With unemployment rates as high as they are, there is certainly no shortage of job search advice. Here are some suggestions for the best sources to gather advice during your search.

Over the past year, countless sources providing job search advice have sprung up.  From online web-pages to self-help books, sources across all media aim to help job seekers everywhere.  But, it’s easy to get lost among all of the options.  Which are the best sites to visit? Books to read? Articles to get your hands on?  Specific sources may not work for everyone in the same way, but general categories often do. So, here are the top three types of sources that I’ve come across.

1.       Advice from a reputable source.

Everyone is offering up advice these days, so you need to make sure it comes from a source that you trust.  This type of advice generally comes from someone, presumably, is employed but is knowledgeable on the job search process or HR practices.  This type of advice is useful because it provides insight into what hiring managers are looking for in a candidate—from resumes to cover letters to interviews.

Example source: http://jobsearch.about.com/

2.       Advice from recently unemployed individuals.

This type of advice works because it is specific and recent.  Contributors to sources that focus on this type of advice tend to provide updates very soon after they’ve tried a new search tactic.  This source also tends to be very positive.  Contributors focus on their successes and pass along information about what worked for them in hopes that it will work for you.

Example source: http://blogs.wsj.com/laidoff/

3.       Advice from recently hired individuals.

Sources like this are helpful in that, on some level, their advice must work—their contributors have been hired, after all!  Advice from this type of source can cover the entire job search process, from the first weeks of unemployment to the days before receiving an offer.  It also covers job search ideas and practices that work, as well as those that didn’t.  In some cases, it may be more useful for you to know what to avoid and not waste your time on.

Example source: http://economy.kansascity.com/?q=taxonomy/term/37

The examples that I’ve provided are all online sources, but that doesn’t mean that you should limit yourself to the web.  You can look for advice within whichever medium you prefer.  Online sources, though, should supplement your search for advice, as they are a great place to find advice on a wide range of job search topics.  Their information is also easily accessible and up to date.

As mentioned, it’s easy to get lost out there.  So pick your favorite source within each type and stick to it.  If you feel you’re not getting the results you’re looking for, you can always search for a new source—and you can always turn to the OneWire Blog for help!