Last week, Dawn Jordan, a former operations vice president at Bank of America and one of eight unemployed MBA’s that the Wall Street Journal has been following as part of their “Laid off and Looking” series, wrote a piece about the “one size fits all” advice she’s come across time and time again in her job search.

“It seems like 95% of the information, advice and tools I have encountered are totally generic,” Jordan wrote. “They speak to the unemployed population en masse instead of speaking to me.”

Jordan happily announces that she has a few job offers after months of searching (my guess is that her stint as a columnist for the WSJ helped jolt her resume ahead of others), but does not credit any tools or resources for career hunters, saying those currently available are outdated and impersonal.

“It is the lack of personalization and customization in the information available that has been the biggest surprise,” she says. “For an industry so reliant upon building relationships, in my opinion as a job seeker, they are missing an opportunity.”

She quoted some general networking advice found on a career site and then provided the following as her criticism:

“From my perspective, the problem with this is that it only scratches the surface. It’s not bad information. It is just too general and it fails to offer tangible ideas or examples on execution. It’s a one size fits all piece of advice that really doesn’t fit anyone well.

What would I like to see offered as a better answer?

Based on my experience, I’d still give people examples of who should be in their career network as listed in the example above. Then I’d tell them to forget about focusing on a getting a specific job when they talk to people. Instead, I’d tell them to focus on that person and build that relationship. I’d advise them that you can have one thousand contacts in your network but the only meaningful ones will be the ones you’ve taken time to cultivate.

I’d advise them to start building a meaningful network by chatting up the other parents on your kid’s ball team. I’d tell them to talk to people when they walk their dog. I’d also tell them that it is critical to talk about yourself and your interests—not just the type of job you are looking for—when you attend designated networking events. In turn, people should find out the same information from those they meet.”

Jordan ends her piece by saying she came to the aforementioned conclusions on her own, no thanks to any so-called career seeker resources.

While I think some career professionals who put a lot of time and energy into doling out advice on the topic might find Jordan’s conclusions to be disheartening, I think there is a bit of truth in what she has to say. As a blogger trying to find the latest and best in career advice, career news, etc. I do stumble upon many similar articles, blogs, columns, and resources. And when I embarked upon writing a career advice column,  I knew right away that I did not want cover topics that have not already been tackled a million and one times.

My conclusion? I decided not to spew out unsolicited advice that falls into that one size fits all category and I decided to answer individual questions. Of course I try to keep the columns and the blog accessible to a larger audience and in answering specific questions that don’t “fit all”, so to speak, I find I reach a larger number than often expected.

So, while I think Jordan’s complaints have some merit to them, I hope to take advantage of what she calls a “missed opportunity” (though I do see a lot of other great blogs and work being done, that perhaps she failed to come across) and become a resource for personalized and customized advice. Just ask!

Visit the Contact page or ask me a question via my Twitter. I will answer all career questions personally or possible in a column or blog post. And if I don’t have the best answer, I’ll find someone who does.

Today’s Dear Bev column includes a listing of many accommodating public spaces in NYC where you can make a rest stop to freshen up, use the rest room,  get internet access, or just take a breather between interviews, networking meet ups, or industry events. For many laid off media professionals, commuting in to the city each day remains a constant in their life, but they no longer have an office to kick up their heels for a few minutes or to regroup and prepare for the next meeting. With the summer heat on its way, this becomes even more of an issue as the on-the-go exec hits the hot subways and emerges an even hotter mess–not the best first impression for a potential employer.

The column featured on MediaDailyNews.com (as well as in the Columns tab above) gives just a few of the many places that media and marketing maven Frances Page scoped out and deemed worthy of mention. Page originally compiled the list for her website ChristmasTimeinNewYorkCity.com, a resource for holiday day trippers who would need a place to stop while they shop. We asked her to take another look at the list and gear it towards the warmer months as well as towards the professional set. You might think you know every nook and cranny of this city, but see the complete listing below and you may just be surprised at some of these hidden hot spots.

Midtown Manhattan
Rockefeller Center
Aside from being one of our iconic tourist attractions, Rockefeller Center boasts a large underground city, complete with retail stores, quick food stops and elegant dining. The grandeur of the ten building complex, with its art deco magnificence will buoy your spirits and remind you why working in this magnificent city is worth the trouble.  The complex was built during the depression, with faith that better times would return.  One cold and wintry day, workers at the construction site set up the first Christmas tree, the humble beginning of one of the city’s grandest traditions.

