As a member of the Career Collective blogging community of resume writers and career coaches, this post is one of many today sharing our favorite resources for job seekers. I encourage you to visit other members’ responses linked at the end of my post and follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.
There is so much available online to assist with your job search efforts, but how can you cut through all the chatter to identify the valuable sites? Either by trial and error or by checking with those in the know, including professionals who work with job seekers on a daily basis. I have many sites bookmarked, but a single digit number of sites that I return to again and again.
Here are 5 of my favorite (and free!) go-to websites to help you with different aspects of your job search:
Online Social Networking. There aren’t many as knowledgeable on LinkedIn as Jason Alba, and LinkedIn is a critical part of any professional job seeker’s social networking plan. Jason’s “I’m on LinkedIn; Now What?” blog is a great companion to his popular book of the same name and is jam-packed with useful LinkedIn advice, frequent posts, and an active commenting community. 
Salary Information. Salary.com is user-friendly and offers free reports with just two data points – a job title and zip code. Fee-based premium reports are available, but their free reportsare quite substantial. -
Aggregated Job Search Listings. LinkUp.com compiles job postings from across the web offers the ability to save searches. Indeed.com is another aggregator. These sites are a huge time saver in concept alone, but take it up a notch by setting up automated job search agents for your target jobs. 
Interview Preparation Made Easy. QuintCareers.com has a packed section on interview questions, including a database of more than 150 questions and sample responses. The site also includes traditional, off the wall, and situational questions as well as 14 practice interview scenarios. 
Off Ramps, On Ramps, and More. Many of today’s stay at home parents are trying to integrate paid employment into their schedule. HybridMom.com is a fantastic resource for stay at home moms (or dads) who are blending stay at home parenting with entrepreneurial career opportunities. The site was named one of the top 100 websites for women for 2010 by ForbesWoman and also happens to be a personal favorite!
The following are posts sharing the favorite resources of my colleagues in the Career Collective:
If your industry does not participate online, you can lead the way, @Keppie_Careers
6 Ideas to Put In Your Toolbox, @WorkWithIllness,
Your Best Job Search Resource? You!, @WalterAkana
In a Job Search, Knowledge is Power, @barbarasafani
Jump Start Your Job Search Now!, @resumeservice
Favourite Resources for Jobseekers, @GayleHoward
The Best Job Search Tool Ever, @careersherpa
Find What You Do Best, Know Your Stuff, and Connect, @chandlee
27 Recommended Blogs for Entry-Level Job Seekers, @heatherhuhman
Invaluable Resources for Job Search Success, @heathermundell
Favorite Social-Media Resources for Job-seekers, @KatCareerGal
Canadian Resources for Job Seekers, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland
A Self-Empowering Job Search Resource, @KCCareerCoach
Covering your bases: 5 ultra-useful online career resources, @LaurieBerenson
Favorite resources for Job seekers, @DawnBugni
Top 3 Resources for Job Seekers to Position Themselves as Experts and Increase their Visibility, @expatcoachmegan
Time as a Career Resource: How “Not” to Squander It, @ValueIntoWords
Favorite Internet Resources for Jobseekers, @ErinKennedyCPRW
The Facts Behind Why LinkUp Is the Most Revolutionary Job Search Engine Available to Job Seekers, @GLHoffman
