Using Podcasts as Job Search Resources

Although podcasts have been available for years, you may or may not be familiar with what these are and how they might be useful to you in your job search. In a way, you might think of a podcast as something like either a pre-recorded radio or television broadcast. Podcasts are simply pre-recorded audio or video files that you can listen to or watch either on your computer or your mp3 player. You can find podcasts on practically any subject, which means podcasts can be excellent resources to learn a new skill, stay informed about a specific topic, or acquire new information.

Anyone can create a podcast, which means that if you log on to a program like iTunes to search for podcasts, or visit a site like Podcast Alley,  you’ll find dozens – and sometimes hundreds – of offerings. Because podcasts are usually free resources, beware of any that require you to pay money for content, unless you feel like the podcast provider is a trusted source. Because anyone can create a podcast, you may find that some podcasts are of higher-quality – both in terms of content and recording type – than others. Some of the best ways to find good podcasts are to pay attention to podcast reviews on websites like those mentioned above, or to ask people you know for recommendations.

Podcasts may be of interest to you as a job seeker for several reasons:

• Find informative podcasts with information pertinent to your career. For example, there are podcasts for nursing professionals that offer tips and advice to others in the field. Business-oriented podcasts may help you keep on top of important news or trends.
• Find ways to brush up on a skill. In particular, you can find a number of free language-training podcasts to help you learn a language such as Spanish, which could be useful depending on your professional background and plans. There are also various podcasts to help you brush up on computer skills and software usage – another offering that may be extremely helpful.

One site for finding video podcasts is http://www.videopodcasts.tv/. iTunes and the links listed above are some of the best resources for finding podcasts in general, but you might also check your favorite news and online media sites. NPR, for example, produces broadcasts on a number of topics, as do National Geographic, CNN, the Washington Post, and PBS.

With so many choices available, it may take time to find the right podcasts for your needs. In addition, since it takes time to listen to or watch a podcast – just like watching the TV or listening to the radio – you’ll want to think about how much time you have to devote to these resources. Even though a podcast may require a time investment, don’t underestimate these interesting and valuable resources. They might be just the thing to keep you connected and help you learn.