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 career magic, the importance of staying power, helping headhunters find you, the power of networking, and how to find a job in a down economy.

From Michael Wade at US News and World Report: The One Move That Makes for Career Magic

“Seasoned climbers, of course, won’t rule out moving laterally in order to move up. They don’t waste time or energy on a route that is not promising, and they scoff at any reliance on magic. There is another factor, however, that can kick in when it comes to careers that is, in a way, almost magical: Take some time off several times a week for an activity that is seemingly unrelated to career advancement. Exercise is probably the best choice since its benefits include reduced stress and increased confidence. Volunteer work can also take you away from career obsessions while providing needed perspective and meaning.”

Wally’s Comment: This is one of those things that don’t make it into the run-of-the-mill how to have a swell career books. But it works.

From 45 Things: Got Grit?

“You can be the sharpest knife in the drawer, the most well-educated person in your workplace, ambitious, quick-witted and charming — and a failure.”

Wally’s Comment: Intelligence is no guarantor of success in a job. In fact years ago there was study that concluded the Nobel Laureates were not necessarily smarter than other scientists. But they were better finishers. Maybe you could say that they had grit.

From Karen Burns at US News and World Report: How to Lead a Headhunter to Your Head

“Need a job? A headhunter may be your answer. But how do you get your head hunted? It’s simple but not easy: The way to find a good headhunter is to put yourself in places where headhunters will find you.”

Wally’s Comment: Another stellar post from Karen Burns. Good advice wrapped in entertaining prose.

From Scott Bradley at Networking Effectively: “If you don’t have something nice to say…”

“Because of the six degrees of separation we are all connected together in some way. Based on the amount of “direct” contacts we have, the smaller our networking circle becomes. ”

Wally’s Comment: My mother told me not to say bad things about others. Now Scott Bradley tells all of us why that advice is even more potent in today’s networked world.

From Jim Stroud at the Recruiter’s Lounge: How to find a job when the economy sucks

“I recently gave a webinar on job hunting for Recruiters that were unemployed, under-employed or unhappily-employed. It seems to me that there is a need for this type of information, especially in these “interesting” times. That being the case, I have decided to post the slides and notes from my webinar here for all to use. Please pass on these notes to other recruiters, HR personnel, or anyone looking for a new opportunity.”

Wally’s Comment: This really three posts about how to find a job, no matter what.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 1:22 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.