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Top 10 Social Sites for Finding a Job

Some of these sites allow you to craft a resume, while others are networking platforms that contain job listings. By signing up for all ten, you increase your chances of getting a job and decrease the amount of time you’ll spend searching for a new one. Three of the listed sites can be combined with other sites to be more impactful. In addition to joining, creating profiles and searching for jobs, I encourage you to support these sites with either a traditional website or blog, so that you have more to present to employers, in addition to your profile.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is by far the #1 spot for job seekers, those currently employed, marketers who are looking to build lists and salespeople who are seeking out new clients. With 35 million users, including recruiters and job seekers, LinkedIn is quite a hot spot. Of course, due to the current state of the economy, it’s simple to understand why LinkedIn is more popular than ever.

The problem is that most job seekers don’t optimize their profile, cultivate their network, join and participate in groups, use applications and exchange endorsements. That is basically everything you should be doing in a nutshell. I also recommend that you use a distinct URL (linkedin.com/in/yourfullname) and an avatar that best represents you and is consistent with the picture on your other social sites.

When you search for a job, recognize who in your network might help you get to the hiring manager. You’re given 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree connections on LinkedIn that you should be using to secure a job opening.

2. Plaxo With Simply Hired

Plaxo is a social network that resembles LinkedIn to a certain degree. You’re able to create your own profile with a section about you, your contact information and your “pulse stream,” which is made up of your presence on social media sites such as Twitter. You’re even able to share your photo album and send eCards, which is a nice differentiator.

The real value in Plaxo is the address book that keeps track of all of your contact information, including a Yahoo! Map indicating where your contacts live. Plaxo, which is owned by Comcast, is also integrated with Simply Hired, which is a job aggregator that searches thousands of job sites and companies and aggregates them in a single location for you. After building your Plaxo profile, use it as part of the recruitment process when applying for jobs with Simply Hired for success.

3. Twitter With Blog or LinkedIn URL

Twitter is an amazing tool if you can unlock its power. It’s taken me months to understand how conversations flow and how I can add to the discussion. Twitter breaks down communication barriers and lets you talk directly to hiring managers, without having to submit a resume immediately to a machine.

Although Twitter is probably one of the best networking tools on the planet, it needs to be supplemented with a blog or LinkedIn profile. There’s no way you can hire someone based on a Twitter profile, without having a link from that profile to something else that gives more information on that job seeker. You get to add one URL to your profile, so choose wisely.

4. Jobster

Jobster isn’t spoken about nearly enough, yet it is a powerful platform for networking with employers who are offering jobs, while you’re searching. You can upload your resume, embed your video resume, showcase links to your site, your picture and tag your skills, which is a unique differentiator. You can search for open positions and see who the person is who posted the job. Then you can add them to your network and connect with them to find out more about the position.

5. Facebook

Facebook can be used to get jobs. There are two main ways of acquiring a job through Facebook. The first is to go to your Facebook marketplace, which lists job openings or other opportunities in your network. Aside from jobs, there are “items wanted” and a “for sale” listing. When searching for jobs, you’ll be able to see who listed the item and then message them to show your interest.

When you find a job opening that you’re interested in, you’ll be able to message the hiring manager directly. For instance, the subject line of the message will auto-populate with “Principal Web Developer in Littleton, MA” in the subject line. The second way to get a job using Facebook is to join groups and fan pages to find people with common interests and to network with them.

6. Craigslist

Craigslist is an extremely valuable job search tool if you’re not looking to work for a big brand name company, such as P&G or GE. Most of the positions on Craigslist are for consultants (design/programming help) and at small to midsize companies that are hiring. There are new listings every day and if you wake up to this site every morning and refresh the page, you have a good chance at getting a job sooner rather than later.

7. MyWorkster With Indeed

MyWorkster focuses on exclusive networks for colleges, allowing students and alumni to connect for exclusive career opportunities. This site isn’t valuable to you if you didn’t go to college though. This social network allows you to create a professional profile and network with potential employers.

