One year ago, Brian McCullough, the founder and CEO of ResumeWriters.com, saw the first warning signs that the economy was about to head into a downward spiral. So, he decided to take his experience and expertise and put them into a career advice blog. The result is The JobBored.
Unlike other career sites, which focus mainly on people who are seeking career changes, The JobBored also looks to help people improve and enhance an existing job. McCullough says he aims to help his readers “get ahead at work (or just get through the work day).”
His advice is straightforward and unflinching about the tough times we find ourselves in, but also with a sense of humor. He notes that people who currently have good jobs should be holding onto them for dear life right now, and if you sense that your job may be endangered, “get your butt in gear.” He also notes that downturns can present opportunities: two tecchies who stuck with their field after the “dot-bomb” bubble burst ended up at Google, and are now millionaires.
He also offers advice on small, simple things that can make all the difference, like having an E-mail address on your resume that sounds professional. It can be a real turnoff to employers, he notes, to present an E-mail address that indicates you’re a would-be ladies’ man or a Star Wars fan. (“And not even a fan of the good Star Wars. The crappy prequel movies.”)
McCullough sometimes offers breakdowns of the type of resumes that are being requested through ResumeWriters.com at the moment, giving a picture of what the current job market is like: recently, he notes, they’ve been seeing more requests from the West Coast than the East Coast or Midwest.
He also offers insights on areas of the job market that most people neglect. For instance, everyone knows that times are tough for adults trying to find work to support their families – but, he points out, teens are having just as bad a time, with the part-time job market for teenagers the worst it’s ever been. This could have an adverse effect on their future career paths, the blog notes, since teenagers who work have an easier transition into the full-time work marketplace.
For solid advice that also can make you laugh, this blog is a great read. And, hey, how many job blogs have a post on the phenomenon of people using treadmills at their desks?
– Bonnie