Making money doesn’t come easy. Of course, you already know that. I have compiled a listing of professional career resources. All that I have used or recommended.
I have added to this list and have passed it along with my coworkers and have received great feedback.
Now I want to spread the word on my findings.
This listing is by no means all-inclusive, so if you have more ideas that can be added, be sure to let me know.
I have broken down each of the resources into categories for easy scanning.
Make the most of it as I hope it assists you in your career advancement goals.
Quickly Navigate to the Career Resources You Want
Navigate to what you want:
- Budget Planning – Get your finances in order
- College – Scholarships and Government Benefits
- Professional Development – Continuous Learning, Courses and Books
- Career Tools – Resumes, Job Search, Resume Optimization, etc.,.
- Federal Government – Job Search and Resources
- Veterans – Resources for Vets
- Volunteer Opportunities – Exactly what it says
- Networking – Getting discovered
Budget Planning
Why is this part of career success you may ask? If you don’t manage your money correctly, all the cash in the world won’t buy your financial independence. Ever wonder why so many Lotto winners go broke?
They go broke because they won a Million but spent that on a house, car, etc., – then the tax man shows up and … *poof* … Bankruptcy and/or Tax Court.
So…get your finances in order right to start with.
Analyze your budget, claim unclaimed money, or check out how much home you can afford.
Recommended Budgeting Tools
Quicken
If you want a quick glance at your finances, check out Quicken’s Budget Calculator. It will give you a good overview to start reducing expenses and see what items you can nix out of your budget.
I found that I needed to be a cord-cutter and reduce my expenditures on $6 Starbucks lattes – hello to Maxwell House.
Need more Budget Ideas? Visit our Family Budget Ideas article.
Find Unclaimed Money
We all may have made purchases, won class action settlements or have been issued payments we may have never received! Don’t leave money on the table. Be sure to check out USA.gov to learn just how to search for any money that may be owed to you!
Zillow
So you’re ready to get that new home? That is a great decision – if you are in the right place financially.
Ever heard of ‘house-poor’?
Overspending on a dream home is a true problem. It led to the melt-down in the real estate market and the largest Case-Shiller home price drop on December 30th, 2008.
With that said…it’s probably best to check out Zillow’s House Affordability Calculator before you get into any real estate transaction.
The key is, to be honest, and to build in a little cushion to account for any unseen financial issues – medical, car repair, home repair, taxes, childcare, etc.
Career Tools
Let’s face it, we all need every ounce of assistance when it comes to finding a job or even a new profession.
Even if you have a job, you should always be seeking new employment with better wages or benefits. This is how we grow in our professional careers.
I have taken the time to curate some of the best resources I have found and recommended to assist others that are active job seekers.
Jump to What You Need:
- Creating an Online Resume
- Resume Optimization
- Researching a Company or Industry
- Data Analysis
- Career Fairs – How to find ‘em
- And of course…Job Searching Resources and Remote Work – Work From Home Opportunities
Online Resumes
Face it, we are in a digital world. With so many platforms offering free web services to host your own online resume, it would be a severe oversight not to participate.
The following services can assist you in creating a desktop and mobile-friendly website to get your professional online presence established via an e-Resume. Most of these are FREE!
The benefit is that you only have so much room on your hard-copy resume to send to the potential employer. But what if they want to learn more about you before deciding if you are worth that interview?
If you have an online resume – you can place the domain in your contact me section before or after your email on your resume. The employer gets to learn more about who you are and what you have to offer.
If you have more career experience, you can upload a vast amount of references, collaborations, and general previous works.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started…
WiX
You’ve seen the advertisements, “Hey, I just created a professional website for my business…” – but did you know you can do it for an online resume too?
WiX was my first website and the brand I personally used to create my online resume.
Weebly
This is another drag and drop website much like WiX. While Weebly may not be as flexible, it is good enough to create an online resume that serves the purpose of adding to your professional narrative.
Yola
This is another choice as it serves the same purpose as the last two. Yola gives you a free package that consists of:
- 3 Pages
- 1GB of bandwidth
- 1GB of storage
- Free Yola subdomain
This should be plenty to kick off your online resume.
Resume Optimization
If you are not aware when applying for a job you aren’t just dealing with hiring official’s eyeballs. CIO reports that 40% of companies are using applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS filter out resumes for keywords and phrases before delivering them to the end-users. Jobscan.co reported a whopping 98% usage for Fortune 500 companies.
