Find What You Do Best, Know Your Stuff, and Connect

 

I participate in Career Collective, a community of career bloggers gathered together by Miriam Salpeter and Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter. Each month we share responses to a common question. Up today: Our favorite things. Not raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens. But our top picks for career resources and the job search.

Today, I'm sharing with you three categories of resources that can help you in your job search:

1. Resources that can help you target what you do best,


2. Websites that can help you find resources in your area of interest, and


3. "Sites to make live connections."

 

FINDING WHAT YOU DO BEST: ASSESSING YOUR STRENGTHS

The self-improvement movement thrives on fixing or refining weaknesses, but improving your strengths is equally--and perhaps more--important. Especially when it comes to your work. After all, it is easier to work in a job that plays to your strengths, right?

Here are three of my favorite resources for finding your strengths.

1. Now Discover Your Strengths
   Written by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton, this book includes access to the Clifton Strengths Finder.


2. Change the Way You See Yourself Through Asset Based Thinking
   Fun and helpful read by Hank Wasiak and Kathryn Cramer, with easy suggestions for thinking with your strengths first.


3. Authentic Happiness
   From the research center of Positive Psychology expert Dr. Martin Seligman, this site includes a free Strengths questionnaire. (You'll need to create an account to use it.) 

STRAIGHT TALK AND CLICK TO WHAT YOU NEED

These three websites feature a non-nonsense approach to information sharing. (They remind me of one of my favorite fruits, the pomegranate. They are good for you, and full of nutrients for your career.)

You won't need to download any plug-ins or install the latest version of Flash to use them. You will find the information you need--fast.

1. The Riley Guide
   To my knowledge, this site was one of the first career websites. It is still one of the most comprehensive. Check out the A - Z index.


2. Job-Hunt.org
   Over !5,000 curated links as well as frequently updated content from industry experts. One of the primary sources behind Job-Hunt? Career Collective participant Susan Joyce


3. QuintCareers
   In addition to regular features and resources, Quint Career sponsors an annual Job Search Action Day every November. The Creative Director of Quint Careers is Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. Career Collective participant and expert in storytelling for job search.

FRIENDS WHO WILL KNOW YOU BACK

In any market, personal networking -- and referrals -- are one of the best ways to land a job. Here are three sites that I recommend to make new friends

1. MeetUp.com
   Thousands of personal interest groups are organized and hosted on the website MeetUp.com. MeetUp is a way to go online to form relationships offline. My colleague Donna Sweidan hosts a job search group based in Stamford, Connecticut; I've served as organizer for the NYC Job Seekers Meetup group since April 2007. Check out interest groups in your area; read user ratings and recommendations to pick the one that suits your needs.



2. Professional Associations and LinkedIn Groups.
   Keep pace with trends in your field, make friends who share your interests, and build your visibility. A good professional association can help you do all of these things and more (see this Directory of Associations to find resources for you); you can also join group forums with others who share your professional interests on LinkedIn.com. 


3. Twitter.
   Unlike LinkedIn and Facebook, Twitter users can view status updates of other users instantly--no mutual agreement required to connect. A vast majority of Twitter users don't restrict access to view their accounts, you can choose who you want to "follow"--Twitter vernacular for seeing a user's status update. Twitter's list feature allows you to view the updates of groups of Twitter users in one focused list. (You can also create and publicize your own lists.)
   For individual Twitter users to follow by area of interest, search by keyword on TweepML or look at directories such as Twellow.com or WeFollow.com
   
   For a list of groups of Twitter users by area of interest, see Listorious.com.

 

Know your strengths, seek out the information you need to get started, and connect. These are a few of my favorite strategies. Here are suggestions from my friends and colleagues in the Career Collective:

• If your industry does not participate online, you can lead the way, @Keppie_Careers
• 6 Ideas to Put In Your Toolbox, @WorkWithIllness,
• Your Best Job Search Resource? You!, @WalterAkana
• In a Job Search, Knowledge is Power, @barbarasafani
• Jump Start Your Job Search Now!, @resumeservice
• Favourite Resources for Jobseekers, @GayleHoward
• The Best Job Search Tool Ever, @careersherpa
• 27 Recommended Blogs for Entry-Level Job Seekers, @heatherhuhman
• Invaluable Resources for Job Search Success, @heathermundell
• Favorite Social-Media Resources for Job-seekers, @KatCareerGal
• Canadian Resources for Job Seekers, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland
• A Self-Empowering Job Search Resource, @KCCareerCoach
• Covering your bases: 5 ultra-useful online career resources, @LaurieBerenson
• Favorite resources for Job seekers, @DawnBugni
• Top 3 Resources for Job Seekers to Position Themselves as Experts and Increase their Visibility, @expatcoachmegan
• Time as a Career Resource: How "Not" to Squander It, @ValueIntoWords

Comments

[Rosa Elizabeth Vargas]

Great resources, Chandlee.

Especially the Meetup.com -- will have to share with my clients. Thank you!

Rosa

[Gayle Howard]

What a comprehensive list! And I love that you started with assessing strengths because it is fundamental to every job search. How can people create compelling cases for their services -- whether in a resume or at interview -- if they're not entirely sure what it is they are offering and where their passions lie? Love that! Great resources.

[Career Sherpa]

Chandlee:

Super resources! Sometimes I forget about the Riley Guide- shame on me, you are right, it is a classic.

I loved how you explained using Twitter "...no mutual agreement required to connect." I think that's what makes it such a rich experience. It provides an opportunity to network with people you never could otherwise.