insider" reports to help you gain that needed edge over your competitors.

Job Search Business Cards: Just as you needed a business card when you were working, you’ll want to have a business card to hand out when networking, interviewing or simply socializing. Don’t be concerned that you need something fancy. Unless you’re in a creative industry, where style counts, it’s best to design a card that is simple, easy to read, and professional. If you have a good quality computer and printer at home, you can get away with making your own cards, or if you’d prefer a more polished look, you can order cards at a local printer or office supply store. Here is a great online source for ordering free/and or inexpensive (but very professional) cards: Vistaprint.com:

Reference Checks: In today's competitive job market former job references can make or break your career. Using a job reference checking service offers an accurate way to confirm that these job references will enhance your chances, rather than stand in your way of securing the position you desire.

As an example, Allison Taylor has twenty years of experience in professional reference checking and employment verification. You can check out the range of their services by clicking here.

Job Boards: There are thousands of job boards on the internet, and with so many sites to choose from, it’s no wonder that job seekers spend a disproportionate amount of their job search time ferreting out the best sites. Unfortunately, the reality is that only a small percentage (generally understood to be less than 10%) of people actually locate their jobs online.

Keeping that statistic in mind, you want to insure that the time you do spend online perusing the job banks is as effective as possible. To help you, we have partnered with Indeed.com to bring you million of job listings right here on our site.

Niche Boards:In addition to the millions of job on Indeed, there are thousands of smaller boards that serve specialized niches. While these boards have fewer listings than their “Monster” counterparts, job seekers (and employers) often prefer them, because they tend to be more focused and easier to navigate.

For example, if you are an executive who is looking for job postings in the six-figure range, you should devote a significant percentage of your time to sites like:

6FigureJobs.com: This site has one of the largest listings of six-figure jobs on the internet. If you earn over $100k+ a year and have at least six years of industry experience, this is the place to post your resume.

TheLadders.com also hosts an impressive collection of online job listings and information for professionals seeking employment with incomes from $100K to $500K. The company's tools, content and community help empower individuals to find the jobs most important to them and to direct their resumes to prospective employers.

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