Imagine getting over 1000 resumes for one job! Clearly you can see there is a need for such algorithms but… you may get filtered out of the results if you are unaware of how to work with the bots.
Get your resume to the hiring official.
Jobscan
The general idea here is simple, match your resume keywords with those in the advertised job description. With Jobscan, navigate to the “LET’S GET STARTED” section and paste or upload your resume. You then paste the job description of the job you want >>> Now press “SCAN”, and wait for those results.
Now tailor your resume until you hit those sweet rankings you desire.
Rezscore
This site is pretty insightful. You upload your resume to Rezscore and within seconds have a detailed report of what they anticipate your salary to be with a score associated with your uploaded resume.
They offer some tips such as removing sections and/or tailoring the length of your resume.
They also offer some industries that your resume may be best suited for. Lastly, they provide you with some psychological insights into what your resume is portraying about you via their charts section.
LiveCareer
This site is a must to throw your resume through the gauntlet. Just upload your resume to LiveCareer’s checker and outcome a host of recommendations. Some I am sure you have not even thought of or considered to be errors. Give it a try!
Researching a Company or Industry
Before even applying for a job, get a feel for the atmosphere and to see if layoffs or high turnover is an issue. You can always seek out information from connections you may know in the business – but what if you don’t have any?
This is where a little online tactful intel-gathering may assist you.
Start with a little boolean Google search for:
- “company name or industry” + “layoffs”
- “Industry” + “outlook”
- “company name” + “lawsuit”
- “company name” + “scandal”
- “company name” + “employees”
- “company name” + “CEO”
- “company name” + “Owner”
- “company name” + “mission statement”
- “company name” + “core values”
The list can go on-and-on. The goal here is to know precisely what you are getting into.
For further analysis, you may search the company’s website – though there will be a biased slant.
Below you will find great resources to dive deeper into your research though some of these sites may require payment for full access. (If you are a college student, check with your library as they may provide free access.)
Hoovers
If you are looking for industry or company-specific information to include supply and demand info, Hoovers may be your go-to.
Securities and Exchange Commission
If your goal is to seek employment at a publicly-traded company then this SEC is a must to view financial records and filings. You may be able to tell if your company of choice is spiraling downhill financially.
O*Net Online
This spicy site gives you a detailed outlook at your occupation of choice. O*Net Online offers a vast array of occupation outlooks and shows you exactly what skills you need to master in your industry to remain relevant.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Think your industry is in decline? Want to know if you need a degree? Look no further – the BLS website will give you exactly the information you are looking for!
Google Scholar
I’ve touched on Google searches but for an academic take, be sure to check out Google Scholar to find juicy essays and white papers relevant to your industry or company of choice. You never know what nuggets of information you can use potentially during the interview or sneak into your cover letter.
Data Analysis – For Resume or Job Announcement
So you have a resume and have already checked out the Resume Optimization section…if not, give it a go. It seems though you still need a little more to find keywords to ensure your resume is in peak condition to send through the ATS gauntlet.
No worries.
The following sites can assist you by copying and pasting your resume and job announcement to find those sweet little words that’ll get you in front of eyeballs.
TagCrowd
If you are looking to find keywords in a job description copy and paste it into the “paste text” portion of TagCrowd.
I choose the following options:
- Language of text: English
- Maximum number of words to show?: 100
- Minimum frequency?: 2
- Show frequencies?: yes
- Group similar words? No
- Convert to lowercase?: lowercase
Now click “Visualize” and you have a host of words that should be in your resume with which ones you should focus on using more than others. The larger the text is displayed, the more occurrences you should have it listed in your resume.
Textalyser
If the above isn’t your fancy and you want to go really in-depth with things like what percentage of times should you use the words or phrases in your resume – Texalyser is your go-to! It’ll spit out the frequency of words and phrases for a spot on percentage.
Play with the “Analysis Options” to find the right fit for you.
I use the following:
- Minimum characters per word: 2
- Number of words to be analyzed: 200
- Ignore numbers: check
- Exhaustive polyword phrases: checked
Michael McDaniel Text Cleaner
If you want to clean up your resume from needless adjectives and/or adverbs check out this Text Cleaner. It will do the job.
Copy and paste your text and then reformat your resume with the newly scrubbed text.
Voila – all cleaned up!
