Unemployment is at an all time high. The last time we saw percentages like this was in the 80's. A lot has changed since then and when it comes to jobs, recruiting online has become a HR's dream. Or maybe not?

With the ease of posting information online now, job openings can be announced to tens of thousands of people (maybe more) in very little time and with minimal effort. In return, job postings online can be responded to with hundreds or thousands of job seekers eager for the position. Imagine getting hundreds of mailed-in resumes. With PDF resumes simply attached to an email, employers can easily scan documents–searching for keywords can make interpreting experience a matter of matching certain words– and delete undesirable ones at the click of a button. Is this the way to find a motivated person? It just might be. When you get hundreds of responses in the same way, the one or two that do it a little different will stand out.

When applying for jobs, seekers are confronted with message like, "Due to the number of responses, we cannot assure you a response..." The effortlessness of emailing a resume out causes a barrage of responses, making the time to narrow down perspective hires even greater. This also leaves a huge window for job seekers. Take advantage of a task that is all to familiar in this economy. The same process and tools that employers can use to find employees can be used by job seekers to increase their potential for an interview.

Let's first consider what was just said. If everyone is emailing their resumes, look for a way to stand out. Is an address or phone number given? If you are provided with additional information take advantage of it. Email them your stuff, but perhaps snail mail them a copy of your portfolio and resume. It is a lot harder to get rid of a nicely presented printed portfolio than a PDF. Don't get discourage persistence pays off.

Observe your targeted audience. If you do not get a confirmation email from the perspective employer, there are other ways to ensure that they took the time to look at your portfolio online, and if they didn't, it may be time to contact them again. Google Analytics provides job seekers with an invaluable tool—a means of observing where people are visiting your site from. If you email a resume to an office in a certain location, see if you get a hit on your site from the general area. This will provide you with a peace of mind, and ensure that your message is reaching someone.

Taking the above page from Google Analytics (minus the big dot which is my IP address before I filtered it out of my results) I can see exactly who is visiting me from my resumes that I sent out. I noticed hits to my site the day of, or after, I sent out a resume and portfolio link.

Making sure people are looking at what you send is only the first step, but a crucial one. If your message isn't delivered, it may be time to rethink your strategy.

With the beginning of my new site, I figured it was only appropriate to tell you about other sites that I turn to for inspiration, news, and deviations. I think it is important to constantly SEARCH (for new inspiration, interests, and different ways of approaching work), LOOK (at all forms of art), and READ (everything from small blurbs, large articles, and books can all hold a passage that will stay with you forever).

Here are some of my favorite sites that I turn to for help, inspiration, and knowledge.

DESIGN

Ace Jet 170

acejet170.typepad.com

Oozing nostalgia, Ace Jet has the greatest collection of design from days gone by along with quirky features like Chicken Watch. Yes, you read it right, just go see for yourself.

Design Observer

designobserver.com

Design Observer is probably one of the most undesign, design blogs on the web... and thats why I love it. The variety of topics it tackles is so vast that it never gets stale. The drawback I find in other blogs is that if usually sticks to smalls topics, which sometimes feel redundant. Not so with Design Observer. Whether you are a Graphic Designer, Anthropologist, Public Figure, etc. there is something on there for you, and somehow it all feels coherent.

fffound

ffffound.com

Hardly a blog, ffffound (4 Fs if you were counting) is more of a repository for designers to save images from the web. With images associated by relations based on tags and users who bookmarked them, it is easy to get lost clicking around. It is invite only so signing up will lead nowhere (I've tried).

I Love Typography [iLT]

ilovetypography.com

An exhaustingly thorough look at current trends, toys, and tools in typogrphy.

Pentagram Blog

blog.pentagram.com

Because you have to see what the top dogs in the industry are doing. And you have to wonder how they can update it with new work everyday!

Typesites

typesites.com

What a great site! It has in depth reviews of sites flaunting great typography. The updates do not come often, which is the only downside.

UnderConsideration

underconsideration.com

One of the blogs in this list that is easy to spend hours on. Headed by Bryony Gomez-Palacio and Armin Vit, the blog became their fulltime job. Who can blame them, UnderConsideration has multiple sections that cover just about every aspect of design. You'll love Brand New and the in depth articles of Speak Up.

After a few months trouble with my previous host NetFirms I have switched to Media Temple. I have only been with them a short bit but am totally impressed already.

They have a very intuitive control panel. Very quick support—I opened a ticket late one night and it was resolved when I woke up. Anyone looking for a great host. Check them out.