This month’s Career Collective question is What is your favorite resource for job seekers? Some of my favorite resources for job seekers are those that allow you to research a company or industry and gain information on key decision makers. Many of the best jobs are in the hidden job market, meaning they are never formally advertised. By building inroads with the right people at the companies you are interested in targeting, you can gain a competitive advantage over job seekers spending most of their time in the open job market, mainly the job boards. By proactively building relationships with industry and company insiders, you increase the likelihood of remaining top of mind should a position become available. Here are a few of my favorite resources for job seekers.
Jigsaw is an online directory of more than 8 million business contacts. Every contact in Jigsaw is complete with full name, title, postal address, hard-to-find email address and telephone number (75% are direct dial). Membership is free and you can get a contact by adding one of your own. For each one you add, you get access to any other in the Jigsaw directory. If you’re too busy to add contacts, you can sign up for a premium account. A monthly fee of $25 guarantees you 25 contacts a month.
FTT Research Leverage information on millions of domestic and international companies and in-depth coverage of thousands of the world’s top business enterprises to identify target companies and business contacts and accelerate your job search.
The Vault allows job seekers to read employee surveys on particular companies and view message boards for sharing job search information.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports comprehensive information on the training and education necessary to be qualified for different professions, working conditions, job earnings, expected job prospects, and job descriptions.
Career One Stop profiles high paying occupations as well as growing and declining industries.
Interested in hearing about more job seeker resources? I am facilitating a free webinar called Find Hidden Job Leads Online and at the Library that will be broadcast in over 100 libraries across the country on September 29 at 3pm EST. You can check with your local library to see if they are participating.
In the meantime, check out the advice on job search resources from my esteemed Career Collective colleagues.
- 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
- Find What You Do Best, Know Your Stuff, and Connect, @chandlee
- 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
Barbara,
I love the idea of “building inroads with the right people at the companies you are targeting … to gain a competitive advantage.” This takes time and research, as well as tact and patience in relationship building.
Thank you for providing a plethora of online resources through which job seekers can navigate to begin paving these inroads. FTT Research is “new” to me, so I’m also taking away a gem from your great post!
Thanks!
Jacqui