Career Fairs – How to find ‘em
So there is and has been a debate of if career fairs work. The truth is, you never know until you try. Everyone’s personal experience is exactly that – personal. My two-cents is that if they didn’t work, companies wouldn’t be shelling out to continue doing them.
The key is you need to be ready with your resume and be ready to network.
The following resources can assist you in finding an opportunity near you.
National Career Fairs
This site is fairly simplistic. Head over to National Career Fairs and click on “Find a Career Fair” from there navigate to your state or state of interest and boom – out pops a listing.
It doesn’t get any easier.
Choice Career Fairs
This site has a host of career fairs to choose from in major U.S. cities across the country. Just click on the “Career Fairs” section in the top menu bar and get to looking. Choice Career Fairs has a great layout in a calendar view that will help your planning process.
Simply register and show up!
Coast to Coast Career Fairs
This website is a little harder to navigate but may be worth the effort. Coast to Coast Career Fairs has top listings from major U.S. cities much like those above.
Hire Live
This site may tout less in opportunities near you I have seen nothing but good things about Hire Live. The biggest pro I found was how well organized the events are.
Be sure to check it out if you are near an advertised location!
Job Searching Resources
Job searching sucks…let’s just get that out the way! I’ve curated a vast collection of some of the best online job sites that just may make it a little less painful. Some you may have heard of and others…maybe not so much.
Let’s get started…
I know what you’re thinking…a Google search!? WTH? Fortunately for you, that is not at all what this is. How about working FOR Google?
You may think that you need to be a techy but that isn’t true. There are a ton of opportunities – sales, marketing, administrative, etc.,.
Give it a try!
IVY Exec
So, you think you’re ready for that huge management or C-suite gig? IVY Exec may be worth your efforts. This is a member-based site and may require payment but, you can find a ton of company-specific data on their platform free of charge! Every so often they host a “free trial” – Take Advantage!
Indeed
This site is your basic find-a-job site but also hosts the benefit of looking at company reviews. Indeed is a great starting point to start applying for jobs.
CareerBuilder
They make the job search easier as you upload your resume or build it on the CareerBuilder platform and start hunting.
eFinancialCareers
Looking for a career in finance – this may be where to start your search. They offer everything from sales & marketing to asset management. Check them out if you have a passion for numbers and feel that a financial career is right for you!
MediaBistro
Are you dreaming of becoming a writer, editor or marketer? MediaBistro is your go-to source. No need to reach out to publishers directly, they’ve done the leg work for you offering tons of opportunities from names like CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg and a host of others.
Internships
Sometimes you need to get your foot in the door. Search for paid or unpaid internship options. This is a great opportunity if you are fresh out of grade school or college! There is a huge host of positions, check them out!
Idealist
So you want to make an impact? Maybe working for a Fortune 500 company is not for you and you want to engage with a nonprofit? Idealist is your go-to path for that new career. They host a wide array of opportunities for a multitude of organizations supporting a plethora of causes.
SimplyHired
Need a job? Need a resume builder? SimplyHired may be the job search engine you’re seeking. You never know until you give them a try!
Dice
Do you love HTML, 1’s and 0’s, front-end and back-end development – Dice may be what you’re looking for. Everything from UX design to developers they got it here! This is for those that are extremely tech-savvy so if that not your niche…you may want to skip to the next one.
GlassDoor
This site is wonderful in that it is much like Indeed but with more options to choose from when doing company research. Post your resume and take control of your career with GlassDoor.
As one of the biggest social media platforms, it is hard to overlook LinkedIn’s importance. Check them out to find some relevant jobs and see if anyone in your network works at the company. You never know what the outcome will be!
LinkUp
Want to search for jobs that are pushed directly from a company’s website? LinkUp gives you just that! They find the jobs and send you to the company’s website for applying. No muss, no fuss.
Monster
This is one of the larger job-finding services. Monster allows you to upload your resume and apply directly from their site easing some of the redundancy. Upon uploading, they offer a free professional assessment but you have to establish a free account first.
US National Labor Exchange
Looking for a little hidden gem? Look no further, NLX is a great source to find job help and gives you a multitude of ways to explore careers from searching my state to searching by occupation.
Give it a try!
Other Sources
If you are looking for government work, be sure to check out your local state, county, and city websites as they may host a ton of job opportunities!
Click here if you are looking for Federal jobs.
