Written by Pamela Skillings

Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about football. It’s also a chance to check out all of the crazy new big-budget ad campaigns.

So what companies are willing to fork over millions for Super Bowl ad time even during a recession?

Companies like Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi are in.  And so is CareerBuilder.com.  For the fifth consecutive year, CareerBuilder.com is debuting a new ad campaign during the Super Bowl.  Here’s a sneak peek.

What do you think? The campaign was developed by Wieden & Kennedy and has that touch of  dark humor that we’ve come to expect from CareerBuilder.com ads  (read my review of last year’s campaign). The visuals certainly capture the torture of being trapped in a bad job. Plus there’s a koala bear wearing Lumbergh glasses (see above).

But if nobody’s hiring these days, how can CareerBuilder.com afford a Super Bowl ad? Well, maybe the hiring outlook isn’t quite as grim as we keep hearing.  CareerBuilder.com Chief Marketing Officer Richard Castellini has encouraging words for job searchers:  “Our recent job forecast found that, despite a tough economy, 14 percent of employers say they will be hiring full-time employees in 2009 and additionally, 19 percent say they plan to increase their online recruitment spending.”

Today, I got two emails  from people announcing moves into great new jobs, so maybe Richard and the koala are right.

As part of the new ad campaign, CareerBuilder.com has also launched a new online tool called the Anonymous Tip Giver. Click on over if you’d like to provide some anonymous  “constructive” criticism to your boss  or co-worker via an emailed video clip starring an alligator or a zombie. You can write your own tip or choose a premade one. If your biggest office problems involve annoying ring tones and tuna breath, they’ve got you covered.  I just sent one of my coworkers the news that he smells like an old cabin. Burnnnnnn.

Written by Pamela Skillings

Everybody knows how important networking is for your career, right? Well, most people may intellectually KNOW that they should be networking, but I am continually amazed that so many refuse to actually do it. And these are smart people. They just happen to be smart people who loathe the idea of walking into a room full of strangers with nothing but a name badge and a nervous smile.

But in today’s job market, networking is not just important. It’s critical. There is more competition for every opening and you need more than a great resume. It’s not enough to spend your days stalking the job boards (in fact, it’s a quick way to lose your mind if you don’t step away and talk to real humans once in a while).

So why are so many job searchers still stubbornly avoiding networking? I got a new sense of the level of resistance out there at a recent event for job hunters at The New York Public Library. I conducted several 20-minute “speed career coaching” sessions over the course of the day and spoke with people at many different career stages — from recent grads to seasoned industry vets.

They all had one thing in common — all said that they knew they should be networking more, but just couldn’t bring themselves to do it. They all needed to step up their networking games. And I hope they all will take my advice to step out of their comfort zones and start connecting and reconnecting.

Obviously, I’m not the only one telling them that networking is important. I recently saw a study that quantified the value of a strong professional network. According to research by Pepperdine University and Upwardly Mobile Inc., 70% of executives credit networking for their current jobs (compared to just 16% who credit job listings). And most aren’t even networking well — 75% said that they spend fewer than two hours per week on networking and focus on the wrong things.

So how can you become a better networker? Upwardly Mobile, the company behind the study cited above, has actually developed a nifty little web-based tool to help you. UpMo.com is currently in beta and I recently had the opportunity to test it out so I can give you the scoop.
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Written by Pamela Skillings

If you’re in or near New York City and could use some free job search support, you’re in luck.  I am one of several career coaches who will be volunteering time next Tuesday at a great free event for job hunters in midtown Manhattan.

Back to Work: Jumpstart Your Job Search is sponsored by The New York Public Library and Vault.com. You can attend free workshops featuring advice from recruiters and Vault.com resume experts. You can also register for a free 20-minute career coaching or resume feedback session.

If you’re interested in a free coaching or feedback session, please RSVP ASAP. There is a limited number of spots and they may be filled prior to Tuesday.  I hope to see you there!

Back to Work: Jumpstart Your Job Search
When: Tuesday, January 27, 2009. 10:30AM-4:00PM
Where: Science, Business, and Industry Library. 188 Madison Avenue at 34th Street, New York, NY
Admission: FREE