Tools and Tips to Amp Up Your Job Search

Happy Work@50+ Wednesday! Today we’re focusing on websites, apps, and tips that can boost your job search. Learn more about the usual suspects like LinkedIn and Monster.com, plus find some new tools to give your hunt a lift.

In this recent piece, our friend Kerry Hannon shares online jobsite features that might not be familiar to you, even if you've been using these popular sites for a while. For instance, did you know you can add your volunteer experience – as well as search for volunteer opportunities – on LinkedIn? Or identify trending industries that are hiring on Indeed? You can also login to Glassdoor using Facebook to find your “Inside Connections” to companies and view salary reports. It never hurts to refresh your knowledge of the old standbys!

Whether you use your smartphone (or tablet) for your job search because you’re always on the go or because it’s your primary tech tool, there are great apps to help you. From Hidden Jobs, an app that gives you a sneak peek at upcoming company expansions and new locations – meaning new hires! – to Good Job, an app to help you organize your progress during your search, this list of ten apps can streamline your efforts. The best part? Most are free - and the rest are cheap.

Feeling like you've hunted for your new career in all the usual places and come up empty-handed? The truth is the potential for your next great job may be in a very unlikely place. Carol Fishman Cohen found openings for a theatre manager at an HMO and a campus rabbi at a private college. Her point: Don’t worry about matching up to your industry’s perfect employer; look for the employer seeking a candidate that matches your skills and experience.



Speaking of unlikely places to find a job, we loved the suggestion from Nicole Fallon in Business News Daily to tap into your alma mater for job leads. Alumni have access to career services job boards at many schools. Don’t forget about your fraternity, sorority, or service organization networks from your college days, either!


If you've been successful in your job search - or if you have a question about how to proceed with finding work, changing careers, or starting your own business - we'd love to hear from you. Email us and you might find your story or question featured on the next Work@50+ Wednesday!

Today’s post is the most recent in our Work@50+ Wednesday bi-weekly series.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest in the series, as well as our events throughout the state. On Twitter, check out #workat50plus for the latest research and articles on the topic.