Remote Work – Work From Home Opportunities
Not everyone is suited for jumping into a cubicle. Some of us love to travel, are not mobile-friendly, or want to enjoy the comfort of working from home. These job sites can assist you in meeting your work from home passion.
We Work Remotely
Tooting its own horn as being the “largest remote work community in the world”, We Work Remotely is a leading provider of work from home jobs. Everything from call center to web development, contract to full-time, they got you covered in your job search. Be sure to subscribe to their notifications list as it will provide you with up-to-date alerts as a job is posted.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs has a heap of opportunities that range from strictly remote to flex-schedules. If you lead a life that needs a flexible job, this may be a good source for you – heck, the word “flex” is in the name! They seem to have the most experience as they have been around longer than the competition. They are a paid service but, if you lead a busy lifestyle, they weed out your potential jobs to fit you to the best possible opportunity.
Working Nomads
Thousands of jobs are available for you here. Working Nomads offers a broad source of opportunities to fit a nomadic life. While most are on the development side of the house for techies, they also offer a range of administrative, sales, management, HR, and so much more.
Tech Guys That Get Marketing
The name says it all! If you are not into tech…you may want to run from this. If this is your thing… then you are in luck. Tech Guys that Get Marketing have a rigid application process but if you are confident in your skills, show them what you are made of!
Remote OK
This job site is awesome! Why? Well, Remoteok.io partnered with Nomad List and provide you with awesome info to sweet locations. If you truly want to engage in a nomadic lifestyle and see the world, find yourself a job here!
If you aren’t into 1’s and 0’s you may need to be patient to filter out the tech stuff but there are customer service, tutoring and other gigs posted. Just be sure to find something that suits you best.
Jobspresso
Got the writing bug? Love IT or other computer and web stuff? Got a knack for customer service or sales? Jobspresso could land you that next remote gig! This platform is free to use and job listings are updated daily and hand-picked by their staff. Upload your resume to find something right for you.
Remotive
With over 25K+ users, Remotive has an easy to navigate interface and is free to use. You may be noticing a theme here, but this too is very IT/UX/UI heavy. Be sure to check out the “All others” section if those don’t apply to you.
Remote
This site is a little different. It can be used to find telework, remote work and/or work from home only companies. If your goal is to sit anywhere in the world and work – Remote.co can be a tool for you to hunt down employers that need you!
College
Cornerstone University reveals that a college degree can earn you a cool 1 million more in lifetime earnings compared to a high school grad.
So…GO TO COLLEGE!
It’s not easy, it’s not quick – it does cost money to get it done, but… it is truly worth it.
Trust me, as I was extremely reluctant about any institutionalized learning. But with a new mouth to feed I knew I needed to do something.
I dug in and received my bachelor in 2 years and then a year later my MBA and started making 100K+. Before graduating, I was earning 47K – do the math!
No excuses here. I was married, in my early 30’s, had 2 kids and a full-time job. If you want something bad enough…you struggle until you get it!
I won’t sway you on what school to choose but online or a blend of on-campus and online tend to work best for working adults – the latter was my path. Just interview multiple counselors until you find the right fit.
Keep reading for more on College Scholarships and Government Benefits.
College Benefits
Okay, you may be thinking – I would love to but I’m no trust fund baby and no one has gifted me a large sum to pay for college.
Here are some resources to assist you in searching for some much needed financial assistance.
College Scholarships
Need a grant – i.e., free non-repayable money? Check out College Scholarships to see if you can qualify for anything to get you on your way to that degree and closer to your dream income. Did I mention that this is FREE non-repayable money, hence Grant.
Government Benefits
So you say you want more options? Well, check out Benefits.gov. They have a host of Fellowships, Scholarships, Educational Loans that may be of assistance for your career growth.
They have an assortment of study abroad programs and leadership training programs.
Professional Development
Complacency is the killer of career growth. Never stop learning! The following resources can help you achieve quick bits of knowledge in very little time. Need to hone a skill? Need to learn from experts? Need a kick in the a**?
Then check out the below for Continuous Learning, Free Certifications, and Certificates and Recommended Reading.
Continuous Learning
Not all learning is boring. In order to stay proficient in your career path, continuous learning is a must. The following resources have served me very well in my career path.
Khan Academy
You may think this is just for those wanting to brush up on basic algebra but…KhanAcademy is a great resource for everyone looking to brush up on basic management skills. I personally loved the accounting courses. Well, relatively speaking. I did love the fact that it is free training!
