Blog Post: Cool Tools for Your Career: Podcasts

Do you want to brush up on your job-hunting and career-building skills, but can’t slow down to read a book or even a web page? Listening to career-related podcasts may be the answer.   Podcasts, digital audio files easily syndicated (via RSS and other tools such as iTunes) online, can be downloaded and played on your desktop computer, your laptop, your iPod, or even your mobile phone whenever you want. Most podcasts last less than an hour, and many are 10 minutes or less, so it’s a very convenient way to digest a lot of information in a short amount of time.   Here are a few career-related podcasts you may want to check out. If you’re inspired by what you hear, you may even want to consider producing your own podcast. In addition to being low-cost way to increase your visibility in the marketplace of jobs or business, Monica O’Brien of Twenty Set blog also makes a very compelling argument that doing audio or video podcasts can improve your presentation skills and make you a more desirable job candidate.   Great Podcasts for Career Development   Career FastTrack Sponsored by Focus Communications in the United Kingdom, these podcasts feature professionals in a wide variety of industries discussing their career path and what they’ve learned about job-hunting along the way.   Secrets of the Job Hunt Hosted by Chris Russell, the self-described “Online Job Search Guy,” the podcast series associated with his website features audio job descriptions, tips on building your resume, how to tap hidden job markets and much more.   Knowledge@W.P. Carey Podcasts This varied set of audio offerings from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business covers everything from the impact of recent economic events on the workplace, how to negotiate with your boss and career decision-making to how to get into an MBA program.   ASU Graduate College If you’re considering a return to graduate school and/or a career in academia, your first stop should be this set of “Strategies for Success” podcasts. They provide information on how to ramp up one’s research/scholarly career while still in graduate school, how to create and deliver a compelling academic conference presentation, and much more.