I love “group blogs” such as CareerMastersTalk and CareerHub. They bring together smart people with good, very diverse ideas. These two blogs are all about career topics, so I read (and contribute) regularly.

And every now and then a post is so good, I have to steal it and share it. Check out Billie Sucher’s great advice to “Put on the Hiring Manager’s Hat.”

Complaints about recruiters abound on “our” side of the employment equation – the candidate’s side. I hear about recruiters who won’t return phone calls, ignore highly qualified candidates, can’t see past the limited scope of their job specifications, and don’t know much about the companies they’re representing.

Of course, every story has more than one perspective, and I think it’s valuable to visit the other side of the equation from time to time – so I know what recruiters are thinking, why they behave the way they do, and how I can best help and advise my clients on working with them.

In that “other side” role, I write for an excellent site called RecruitingTrends.com. There’s lots of great information here about the state of the employment market, the looming talent shortage, and what companies are doing (or should be doing) to attract and retain the right employees. They’re worried about it, believe me!

Why not check it out and perhaps give yourself an advantage in working with recruiters – who are, after all, the same “animal” as the rest of us.

In today’s fast-paced Internet culture, it’s easy to feel out of the loop if you’re not on LinkedIn, FaceBook, MySpace, and any and every other online social networking site. True – you need to stay abreast of technology and understand how to communicate using a variety of media. But never forget that most real networking is not done online. Your chief network starts with people you know (real people, not avatars) and extends to people you get to know through your network contacts.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and start your networking activity by connecting with people you know – then move on from there, to the sites that seem appropriate. And to make the most of what’s out there, check out this very helpful post over on CareerHub about how to utilize LinkedIn for your job search.

If you’ve lost your job, you’re probably thankful it wasn’t as high-profile as the Bob Nardelli firing from Home Depot back in January. But guess what – he’s back! Two recent CEO hirings – Nardelli at Chrysler and Lynn Nicholas at the Massachusetts Hospital Association – reinforce some really key points about career management and job search:

• Fit is all-important. Nardelli’s style was a mismatch at Home Depot. He rubbed people the wrong way, alienated the investment community, and lost the company’s culture amid his processes and efficiencies. In Nicholas’ case, she lost her previous job as CEO of the American Diabetes Foundation essentially because fundraising really isn’t her thing.
• To move forward, focus on your strengths. I’m sure both Nardelli and Nicholas had to explain “what happened” during the interview process for their current jobs. If you’re in a similar situation, prepare your explanation – along with what you’ve learned from it – and remain firmly focused on what you do well and what you can do for the new organization.
• Know thyself. Know the kind of environment in which you’ll thrive – the culture, the challenges, the people, the hierarchy, the rigidity or flexibility of the work environment, the larger mission of the organization, and so many other factors. Don’t let your eagerness for “a” job lead you to take a job that you know is not the right fit.

Finally, take a leaf from Nicholas’ book and prepare, prepare, prepare for every interview. Know the key players, key challenges, and key value you bring to the organization. Shine up your appearance and approach the interview with energy and confidence. There is definitely life (and jobs) after getting fired, even if your departure makes headline news in the business press!