Edx.org
Want to go to Harvard, Berkely or Georgetown? Well with Edx.org you can essentially take classes from these top-notch universities and other colleges as well. I highly recommend their self-paced programs.
While it is a pay-to-play site, it is worth every penny. A professional certificate in Six Sigma and Lean only runs about $300 (at the time of writing this).
Many courses are free but there is a catch – you may have to pay for the certificate of completion, which appears to be around $150USD. But, if you just want to brush up on some skills and don’t mind foregoing the certificate – this could be a great option.
If you are looking to get a degree though, I would pay for the certificate and take it into your college of choice’s counselor to see if they would offer course credit. – just a thought as it is what I did and…it worked out as this was cheaper than the institution’s course offerings.
Udacity
Want to brush up on your techy side? Udacity has a ton of free and paid courses to help. It also hosts a multitude of Business, AI, Data Science courses and more.
Sophia
So just what is Sophia? If your goal is college credit…this is the place to go. This site is a low-cost, self-paced solution for gaining college credits in a jiffy with over 300 institutions accepting their semester credits. Don’t have $300-$400 dollars? No worries there as they offer a 3-part payment plan for any order greater than $100 to ensure you are financially able to receive the education you need.
TED
Ever hear of a TED Talk, TEDx, or TED-Ed? I hope so and if not – This site is a must for your arsenal of continuous learning. The best part about it…TED is free!
It is a melting pot of speeches from industry leaders, amazing keynote speakers and overall those with the gift-of-gab and knowledge to share. This is a great opportunity to learn during a lunch hour.
Udemy
If you’ve been on Youtube or watched TV you may have seen their advertisements. Udemy is an amazing platform for learning. Why? Well, the cost mostly. Continuously they are running promotions to learn a new skill for under $30 bucks.
At the time of writing this, there are tons of courses being offered for only $10.99 for things like:
- SQL Bootcamp
- The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2019
- PMP Exam Prep
- Beginner to Pro in Excel
- Writing Courses
- Finance and Accounting
- And sooooo much more…
I personally sign up for courses in HTML and Web Development as… I have no knowledge of either and I can say, they have helped me more than YouTubing the subjects. (don’t judge me, I’m frugal)
Need another benefit? Well here it is – I downloaded the app and learn on the go. Their platform is amazing.
The best part is, if you have knowledge to share, you should consider making a course. You never know if it’ll have a good return-on-investment?
Free Certifications and Certificates
Okay, so you’ve determined you want/need certification and you need it on the cheap. As I stated above – this guy is frugal. So if that sounds like you, check out the below to see if anything can assist you in your career needs.
Coursera
Cousera hosts an abundance of certifications and free courses to get you ready for that new job, promotion or just general knowledge. Some offerings do cost but the price is uber-cheap. At the time of writing this, some professional certificates are being advertised for as little as $39.00 per month.
Trade Schools
Need more info for some free offerings regarding online certificates or certifications? Look no further. Trade-Schools.net has a huge repository of free offerings. Give them a glance to see if anything can assist you in meeting your passion.
Alison
Alison is an amazing option to find free courses to boost your knowledge and skill level. Delve in and learn a new language, brush up on your marketing and business skills or become the next tech guru. The options are limitless.
Recommended Reading
Sure you can take classes and gain certifications but when it comes down to everyday knowledge, nothing beats a good book. Below I have gathered essential reading for anyone looking to get ahead. These should be mandatory reading for anyone’s library who is truly adamant about personal success.
If you would like to help support this website, the below offerings are affiliate links to Amazon. It comes at no additional cost to you but provides us with a few pennies to keep this site maintained.
//Thank you in advance for your support..//
If you choose a cheaper option, many of these books are available on Youtube for quick listening via LibriVox.
I personally like to mark-up my books but, this is a good option if you are on a budget.
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D.
This book started my urge to break from the mundane. The information is clear-cut and laid out in amazing detail. It shows just how easy it is to achieve millionaire status without all the clutter of ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes. The Millionaire Next Door is a fairly quick and easy read.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
This book was vital in showcasing my habits and how they affected my life both positively and negatively. I was eye-opening to see just how easy it was to foster good habits to encourage my professional growth and to stray from the ones that adversely impacted my goals.
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
This book is pitched to women but is great for gaining insight into the challenges women face in their professional careers.
If you truly desire a leadership role, it is vital that you are aware of stigmas and challenges facing the blended workforce of today.
