10 Career Blogs and Websites to Follow Next Year

As we head toward the start of a new year (and a new decade) you’ll want the resources to become more successful in your life and career.

One way to do that is to add some of the following websites and blogs to your regular reading schedule.

Harvard Business Review: Provides articles and essays on work life and management with a focus on improving the practice of management in a changing world.

Classy Career Girl:  Anna Runyan provides tips on how to find work you love or create a business you love.

Fast Company: Publishes stories on innovation in technology, leadership, world changing ideas, creativity, and design. Written for and about the most progressive business leaders.

Brendon Burchard: “No matter how small you start, start something that matters.”

Success: brings readers the thought leaders and success experts, both past and present, and reveals their key ideas and strategies to help you excel in every area of your personal and professional life.

The Muse: helps workers win at work, from professional advancement and skills-building to finding a job.

Penelope Trunk: Writing and providing advice at the intersection of work and life.

Glassdoor: covering everything related to career advice along with the latest company headlines.

Forbes: Providing news and advice on leadership, careers, and business.

Entrepreneur: News on starting your own business, leadership, work life, and franchising.

4 Ways to Network Without Networking

You know you need to expand your professional network yet you can't stand traditional networking events. Perhaps you're an introvert and you find a formal networking event intimidating or you just feel like everything said is insincere.

Whatever your reasons for avoiding networking it doesn't change the fact that an effective network can be very important to your career success, especially when you find yourself looking for work.

So, what are your options? If you don't want to attend a networking event try the following four strategies instead:

1. Get social with professional bloggers. Whatever field you're in there is someone blogging about it. Find the influencers and the voices for your industry and follow their blogs. But don't just follow the blogs. Be sure to comment from time to time about specific elements in a post. You just might find yourself becoming friendly with the blogger and other readers, thereby expanding your network.

2. Attend TEDx events or similar conferences. Get recharged by hearing some great speakers. You'll likely leave more motivated and might have a card or two from the woman sitting next to you or the guy you spoke with during a coffee break.

3. Work in a busy coffee shop. If your company allows you to work remotely consider spending some regular time at a local coffee hot spot. As long as you can get work done it can also be a place to engage in casual conversations with others working there.

4. Join online groups through LinkedIn. Similarly to the first point above, by following and commenting on posts made by others you can become engaged with others with similar interests and in similar jobs.

Implement these four strategies and take your networking to a new level.    

How To Make a Successful Blog To Give You An Edge In the Job Market

Maybe you've been a blogger for years but never realized that having one could help you in the job world. Or maybe you never had the idea of starting a blog until now, when you heard all the success stories of blogs becoming famous. Whatever reason you have for starting a blog, I suggest you start soon! Starting a blog is a great way to get noticed and even have a little fun and meet new people.

Here are some tips on starting a blog that can help you land a job:

1. Cater your blog to the niche you'd like to jump into. If you just got your degree in journalism and dream of having a fabulous magazine job, start your own. I've heard many success stories of people starting online magazines that grow into something they never imagined. It doesn't matter what you got your degree in or what job you'd like to have but starting a blog about that field will keep you close to it and share your knowledge and skills.

2. Dig into other blogs and get your name out there. Electronically meeting and networking with people from all over the world who love the same things you do can get your foot in the door just about anywhere.

3. Always be professional. It doesn't matter what type of blog you have, but remember to keep it professional. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, keep things positive, and never indulge too much personal information. When you're blogging, simply remember that you want to make sure you wouldn't be embarrassed if a potential employer were to read it.

4. A blog allows your skills and knowledge to shine in a way that is different and more personal than a resume and cover letter. By allowing potential employers to see a different and unique side of you, it can give you that edge you need to land the job.

5. Once you dive head first into the blogging world and being to connect with other bloggers, you never know who you may meet. Make sure you have an "About Me" page filled with your credentials, Linkedin profile, your resume and photo. Your dream employer might just find you before you find them.

Tips On Becoming A Social Media Savvy Post Grad

Being a post grad these days is tough. We are all excited to graduate with big degrees. After all the excitement is over, we realize we have to find jobs and that we have no money. Many of us have to move back home and spend days after days searching for jobs, realizing most of them are "unpaid internships". My name is Lauren and I'm a recent post grad who graduated in December 2010 from Oakland University with a degree in Journalism. I currently have two part-time internships (luckily paid!). Let's begin with one of my favorite topics, the social media world and how it relates to the job hunt...

Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter are great for catching up with old friends and wasting time. But did you know they're also great for job hunting (as long as you keep things professional)? Here are some tips on how to use social media websites to your benefit when job searching:

1. I'm sure you've already got a Facebook and a Twitter account, but what about Linkedin? Linkedin is the king of professional social media. You can add your resume, network with people you already know or want to meet, ask for recommendations, connect your blog or website to your profile, join groups, search companies and employers, and even search for jobs. It is the number one tool you'll need if you want to use the Internet to your advantage when looking for a job.

2. Facebook and Twitter can help you too! Connect with the pages from your major at college. Most of them offer a page you can follow from not only your University, but your specific program. I connected with Oakland University Journalism and they often post jobs that are available in the area, tips on finding a job in journalism, and help with everything from the interview to your portfolio. Check Twitter too for a page, where they will post similar links to jobs or retweet when someone else posts an available job.

3. The number one rule if you're going to stay on social media while job hunting: keep it classy and professional! You may have your profiles private, but potential employers can often learn ways to see your pictures or even look at your profile. So just make sure your profile picture and recent photos aren't inappropriate in any way or will make you look immature. Keep in mind the things you're posting. Don't bash the job you have now (even if it is a terrible waitressing gig) because your potential employer might think you'll do the same with them. Don't post a ton of immature videos or photos either. You want to come across as mature and responsible as possible.

4. While this is not necessarily considered social media, start a blog if you haven't already. Remember the same rules as above: keep it professional and clean. No swearing or inappropriate language, photos, or videos. One of the best compliments I got from an interview was that I had a nice blog that made her want to talk to me. She said that some people don't even make it to the interview because their blog is messy, unprofessional, or riddled with errors. When I post anything on my blog, I always think "Would I want my mom, a potential employer, my neighbors, my friends, and strangers reading this?" If the answer is no to one of them, I have to change something. A blog is great if you want to get noticed in a different way, especially if you want to showcase your writing abilities. Even if you're not going into a writing field, a blog is still a great way to show that you have opinions and that you're passionate about something. A great blog is always a plus.