It’s encouraging to see that job sites and services are emerging and evolving to better serve job seekers and employers alike… and to help relieve the incredible frustration occurring on BOTH sides of the hiring equation!

Here’s a list of a few sites that seem to be building a better mousetrap.

One of my favorites (included on the list) is JibberJobber – a great tool for keeping track of your job search, your career, your life! (If you’re my client, contact me about a complimentary upgrade to “premium” service.)

But never forget that all of this online stuff should be only an adjunct to a targeted, network-focused search. It can help you gather information, find resources and contacts, organize your search, and keep yourself on schedule. It can’t (a) take the place of human-to-human connection; (b) eliminate the grunt work of building a contact-to-contact chain toward your ultimate goal; or (c) find a job for you. Use it, benefit from it, but don’t rely on it as the sole source for your next job!

Thanks to CJ Russell for asking such great questions! You can hear his interview with me here and check out his blog, “Secrets of the Job Hunt,” here.

One of my favorite year-end activities is to steal a quiet hour or so to analyze my business results, especially where my clients came from, and set some goals for the new year. I’m not a big planner or goal-setter (very much seat-of-the pants, despite what people say about that!), but ever since I’ve been doing this simple exercise I find that I have met or exceeded every one of the measurable goals I’ve set.

It seems that something as simple as writing them down makes goals more concrete and likely to happen.

As you prepare for the new beginning that comes around each January 1, take some time to define your specific, measurable goals for the 12 months ahead. If you’re in a job search, consider goals like these:

• Make 10 new network connections each week (actually having a dialogue with someone… just sending an email doesn’t count)
• Schedule 2 interviews (job or informational) each week
• Identify, research, and pursue connection with 1 new target company per week
• Land 1 great job!

Before you know it, your job search will be zooming along and you’ll be awash in contacts and leads. Without the clear direction that goals provide, it’s easy to muddle along thinking that you’re making progress but not really doing so. For the holidays, give yourself the gift of ambitious goals!