Do you have a favorite job search resource?
We polled the Path Forward staff and these are our current favorite websites, apps, tools, books, and more. They’re listed below in alphabetical order.
Check them out for something new, different, or fun to get things done, keep organized, and stay motivated on your job search and return-to-work journey. If you have a favorite resource to share, let us know!
Alison
Recommended by Emily A.
Link: https://alison.com/
Type: E-learning platform
Whether you’re a seasoned pro who is deep in the workforce or just thinking about returning to work, I would recommend Alison to you. This e-learning platform is a great place to find loads of free courses (although there are some that require payment) on a variety of topics. For example, we all use Excel but could all probably be better with it. So if you want to learn how to make formulas more easily or how to make charts in Excel, Alison’s got what you need. But it doesn’t stop there… there are resources related to programming, finance, HR, languages, and more!
Recommended by Emily A.
Link: https://alison.com/
Type: E-learning platform
Whether you’re a seasoned pro who is deep in the workforce or just thinking about returning to work, I would recommend Alison to you. This e-learning platform is a great place to find loads of free courses (although there are some that require payment) on a variety of topics. For example, we all use Excel but could all probably be better with it. So if you want to learn how to make formulas more easily or how to make charts in Excel, Alison’s got what you need. But it doesn’t stop there… there are resources related to programming, finance, HR, languages, and more!
Catchafire
Recommended by Christine W.
Link: https://www.catchafire.org/
Type: Skills-based volunteering
I’ve talked to a lot of people who are looking for more purpose-driven work, and that can often be true of returners as well. Plus, what better way to refresh and showcase your skills than by doing some volunteer work for an organization that is doing good in the world? Catchafire connects you to a nonprofit that needs your skills and you get to build not only your resume, but your network and confidence as well – all key components to a successful return to work!
Recommended by Christine W.
Link: https://www.catchafire.org/
Type: Skills-based volunteering
I’ve talked to a lot of people who are looking for more purpose-driven work, and that can often be true of returners as well. Plus, what better way to refresh and showcase your skills than by doing some volunteer work for an organization that is doing good in the world? Catchafire connects you to a nonprofit that needs your skills and you get to build not only your resume, but your network and confidence as well – all key components to a successful return to work!
JobHero
Recommended by Lordess T.
Link: https://www.jobhero.com/
Type: Career readiness support platform
Returning to your career can feel daunting. The pressures of your personal and professional life combined can feel like a juggling act at times. JobHero is the perfect resource and career development tool to ease your transition back to work. With stellar features, such as their resume builder, sample cover letters, and job description overviews, you will find countless opportunities to prepare with their superb job search strategies.
Recommended by Lordess T.
Link: https://www.jobhero.com/
Type: Career readiness support platform
Returning to your career can feel daunting. The pressures of your personal and professional life combined can feel like a juggling act at times. JobHero is the perfect resource and career development tool to ease your transition back to work. With stellar features, such as their resume builder, sample cover letters, and job description overviews, you will find countless opportunities to prepare with their superb job search strategies.
Jobscan
Recommended by Tess F.
Link: https://www.jobscan.co/
Type: Resume optimization platform
Isn’t it exhausting to customize your resume for every job application? I recently discovered a tool called Jobscan that will help make your resume prep much more manageable! Jobscan is an intuitive and user-friendly tool that optimizes your resume for different roles and applicant tracking systems. It does this by analyzing your resume against job descriptions and suggesting tailored improvements, so you can stand out to hiring managers. Jobscan offers a free version with limited monthly scans and a premium version with unlimited scans, access to additional features, and more detailed analysis. Give it a try and help your resume shine!
Recommended by Tess F.
Link: https://www.jobscan.co/
Type: Resume optimization platform
Isn’t it exhausting to customize your resume for every job application? I recently discovered a tool called Jobscan that will help make your resume prep much more manageable! Jobscan is an intuitive and user-friendly tool that optimizes your resume for different roles and applicant tracking systems. It does this by analyzing your resume against job descriptions and suggesting tailored improvements, so you can stand out to hiring managers. Jobscan offers a free version with limited monthly scans and a premium version with unlimited scans, access to additional features, and more detailed analysis. Give it a try and help your resume shine!
Raindrop
Recommended by Pam M.
Link: https://raindrop.io/
Type: Bookmark manager
I’m not a “see it and buy it” type of person. Gotta know what all my options are! So when I’m shopping online, I like to bookmark the different webpages I come across. Pretty soon, there’ll be more than 20 bookmarks for different shoes. It’s a mess. I like Raindrop.io, a free bookmark manager that makes it easy to organize what you’re considering and intend to go back to. This could be useful for the job hunt as well. Because searching for your next dream job is sort of like shopping for an awesome pair of boots.
Recommended by Pam M.
Link: https://raindrop.io/
Type: Bookmark manager
I’m not a “see it and buy it” type of person. Gotta know what all my options are! So when I’m shopping online, I like to bookmark the different webpages I come across. Pretty soon, there’ll be more than 20 bookmarks for different shoes. It’s a mess. I like Raindrop.io, a free bookmark manager that makes it easy to organize what you’re considering and intend to go back to. This could be useful for the job hunt as well. Because searching for your next dream job is sort of like shopping for an awesome pair of boots.
RocketReach
Recommended by Suzanne R.
Link: https://rocketreach.co/
Type: LinkedIn email extractor/finder tool
When in the midst of a job search, it is so tempting to directly apply to as many roles as possible using career search and corporate websites only. While this is fine to do as a part of your search, establishing a personal connection is even better when you’re trying to differentiate yourself. From inquiring about a company via an informational interview to addressing a cover letter or alerting the right contact that you applied, these things might take more time but can make all the difference, and you’ll need an email to do them! RocketReach is one of many email finder extensions, but offers five free emails per month.
Recommended by Suzanne R.
Link: https://rocketreach.co/
Type: LinkedIn email extractor/finder tool
When in the midst of a job search, it is so tempting to directly apply to as many roles as possible using career search and corporate websites only. While this is fine to do as a part of your search, establishing a personal connection is even better when you’re trying to differentiate yourself. From inquiring about a company via an informational interview to addressing a cover letter or alerting the right contact that you applied, these things might take more time but can make all the difference, and you’ll need an email to do them! RocketReach is one of many email finder extensions, but offers five free emails per month.
Teal
Recommended by Melyssa M.
Link: https://www.tealhq.com/
Type: AI resume builder + job application tracker
Teal is touted as, “A fast and easy way to keep track of all your job opportunities in one place.” You can bookmark jobs from job boards using Teal’s Chrome extension and organize by which you’ve applied and interviewed for. Teal also helps you build your resume by matching key words to job descriptions. Most features are free, but for more advanced tools you can opt for the paid version ($9/month).
Recommended by Melyssa M.
Link: https://www.tealhq.com/
Type: AI resume builder + job application tracker
Teal is touted as, “A fast and easy way to keep track of all your job opportunities in one place.” You can bookmark jobs from job boards using Teal’s Chrome extension and organize by which you’ve applied and interviewed for. Teal also helps you build your resume by matching key words to job descriptions. Most features are free, but for more advanced tools you can opt for the paid version ($9/month).