Lots of tables and chairs and a large public bathroom on the underground concourse level (the same level as the ice rink/summer patio dining) make this is a great spot to take a break from summer’s heat or a sudden rain shower. The expansive bathrooms are next to the restaurant ‘Witchcraft’ and the Swarovski Crystal store. They are clean, with over 20 stalls. For added shipping convenience, there is a UPS and US Post Office on the lower level too.

Heading for an interview?  Step up at Eddie’s Shoe Shine at the 6th Avenue side of the lower concourse and get your shoes spruced up while you get to put your feet up. (Eddie’s also has a location downstairs at Grand Central.)

Rockefeller Center
30 Rockefeller Plaza from 49th-50th Streets and 5th to 6th Avenues
Rockefeller Center Information Line 212-588-8601
Rockefeller Center Art and Architecture Tour 212-664-3700
Website: www.rockefellercenter.com
Subway: B, D, F, V trains to 47th and 50th Street/Rockefeller Center. N, R W to 49th Street put you in the western end (6th Avenue) of the underground Rockefeller Center concourse.
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 to 49th or 50th Street. M6, M7, M27, M50, Q32 also intersect Rockefeller Center.

Olympic Tower Atrium Public Space
This little known gem is quite possibly the best privately-owned public space in midtown Manhattan, opposite the north side of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  It even has a museum downstairs that you can enjoy free of charge thanks to the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.  The pleasant amenities on street level include tables and chairs for the public alongside a small food counter (you do not have to buy something to sit down), modern artwork to gaze upon and a museum shop. The bathroom is small and very clean.  There is also a small cafe serving Greek-inspired dishes.

Olympic Tower Atrium Public Space
645 Fifth Avenue (entrances on 51st or 52nd between 5th and Madison Avenues)
Hours: 8am-10pm
Website: www.onassis.org
Phone: (212) 838-9113
Subway: D, F to 47th-50th Sts/Rockefeller Center or E, V to 5th Ave/53rd St
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M27, M50

Public Atrium at Trump Plaza
Right in the midst of Fifth Avenue and just a few blocks from CBS’ taping of The Early Show and the Apple Store, this makes a nice oasis from early morning to hot afternoon and beyond.  Take the escalator down to the bright atrium for outfitted with tables and chairs, food purveyors and a sparkling bathroom.  A large wall fountain cascading down marble walls and piped-in music complete the picture.  Good gelato, sandwiches, pizza, coffee and dessert concessions surround the seating area but you do not have to buy food to sit down. The only draw back is that sound echoes off the marble making the music feel a little loud so not our favorite place for a rendevouz. For a quieter venue, head upstairs and use the rear walkway to The Atrium public space in the neighboring building.
Public Atrium at Trump Plaza
725 Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets, next to Tiffany’s.
Hours: 8am-10pm
Subway: N, R, W to 5th Ave/59th St; E,V to 5th Ave/53rd St
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 Q32 down Fifth Avenue; M5 east on 59th Street and down 5th Avenue; M30, M31, M57 to Fifth Avenue

The Atrium at 590 Madison Avenue
Warm and sunny, this glass-enclosed, 5-story atrium has bamboo groves in large planters set among plenty of seating.  Hot and cold beverages and light snacks can be purchased from the little stand near the Madison Avenue entrance.  The atrium is underneath some of IBM’s offices and cubicle space and Tourneau Corner (at the 57th Street entrance) will keep you correctly calibrated for any upcoming international conference calls. This space does not have bathrooms; go next door through the passageway into Trump Tower and down the escalator to use the public restroom.
The Atrium at 590 Madison Avenue
590 Madison Avenue between 56th and 57th Street.
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 up Madison Avenue; M31, M57 to Madison Avenue M30 to 57th Street
Train: N,R, W to 5th Ave/59th St
Public Atrium at Sony Plaza
This public space adjoins Sony’s NYC headquarters, Sony Wonder and the Sony Style store. The space is a large atrium with lots of indoor seating and food choices.  Weekdays you will find office workers from nearby buildings brown bagging and eating take-out.  From here you can enter Sony Style (the brand’s flagship store in the city) and Sony Wonder. Bathrooms are inside Sony Wonder (open Tuesdays-Saturdays at 10am)
Public Atrium at Sony Plaza
550 Madison Avenue between 55th and 56th Streets
Hours: 7am-11pm
Subway: E,V to Fifth Ave/53rd St. Walk east 1 block to Madison Avenue, then up to 55th Street.
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 up Madison Avenue