For a free account, you get a profile, instant messenger built in the site, groups, events, your resume and more. The big differentiator is that it uses Facebook Connect to get your information. Here is an example of a profile page. MyWorkster also has job listings, which are provided by Indeed, a job search engine and aggregator, which is very similar to Simply Hired.

8. VisualCV

VisualCV understands the importance of personal branding in a job search. Instead of a traditional resume, you get your own branded webpage, where you can add video, audio, images, graphs, charts, work samples, presentations and references. VisualCVs not only let you stand out from the crowd, but communicate your value in a way that’s not possible with static text.

After you’ve created your VisualCV, you can display it publicly or privately, email it to a recruiter, save it as a PDF or forward the URL, which will rank high for your name. On the site, you can search for jobs and apply directly using your VisualCV. Everybody’s favorite venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki, is on their board.

Disclosure: VisualCV sponsors my blog and magazine.

9. JobFox

JobFox, like online dating, tries to pair you up with a job that best fits you. Their differentiator is their “Mutual Suitability SystemTM” that enables them to match your wants and needs to those of employers to find the best relationship. The system learns about your skills, experiences, and goals and then presents you with jobs.

Then there’s the “Jobfox Intro,” where both the applicant and company get emails to encourage the connection. Just like VisualCV, you get your own branded website, with a personal web address to send to employers. JobFox was created by Rob McGovern, the founder of Careerbuilder.com.

10. Ecademy

Ecademy, like LinkedIn, is a prime source for professional networking. You have your own online profile, where you can tell people what you do. You can join business networking groups based around your expertise and exchange messages with other members privately. You can also ask for introductions from friends, just like LinkedIn. Although, there isn’t a job search area on the site, 80% of jobs are from networking and this place is dedicated to it.

Review - Naan Kadavul

Star-casts: Aarya, Pooja, Rajendran and others

Banner: Pyramid Saimira, Vasan Visual Creations

Story, Screenplay and Direction: Bala

Music: Ilayaraja

Cinematography: Arthur A Wilson

Before you start reading this review, just glimpse through your memories whether have you seen any meaningful cinema? If so, ‘Naan Kadavul’ would be the best amongst them… Not just now, but forever. Oops! It was a great disaster watching the worst films on the screens with Chota Bacchas uttering punch dialogues and depicting heroisms. Watching Naan Kadavul is about something experiencing an unknown or unforeseen journey of two different worlds; those who consider themselves as God while for the other one it’s only God who can save them. One needn’t question why Bala took such a long time in making this film and everyone has the answer as they watch it.

A stupid father listening to the foretelling of astrologers abandons his son. The estranged son Rudhra (Aarya) grows amidst of Aghory Rishis who have no emotional concerns for Worldliness and relationships. Realizing his faulty nature, the father along with his daughter returns to Kasi for bringing his son back to Tamil Nadu… Though Rudhra doesn’t get along with him, there’s nothing such things called a great affection for his mother. In fact he scolds his mother in bad words and his father without respect. Unable to stay along the city, he gets into the hilltop and dwells inside caves. It’s where Hamsavalli (Pooja), a blind beggar and other physically and mentally challenged children, men and women are tortured to beg by Thandavam (Rajendran). Rudhra is a savior now who doesn’t just put an end to evil elements, but brings light on the most pathetic Hamsavalli in a way that will leave you breathless.

There’s no more turning back for Aarya for he would make it big in tinsel town from now. Yeah! Like a ‘Nanda’ for Surya and ‘Pithamaghan’ for Vikram, Aarya has something more than them over here. His vocalisms of intonations with different languages sweep us off. Even he does the scenes with sense of humor that makes us laugh to the great extent (similar to the serious characterization of Vikram in Pithamaghan getting us laugh). Not all filmmakers in town have the unique potential of doing it so. His yogi positions of upside down position are marvelous and it’s all revealing about his involvement for the role. On the Pars, Pooja brims with a splendorous job and she offers you a feel that you’re watching her for first time on the screen. She delivers a first class performance in penultimate sequences that draws us feeling pitiful for her. Rajendran as a baddie steals the show depicting him with a different shade of baddie. His body physique that’s exposed during his final stunts with Aarya is stunning. The other star-casts including Thandavam’s assistant, a eunuch, the little beggar boy who deliver powerful comedies are stupendous. Especially, the old scolding God in bad words moves our hearts.