If you are a woman looking for how to handle various workplace scenarios – Read this book!
If you are a man wanting to hit the higher echelons – Read this book!
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
If you haven’t heard of this book – you need to! It promises to show the secret to wealth and success.
A beautiful tapestry of words and stories collected through Napoleon Hill. The promise is that the secret is revealed in the intro to the book.
I’ll let the cat out of the bag – the secret is a burning desire/passion mixed with an obsessive determination.
…Seriously.
That’s it.
I have saved you a few hours of reading, as I read – reread – and reread the book once more.
I do still think you need it in your grasp as highlighting the heck out of this book was a joy and I still reference back to it for inspiration.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book is great for building a team of champions that will help you achieve your professional goals.
Aimed at making you a likable person, this book has assisted me many times when it comes to change management in the workplace.
Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Ever wonder exactly what your strengths and weaknesses are? This book will show you just that along with what personality traits you possess. I completed this book as part of a college course and wow did I find out about myself!
The best part was I then provided it to my supervisor during my quarterly feedback to see just what opportunities I could capitalize on.
Giving him this insight, provided me with a multitude of projects that I may have never been considered for.
Getting Things Done by David Allen
David Allen rocks it with his methodologies for getting tasks accomplished. He goes over multiple insights on how to set up stress-free productivity that will have you banging out work in no time!
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
Tim Ferriss is an outsourcing genius! His tips show you how to outsource much of your daily tasks to free you to work on the main goals in your life.
Pair this book with Think and Grow Rich and you’ll be unstoppable!
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Do you have limiting beliefs? I can’t do that…, I’ll never be able to…, I don’t know how to…, etc.
Through vast research, Carol shows you the path to overcoming such beliefs and how to skyrocket out of your mediocre thinking.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
If you are looking for self-mastery, independence, building coalitions and improving your communication skills – this book is for you! Stephen Covey produces hit after hit but strap in as this book will have you craving success!
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
Looking to see how academic theories can assist you in finding happiness? Probably not, but I assure you, this researched-based book can give you so much insight and meaningfulness you never thought possible. It is a full-picture approach to work-life balance. It is pivotal in focusing your attention on ‘what matters’ and has a great way of framing the questions to ask yourself.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
This book is a great read if you are looking to gain insight into the mind of Steve Jobs and see exactly how his thought process worked. Explore how this man made it to the pinnacles of success and rose above a multitude of obstacles. With over 40 interviews from the man himself, this book explores how Pixar, not Apple, made him a billionaire. This book is great at mentoring to those with a passion – but no support to pursue it.
Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra
If you are looking to sink your teeth into bigger roles, this book is for you! It explores how you can cultivate your network’s strategic advantage with the A=B+C+D formula.
- A = Advantage
- B = Breadth
- C = Connectivity
- D = Dynamism
This book is great for those in higher positions or those wanting to reach those higher echelons.
Federal Government Job Search and Resources
If you are looking for a Federal career or just interested to see what may be available, you’ve come to the right section!
Job Search
With so many jobs available in the Federal government, you are sure to find something that is suited for you. Make no mistake though, the old days of sitting around and collecting a paycheck is not what the Federal workforce is about. Civil service is a commitment but the rewards of serving your country are well worth the challenges you may face.
USA Jobs
This is the PRIMARY site for finding Federal career opportunities. It takes some time to build a profile and set up the account but in the end, it is well worth it. The Federal system is different than others when it comes to resume formats so if you have a resume, be sure to upload it to their resume builder to ensure you are providing USAJobs with the format they need.
If you run into any snags, be sure to check out the OPM section.
Personnel Management
The Federal workforce is filled with amazing personnel. It is thanks to the good folks at HR that help in the screening and training of these fine individuals.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
OPM is the main HR branch for the Federal Government. Any questions you have regarding pay structures, hiring practices, training and screening are found here!
Veterans – Resources for Vets
If you or someone you love is a Veteran – I thank you/them for your/their service! As a former Air Force member of 12 years, I know the commitment we shared.
Hopefully, I can assist a fellow vet in finding employment or resources they may desperately need.
Veteran Job Search
Along with the plethora of other resources listed in the job search section, I have found a few more tailored just for our vets and family members!
Feds Hire Vets
Touted as the “single site for Federal employment information for Veterans, transitioning military service members, their families, and Federal hiring officials”, you can’t go wrong with FedsHireVets!