575 Fifth Avenue Public Space (L’Oreal’s building)
Take the escalator downstairs to the atrium to access this convenient spot to regroup before or after an interview. Though renovation construction may still be in progress, it is not far from Rockefeller Center and much quieter. The cafeteria and L’Oreal store are open to L’Oreal employees only but the bathrooms, benches, tables and chairs (though a bit drab) are for your use. Bring a coffee and a snack from the Starbucks on street level or other nearby lunch spot.  There are 2 unisex bathrooms downstairs toward back of atrium. (A tissue or two is recommended for unisex bathroom situations as toilet paper and other supplies can be low.)
575 Fifth Avenue Public Space at 47th Street
Subway: #4,5,6,7 to Grand Central (exit northern end of Grand Central)
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M27, M50

Bryant Park
Now a midtown favorite, Bryant Park is lined with gravel paths and small patios.  Pull up one of the green folding chairs and enjoy a bag lunch or soup and sandwich from purveyors nearby. Stroll about or just sit and relax. The restrooms are at the northeast corner of the park, along 42nd Street, just behind the back of the New York Public Library.  With flower-filled vases to greet you and an attendant to keep things sparkling, this is quite possibly the city’s nicest public bathroom.  Not terribly large, but oh how welcome.
Bryant Park
42nd St between 5th and 6th Avenues; enter via 41st St, 6th Ave or 42nd St.
Website: www.bryantpark.org
Subway: B,D,7 to Bryant Park station. N,Q,R,S,1,2,3 to Times Square station which is one block west of Bryant Park.
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 down 5th Ave; M5, M6, M7 up 6th M42, M104 along 42nd St

New York Public Library, Mid-Manhattan Branch
The Rose Reading Room, a remarkable, 2-block long space is open to the public as is the library’s exhibit areas displaying the original Winnie the Pooh toys, Mary Poppins’ umbrella and letters and portraits of New York luminaries.  There is even a copy of the Gutenberg Bible in the Edna Barnes Solomon Room.  Patience and Fortitude, the names given to the lions by Mayor LaGuardia during the Great Depression flank the entrance and exhibit banners announcing the current free exhibitions and events.

In the Rose Reading Room, ask for a wonderful volume by Audubon or Hardy and take a break from the madding crowd.  The Rose Reading Room also has an open stacks area, computers, free internet access and a laptop docking service.  Check out the events and activities open to the public at NYPL branches throughout Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Bronx (Queens has a separate system). The library’s collection and public programs include many resources for job seekers from career advice to soul restoring literature and art.

Aside from the main branch, check out the Library for the Performing Arts branch at Lincoln Center where you can listen to music and the Science Industry Business Library  (188 Madison Avenue at 34th St.) housing Job Search Central and the New York Small Business Resource Center.  Check the website for locations and hours of other branches.  Note: the library is much used in these difficult economic times and is facing budget cuts.  Please consider answering their appeal or writing your representative in support of the library.
New York Public Library, Mid-Manhattan Branch
455 Fifth Avenue (between 40th and 42nd Streets)
Website: www.nypl.org
Hours: Mon-Wed, 9a-9p, Thurs-Sat 10a-6p, Sun 1-5p
Subway: #4,5,6 to Grand Central Station. Walk west to Fifth Avenue. B,D,F,V,7 to Bryant Park.
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 down 5th; M42, M104 along 42nd Street

Lord & Taylor Star Spangled Banner Break Spot
9:30 in the morning may seem early for a break but if you are at lose ends between a breakfast meeting and a mid-morning call, you can get in from the elements and have a seat in one of the folding chairs set out in the foyer of Lord & Taylor before the 10am opening.  The lights are dimmed and music is played softly inside until a few minutes before 10am when the Star Spangled Banner is broadcast.  The tradition started in 1979, sparked by the Iran hostage crisis.  Joseph E. Brooks, then chairman of Lord & Taylor, instituted the daily ritual because “with all its problems, this is still the greatest country in the world.”  It’s a heartwarming way to take a break. Bathrooms are located on upper floors.  Lord & Taylor is the oldest upscale department store in the United States, located on Fifth Avenue since 1826.  Need a fresh accessory for that interview suit?
Lord & Taylor
424 Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Streets a block south of the New York Public Library
Hours: Opens at 10am after the playing of the Star Spangled Banner
Website: www.lordandtaylor.com
Phone: (212) 391-3344
Subway: #4,5,6 to Grand Central Station. Walk west to Fifth Avenue, turn left at library and walk to 39th Street. B,D,F,V to Bryant Park. Walk east to Fifth Avenue, turn right at library and walk to 39th Street.
Bus: M2, M3, M4, M5 down Fifth Avenue. M1 down Fifth Avenue turns east at 40th Street; disembark before turn. M42, M104 along 42nd Street. Get off at Fifth Avenue, walk south to 39th Street.

