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 communicating with hiring managers, the hidden job market, what to do if you have (or are) a younger boss, what to do if you’re frustrated by your job search, and how to survive coming back from vacation.

From the Wall Street Journal: Thx for the IView! I Wud? to Work 4 U!!

“Hiring managers like Ms. Johnson say an increasing number of job hunters are just too casual when it comes to communicating about career opportunities in cyberspace and on mobile devices.”

Wally’s Comment: Here’s a handy tip. That cool text message shorthand that works so well with your college buds may not be quite as impressive if you use it for business communication.

From Fortify Your Oasis: Finding a position in ‘the hidden jobs market’

“It’s not like it used to be. You can’t just open the Appointment pages of your broadsheet newspaper of record and find the job of your dreams. In many instances now, the first time you hear about a job is after it has been filled. This has been christened the ‘hidden jobs market’ and it is frustratingly like an iceberg – only a small percentage of the available jobs are above the waterline.”

Wally’s Comment: The best article I’ve seen on working the current version of the hidden jobs market.

From Where Great Workplaces Start: Your Boss Is Younger Than You…Now What?

“Bridging this generation gap alone is common among coworkers today, with workplaces often having 2-3 different generations working together. What happens when one of the younger employees becomes the boss of an older employee? It’s not uncommon to find tension in these situations, however there are several ways for both the boss and his or her employee to work well together.”

Wally’s Comment: This is a good article about one of those things people talk about, but don’t ever seem to write about.

From Ask a Manager: recent grad frustrated by job search

“I got my B.A. at a prestigious university over six weeks ago, and since then I’ve been actively pursuing a job in government, law or policy. But after a few dozen applications and several interviews, I have no offers. I realize that many people go far longer without having a job, but the pressure is on and desperation is beginning to set in.”

Wally’s Comment: I included this post because it’s good, but also because of the timing. This is about the time of summer when college graduates who thought they’d be happily and lucratively employed by now start to get desperate. But desperate money never wins and besides, it may be your expectations that need adjusting.

From the Chief Happiness Officer: Top five tips to beat the post-vacation blues

“Aaaahhh… Summer vacation. Depending on your fancy it’s time to lie on the beach with a good book, wear out your shoe soles exploring a strange city or scream your head off skydiving or in some other adrenaline-driven pursuit. But invariably the vacation ends and you go back to work, and that transition can be a little rough.”

Wally’s Comment: Yep, BFVDS, Back from Vacation Depression Syndrome, coming soon to a diagnostic manual near you. Don’t despair. Instead, read Alex Kjerulf’s helpful and enjoyable post.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 12:30 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.