Every week I check dozens of “career” blogs and other online publications, looking for things that will help you find a job, get promoted, develop your skills, and keep everything in perspective and balance. Here’s the pick of the lot for this week. I’m pointing you to items about branding yourself, executive job seekers’ biggest mistakes, social media in the job hunt, CareerBuilder survey, and a job hunting reality check.

From Dan Schawbel: How to Brand Yourself Without Alienating Your Company
“There are a ton of arguments and insights on the struggle between personal branding and corporate branding in the blogosphere and through different organizations right now. This might be the hottest topic in this space based on what I’ve read and experienced for myself, being a brand behind a Fortune 200 brand, lately.  I’m prone to getting asked “so how does your company let you do all of this” and “how do you have time to build your brand while having a full time job?”  The fact is that companies are experimenting and trying to understand how high profile (or more visible) brand can support their practices, while not doing any harm.”

Wally’s Comment: Dan Schawbel is one of the premier experts on personal branding and he tackles one of the thorny issues. If you’re employed, how do you build your personal brand without stepping on the boss’s toes?

From Forbes: Executive Job Seekers’ Biggest Mistakes
“According to a survey of 500 executive recruiters commissioned by TheLadders.com, a job search site for people who earn more than $100,000, senior-level applicants are preparing poorly for interviews, putting together weak resumes and appearing too desperate to take any job that comes their way.”

Wally’s Comment: You would think that people who are candidates for high level jobs wouldn’t make dumb mistakes. Think again.

From Career Rocketeer: Why Isn’t Social Media Getting Me a Job?!?
“Social Media is supposed to be the new ‘Holy Grail’ for a successful job search! Isn’t it??? Well, maybe.”

Wally’s Comment: After all the articles I’ve seen touting Social Media as the newest, coolest, and best way to land a new job, this post is very refreshing.

From CareerBuilder: Job and Internship Hunting Myths Busted in Survey
“Looking for an internship or a job after graduation, but think there’s none out there? CareerRookie.com, a division of the nation’s largest online job site, CareerBuilder.com, busts common myths many college students believe about the current hiring environment in a recent survey of more than 200 college students nationwide. ”

Wally’s Comment: Check out the myths. See which ones you believe. Read why you shouldn’t.

From Harrison Barnes: Give People What They Want
“Lately I have been hearing more and more people say that there are no jobs.  I hear this so much it is beginning to make me a bit angry.  There may not be the same number of jobs that there were two years ago; however, there are still jobs.  There are actually tons of jobs, all over the place.  But here is a little reality check.”

Wally’s Comment: Reality check, indeed. This is simply one of the best “reality check” articles that I’ve read. It’s also some of the best life and career advice you’ll ever get.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm and is filed under Tools and Strategies for Success. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.