Grand Central Station
MetroNorth commuters don’t need to be reminded of this gem but no mid-town list would be complete without it.  If you need a break near meetings on the east side along Lexington, Park or 3rd Avenues you will find the dining concourse on the lower level peaceful in the morning and bustling at lunch where cheap eats abound. Shoe shine stations and some well-stocked newsstands will keep you interview-ready. The bathrooms, also on the lower level at either end of the food court, are ample and can handle the numbers.   The sinks spray a bit so prepare to step back.   There is another very small bathroom in the stationmaster’s office on the main level (western end of station).  Connecting bonus—Cocina, upstairs in the MetLife building is a good place to meet someone for a working breakfast or coffee with a very nice staff.
Grand Central Station
42nd and Park Avenue; entrances on 42nd Street, Vanderbilt, Lexington and 44th Street (via MetLife building)
Website: http://grandcentralterminal.com/
Subway: #4, 5, 6, 7 and S (Times Square/Grand Central Shuttle)
Bus:M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M42, M98, M101, M102, M103, M104, Q32.

Penn Station
For the best bathroom experience at Penn Station, go to NJ Transit’s waiting room near the 7th Avenue side of the station.  It is reserved for ticket holders but if you are neatly dressed and walk with purpose, you should have no difficulty.   Outside the waiting room, there is not a lot of seating except at similar waiting rooms for LIRR and Amtrak train ticket holders.  On the plus side, Penn Station is a good spot to get a shoeshine and pick up a trade journal or two.
Penn Station
7th Avenue, 32nd Street; additional entrances on 8th Avenue and 34th Street.
Subways #1,2,3,A,C,E and PATH trains
Buses: M4, M10

Port Authority
Port Authority leaves much to be desired but because it is close to Times Square and so many flow in and out of the city through here, its few features can come in handy.  Aside from the cafeteria-style eateries, there is really no place to sit, even for the people waiting for their buses downstairs (though there are rather precarious benches that flip down).  There are bathrooms on each of the three levels of the southern building ranging in quality from top to bottom floor, the top floor bathrooms being the best kept. A post office, a few newsstands and a drug store round out the amenities.  For a few bucks, there is a bowling alley (with a nice bathroom) on the second floor.  Cocktails are served in the evening.
Port Authority
625 Eighth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets
Website: www.panynj.gov/commutingTravel/bus/html/pa.html
Subways: #1,2,3,A,C,E,7
Buses: M42, M10, M16, M27, M104

888 7th Avenue Public Space
The open-air plaza is behind the office building on 57th St between 7th and Broadway, nestled between the Brooklyn Diner and Lee’s Art Shop. Nine tables with chairs provide a brown-baggers lunch spot on sunny days.  Nicely situated 1/2 block from Carnegie Hall (on 7th) and across from the Art Students League  (on 57th).  Extra: The Art Students League gallery, across the street, is open to the public.
Note: no bathroom facilities at this outdoor break spot.
888 7th Avenue Public Space at 57th off 7th Avenue
Subway: N,Q,R,W
Bus: M31,M57,M6,M7,M10,M20

Upper West Side
Museum of Biblical Art
Need some divine intervention? This small museum, just north or Columbus Circle on Broadway, has set aside a small atrium at its entrance with a few tables and chairs, each with a Bible.  Open to the public to bring a bag lunch or just sit and relax, it is a quiet, sunny space on the Upper West Side. Note: Bathrooms are for museum ticket holders. (Find the nearest public bathrooms a block south at the Time Warner Center on the 2nd and 3rd floors.)
Ticket prices: The sitting area is free.  Recommended admission fee to MOBIA: $7.00 for adults; $4.00 for students and senior citizens (with valid ID); Free for children under 12.
Museum of Biblical Art
1865 Broadway at West 61st Street
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday, 10am-6pm. Thursday, 10am-8pm. Friday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Website: www.mobia.org
Phone: (212) 408-1500
Subway: 1, B, D, A or C to Columbus Circle/59th Street. Walk north up Broadway to 61st Street.
Bus: M7, M11 or the M104 to 61st and Broadway

Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
Just beyond the box office in Avery Fisher Hall are a few cafe spaces that open shortly before performances and stay open until intermission.  Other times it is very quiet and you can stop in to check out upcoming performances, buy tickets, use the restrooms downstairs and sit down at one of the tables for a brief rest while you peruse the performance schedules or your resume.
The Revson Fountain on the Josie Robertson Plaza, under construction since 2008, is now visible and makes a stop here more relaxing.  Construction and renovation at Julliard, New York State Theater and other venues continue and affect access to some buildings and subway exits/entrances. For the most current information, go to lincolncenter.org and look for the construction news link under visitor information.

Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
Columbus Avenue and West 65th Street.
Box Office: Open Monday 10am–7:30pm, Tuesday–Saturday 10am–8:30pm, Sunday 11:30am–7:30pm
Website: www.lincolncenter.org
Phone: (212) 870-5570
Subway: #1 to 66th Street/Lincoln Center. The entrance to the downtown side in front of Avery Fisher Hall is still closed. Downtown subway access is available at 66th St. and Broadway. Entry to the underground concourse from the subway also remains closed during construction.
Bus: M5, M7, M10, M11, M66 and M104; the M104, M5, and M7 bus stop at Broadway and 65th St. remains temporarily relocated to 66th St and Broadway.

Bel Canto Public Space
Over a dozen tables and accompanying chairs provide seating in this indoor, cooled plaza that forms a very large foyer to Ollie’s Chinese restaurant. Take-out from Ollie’s (or anywhere else) can be eaten here or simply have a seat and cool down on a hot day.  Just two blocks north of Lincoln Center and near some Upper West Side shopping, Bel Canto is also near ABC’s (and ESPN’s) offices. No bathrooms but the literary-minded may stop into nearby Barnes and Noble at Broadway and 66th Street whose restroom on the café level is open to shoppers.
Bel Canto Public Space
1991 Broadway, west side of Broadway between 67th and 68th Streets
Hours: 8am-midnight, daily
Subway: #1 to 66th Street/Lincoln Center.
Bus:    M5, M7, M104 north-south along Broadway; M66 running from east to west sides using 66th (heading west) and 65th (heading east) on the west side.

Downtown
Staten Island Ferry Terminal
Within easy reach of Wall Street, the Staten Island Ferry Terminal is a no fuss break spot on Manhattan’s southern tip.  A plain but spacious waiting room has plenty of seating and the bathrooms are well kept.  If you have the time, jump on the ferry for a really restorative free break cruising New York’s Harbor.  A one-way trip is about 25 minutes and the Staten Island side has recently installed two huge salt-water fish tanks.  Also on the Staten Island side is the Ballpark at St. George where Yankees’ single A team plays.  The stadium has a view of the harbor and lower Manhattan.  Ferries leave and return at 1/2 hour intervals (more frequently during rush hours) so you can kill an hour or so between meetings with a free mini-sea sojourn.  Ferry schedules are on the website and at the terminal.
Staten Island Ferry Terminal
1 South Street, Manhattan
Website: www.siferry.com
Subway: #1,4,5,W,R,J,Z
Bus: M1, M6, M15

Winter Garden Atrium at the World Financial Center
Art, music and performance events are all free here so a break can include a little song and dance as well as a bite to eat.  Check out their website for the events calendar and map of the complex.  Two levels provide an impressive and soaring space.  Bathrooms are on the Winter Garden’s street level.
Winter Garden Atrium, World Financial Center
Vesey Street and West Street
Website: www.worldfinancialcenter.com
Subway: #1,2,3,4,5,A,C,J,M,Z to Fulton St/Broadway-Nassau. Exit at Fulton, walk west to Church, then north to Vesey.  Follow Vesey west to WFC.
Bus: M1, M6 to Broadway and Liberty (walk west on Liberty, then north on West Street); M9 to South End Ave or M20, M22 to North End Ave.

As unemployment mounts, it seems a lot of people are looking for  ways to capitalize. Today’s Wall Street Journal reviews three  resume  web design sites. Turns out the one that’s  free gets a thumbs up (visualcv.com).  However, an issue that’s explored is the importance of design vs. content.  My vote goes to content.