Maestro Ilayaraja’s musical score is great on background score while only couple songs take place in the film. Arthur Wilson’s cinematography is a colossal one. Art Direction is again goes off with same credits as a set of cremation grounds has been set up at Theni…

Bala’s screenplay and detailed characterization makes the show big getting our eyes adhered to the screens without even our eyes blinking.

On the whole, ‘Naan Kadavul’ is a distinct film of the contemporary Indian Cinema that none of the versatile filmmakers had ever dared to attempt weaving such a poignant tale.

Hats off to Bala and entire team….

Bottom - Line: Masterpiece of Tamil Cinema

Verdict: Feel Proud for Bala…

Download Ayan mp3 songs

Actors : Surya, Prabhu, Tamanna

Director : K.V. Anand

Music Director : Harris Jeyaraj

Producer : AVM


Download in .rar format


Pala Pala

Singer : Hariharan


Nenje Nenje


Singer : Harish Ragavendra, Mahathi


Oyaayiye Yaayiye

Singer : Benny Dayal, Hariharan, Chinmayi


Honey Honey
Singer : Sayarora Philip, Devan


Vizhi Moodi
Singer : Karthik

Download Nandalala mp3 songs

Nandalala (2009)

Actors : Mysskin, Snigdha Akolkar

Director : Mysskin

Music Director : Illaiyarajah

Producer : Ayngaran International Films


Download in .rar format


Onnukkonnu

Singer : K.J. Jesudas


Melle Oorndhu Oorndhu

Singer : Illayarajah


Kaai Veesi

Singer : Vijay Jesudas, Swetha, Madhu Balakrishnan, Raagul, Chandrasekar


Oru Vandu koottame

Singer : Illayarajah, Yatheeswaran


Elilea Elilea

Singer : Saroja Ammal


Thalaattu ketka Nanum

Singer : Illayarajah

Have we become too dependent on Google?

In the wake of Google's weekend error that labeled the entire Web as malware, some like CMS Watch analyst Kas Thomas are asking a provocative and timely question: have we become too dependent on Google?

One wonders: If Google were to go down (or become essentially unusable -- same thing) for, say, 72 hours or more, how disruptive would it be to the economy? Would online retailers see a slowdown in business? Would job-seekers remain out of work longer? Would the productivity of information workers (who supposedly spend a couple hours per day doing online searches) be seriously affected?...

Sometimes even the most highly distributed, highly virtualized, "enterprise-hardened" infrastructure is no stronger than its weakest component. And quite often, the weakest component is human. That's never going to change--cloud or no cloud.

In the case of the Google error, which was caused by a simple human mistake, the world arguably went its merry way without serious disruption. But it's a fair question, and the same one formerly raised about Microsoft's dominance on the desktop. When one company dominates a market so completely, does it become an essential facility and hence require government regulation to ensure that it doesn't bottleneck the economy?

I'm not sure. I tend to eschew government regulation whenever possible, and I'd hate to see Google significantly constrained by U.S. oversight. Even so, the weekend snafu demonstrates just how vulnerable Google is to attack, as well as how susceptible we'd be to going down with Google.

Yes, other search engines are just a click away, but with more and more people enveloping their online lives with Google products (Gmail, News, Finance, Reader, etc.), an error in one aspect of Google's product suite could have a domino effect on all of them, and significantly hamper productivity until Google fixes the source error.

Even so, the answer to Microsoft's dominance wasn't regulation: it was competition. Google, too, will face increased competition on the Web, so perhaps the answer to the concern is simply to wait. Over time, open source and other trends will no doubt diminish the relevance of Google's stranglehold in online search.

But for now, I can't help but feel a little vulnerable.