They host a ton of training and resources to include job opportunities.
VA for Vets
Need a job? Need training? The great personnel at the VA are here to help. Give them a try.
Veterans Benefits
As a veteran, spouse, or surviving member of a veteran you may be entitled to benefits you didn’t realize. Keep reading about where to find valuable information.
VA Benefits
As a fellow Vet I know there are times you may forget what you are entitled to in exchange for the great sacrifice you made for your country. Check out the benefits branch of the VA to help you discover things you qualify for!
Veterans Service Records
If you are a Vet, you know what your DD Form 214 is – but did you lose that vital document?! It’s a must-have if you are looking to get any kind of benefits. Keep reading to find out how to get it back in your hands.
Archives.gov
If you lost your DD Form 214, need replacement medals or are looking for military burial honors be sure to head on over to Archives.gov. They got everything you need to get you squared-away online.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a fundamental way to gain much-needed experience in the job market. It also assists you in ‘giving back’ to the community or a passionate cause. Keep reading to learn of great networks that will provide you with what you are looking for.
Volunteer Networks
The following list provides a multitude of opportunities to get involved in your local community or to offer your services to a cause of your choice.
Points of Light
Points of Light offers a great chance to start a cause or to contribute to an existing one. You can also choose to donate if you so fancy.
Idealist
You may note that this was listed in the job resources section, but it is worth a mention twice. The Idealist hosts a range of charitable organizations that may become a full-time career if you choose to take this route.
Volunteer Match
Log in with Google, Facebook, LinkedIn or email address and see all the opportunities waiting for you at Volunteer Match. There is some much to choose from!
UN Volunteers
Looking for opportunities that go beyond the U.S. borders? Looking to make a change in the global environment? Check out UN Volunteers!
Global Volunteers
Showcasing themselves as having the “highest-rated volunteer abroad programs since 1984”, Global Volunteers has a wealth of opportunities to give back and grow your skills.
Create the Good
Create the Good is an AARP initiative designed to connect you with volunteer opportunities that match your skills and experiences. Register to gain full access to current and upcoming opportunities that come available in your area.
Great Nonprofits
If you are looking for reviews, Great NonProfits has a host of reviews from members past and present for a wide range of volunteer organizations. Simply navigate to the location you want and be served with a ton of organizations and reviews!
Volunteers of America
VOA is a great place to find volunteer opportunities in a variety of locations. Founded in 1896 they serve over 1.5 million people in need in the U.S. and related territories. Check out how you can help here.
Go Overseas
Looking to teach, volunteer, intern or study abroad? Go Overseas is the place for you! They host opportunities in countries from A to Z so be sure to look around!
Networking – Getting Discovered
You may have heard – ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’. While I don’t completely agree with this wisdom, it does bear some truth.
You can have all the resume flare and yield the highest of degrees but if you don’t know anyone – how will you get discovered by potential employees? Who will recommend you? In the end, your word is just that…yours.
Networking allows others to be your voice and speak of you while offering you a chance to return the favor.
This isn’t some one-night stand.
You have to be willing to cultivate these relationships. Networking only works if you work at it! That’s a lot of ‘work’ words but heck…it’s in the name!
Networking Sites
Not all sites for networking are equal. Take a look at the ones below to see if one is right for you. All of them I have grown to love as they each serve the same purpose though go about it in different ways.
If you haven’t heard of LinkedIn or are not on it yet start now! It is a great tool for finding individuals that are doing what you may want in their careers.
It’s like Facebook for professionals. Link up with folks that are like-minded and learn from others. Connect and share experiences.
You never know where it will lead!
Want to build up that profile? Check out our LinkedIn Features You Need to Know article.
MeetUp
MeetUp allows you to show up to an event to partake in whatever your heart desires. I personally like the “Career & Business” groups but feel free to jump into whatever you wish.
Heck, there’s no tellin’ what profession other folks are in that may be able to help you in your career path!
Ryze
This is one of the original social networks for business. They have over 1 million members from around the globe. You can connect with others and start to cultivate a meaningful network of professionals. It is an application-based site, but membership is free. Give them a try.
Career Resources You Can’t Afford to Overlook – Wrapping it Up:
There you have it. I have spent years cultivating all of these career resources and now they are all yours! What you do with them is up to you.
I wish you only the best!
If you can think of any more career resources that could help others, be sure to let us know!