Illustration by Jason Schneider via WSJ.com

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal offers advice on “bulletproofing” your references in your quest for a new job. The piece offers some solid advice, like innovate ways to stay in touch with those contacts you’re hoping will sing your praises, keeping track of previous employers and colleagues through Google Alerts to congratulate them and let them know they’re in your thoughts and on your radar, and not burying yourself by referring an ex ex ex boss who may not even remember you. Some of the tips seemed a little off the mark, like keeping a solid bank of a dozen references. That’s a bit excessive. But over all, the article was well done.

What surprised me were the many comments posted that felt to the contrary on the author’s information. Several readers spoke up and expressed their belief that references no longer matter or are “of no value.” With many years under my belt in this industry, I couldn’t help but respond to this strange consensus. Here’s what I had to say:

“As a recruiter and an on-line career advice columnist, issues surrounding references come up frequently. While I agree that 12 references may be excessive, I do believe references have value. Everyone assumes a candidate can put together a list of references that will be give him or her high marks. Surprise, that’s not always the case. A good recruiter or HR executive can probe and find areas of weakness that may be problematic for the candidate. At the same time, candidates should anticipate off-the- record calls regarding their performance at past employers. Calls might be made by the recruiter, HR, or the hiring manager and, in my experience, this is a common procedure. Candidates can be better prepared if they do some research on who anyone of these 3 stakeholders might know from their current or past job.”

So, while I agree that some of the advice in this article should be taken with a grain of salt, I think it’s dangerous to be under the impression that no one is checking into your past.

-Bev

Illustration by Dusan Petricic for the Wall Street Journal.

This great article from a recent issue of the New York Times emphasizes the importance of the “online toolbox” and more specifically the importance of the resume as said box’s most important tool. It offers great advice all around. But, what struck me as I neared the middle of the article was that the jargon suddenly slipped from the perfectly understandable to the slightly high tech. For the 25 and under crew, the article continued on to be completely readable, understandable, and helpful. My assumption for the 40 and over set, is that it became a bit tricky. This is what I like to call a case of digital dysfunction. The advice given is key for anyone looking to set their resume apart from the crowd or to make it accessible to themselves and their prospective employers. But the more complex the verbiage became, the less likely that a less than tech-savvy exec will be able to heed the advice.

We’re all on LinkedIn and Facebook and some are even venturing into the brave new world of Twitter. But really using these social networks and the endless list of other digital doodads (like drop.io, Xing, and others mentioned in the article) to their highest potential is difficult for those of us who didn’t grow up in the digital age or are simply too busy to delve into the ever changing digital landscape. What’s more, with a new application invented every other second it seems, it is an increasingly daunting and time-consuming task to tackle this world of innovation. But just because the professional who’s been around the block might experience a case of digital dysfunction or better yet, utter confusion, every now and then, doesn’t mean there is no cure. I’ll be setting up tools and opportunities right here on DearBev.com in the coming weeks to help you conquer these intimidating new digital heights and rid yourself of tech distress whether you just aren’t the best when it comes to the web or you simply don’t have enough time in your day to focus on the latest technologies that could improve your business or career. Everyone should have the opportunity to make their resume the sharpest tool in their “shed.” Visit our services tab in the near future for help with social media, web portfolios and everything you’ll need to keep that “online toolbox” razor sharp.

-Bev

Illustration by Randall Enos for the New York Times.

Welcome to DearBev.com, a great resource for career advice in today’s volatile marketplace!

I use my nearly 30 years of experience in the media and career service industries to dispense practical insider advice via my MediaPost columns and now I’m moving it to a more communal platform with DearBev.com.

For almost 15 years I have owned my own recruiting firm and before that I sat on the other side of the table as an advertising executive at several companies. I’ve worked for top notch media giants including MTV, Vh1 and Nickelodeon, Orion Pictures, and CBS amongst others. In addition I’ve worked with equally powerful clients including A&E, Cablevision, Viacom, ABC.com, Discovery, Nokia, Break.com, Hachette Filipacci and more. With this combined expertise, I know both what job seekers need and what employers are looking for. So feel free to send your questions my way and they’ll be answered in a blog post, a personal correspondence, or in a MediaPost column!

DearBev.com will serve as a resource for anyone who is looking for some insider/expert advice or anonymous advice if you want some tips without divulging your identity. I also hope to keep the blog chock full of interesting articles, tips, resources, and news related to the media and career industries.

Check out the issues I’ve already addressed in the Columns section and read more about me by clicking About. Happy surfing!

-Bev