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Another useful post for job seekers from Job Profiles.org.

The recession may be the worst in recent memory but modern technology can blunt the added frustration of searching for a job. While visiting countless employment sites and emailing resumes can be time consuming and fruitless, your browser may help make the search more efficient. Firefox 3 has proven itself remarkably popular, especially thanks to the add-on feature which allows users to customize their browsers to perform a wide range task specific functions. Check out these 50 helpful Firefox add-ons to make the job search easier.

Job Updates

While the Internet offers an unlimited amount of information about any number of topics, sorting though the details can be extremely tedious. These Firefox extensions will help you sort through the mass of information job sites regularly update.

1. Percula: Integrates your web activity with the monster.com database of jobs. Search a topic, find relevant jobs in that field.
2. CraigZilla: Allows users to monitor any section of Craigslist (such as "jobs") for updates. Even better, this add-on scans updates for customizable key words refining results further.
3. TwitterJobSearch: Search job postings made to Twitter in real time.
4. Indeed Job Search: Includes updates from every major job site. Also includes job postings from a number of newspapers, associations and individual company's career pages.
5. CharityJOB: For those needing moral satisfaction in their work, here's a database of jobs in the non-profit sector.
6. Search4Jobs: Integrates Monter's RSS feed directly into Firefox in an easy to use format.
7. Check4Change: This extension let users monitor web pages for updates at regular intervals established by the user. Unfortunately, it only works with open tabs but great for monitoring niche job websites that are short on features.
8. Update Scanner: Select the websites you want to scan for changes, Update Scanner does just that while ignoring minor changes.
9. DapperFox: Sites without an RSS feed are annoying. DapperFox eases the pain by "RSSying the Web," building its own RSS feeds for any website.

Social

Research has shown that pre-existing social networks often play a key function in helping people find a job. In the Internet era, the popular conception of a "social network" has changed significantly to include Facebook, Twitter and the like. Of course, actually keeping up with even a few networking sites is an easy way of losing real friends. These Firefox add-ons let users simplify their social networking into easier to manage applications.

10. Linkedin Companion for Firefox: Builds a network of 25 million professional into your Firefox browser. Network to find your next job opportunity or catch up with colleagues in your field.
11. Jigsaw Contact and Company Search: The online directory of companies and business professionals brings you this add-on making available its community of 800,000 members. It also has sections for job postings and networking.
12. Yoono: Consolidates all your social network and IM accounts in an easy-to-use sidebar.
13. Meebo: Builds IM capabilities for every major IM network directly into Firefox.
14. RushmoreDrive: A search engine for the Black community that also offers a top notch job networking features. Users can create profiles, search postings and create their own networks.
15. Find on XING: Simply highlight the name of a person on any Website and right-click. The extension then looks for that person on XING.

Research and Organization

Researching and keeping track of job openings can be more than a little confusing. These add-ons are perfect for condensing the clutter.

16. Notefish: Shave portions of web pages for later reference or share them with friends or co-workers.
17. DeeperWeb: Adds a host of features aiming to streamline Google search results. Separates searches by function such as "Answer" or "Wikipedia" searches in addition to a host of nifty features.
18. ReminderFox: A truly excellent online appointments manager, this extension is valuable enough to draw a salary as your assistant. Remembers important dates and sends reminders along with managing extensive to-do lists.
19. KnowMore Extension: This application will let you research the environmental and social impact of a company without interrupting the job search. Perfect for those with a moral streak looking to work in corporate America.
20. Zemanta: Makes content suggestions for your emails or blog posts as they are being written. This application will also make professional introduction suggestions as you write emails.
21. Add to Search Bar: Allows users to add Websites' search functionality to your search bar.
22. Hyperwords: Select text from any page and perform any number of functions such as search and translate.
23. SimilarWeb: As you visit and search Web pages, an intuitive sidebar displays related sites.
24. Surf Canyon: This great extension re-ranks relevant sites as users sift through search results from engines like Google and Yahoo.
25. MashLogic: Scans web pages for topics you're interested about then adds links to show you interesting sites.

16. Get Company Info: Highlight a company name on any page and this extension offers a wide range of financial and background data. It also recognizes the stock symbols.
17. Diigo: Adds personal sticky notes and highlights to any web page. The more impressive feature is the ability to connect with people who've bookmarked the same site as you.
18. DejaClick: Repetitive internet tasks got you down? This application will actually record tedious steps and perform them so you don't have to. Great for logging into email or Facebook or whatever…
19. Platypus: This application allows users to customize any web page which then become permanent changes for the user when they visit next time.

Time Savers

Patrolling the Internet for your next great job can be time consuming. Over a long enough time period, clicks and key strokes add up. Here are a few Firefox extensions perfect for trimming unnecessary steps.

30. Easy Job Application: Easily sends out job application to prospective employers using sites such as Craigslist.
31. SmarterFox: Faster browsing by simplifying common tasks. For example, this application converts text URLs and makes them into clickable links.
32. Mouseless Browsing: Ditch the mouse, at least whenever you use Firefox. Allows you to search the Internet entirely from your keyboard. Configurable to each users own preferences.
33. All-In-One Gestures: Perform common commands (forward/backward, etc.) with mouse gestures such as scroll wheel navigation and page scrolling.
34. AutoFill Forms: With a single click or key stroke, fill out entire web forms.
35. Morning Coffee: This clever little application opens your favorite web sites with the push of a button. Great for opening those routine morning sites.
36. Link Widgets: Offers links to related pages as well as easing navigation by offering toolbar buttons for the first, last, previous and next pages within a web site.
37. TidyRead: An incredibly helpful add-on that pulls the core text from news articles, blogs, web sites or pretty much anything else on the Internet.
38. iMacros for Firefox: Another program designed to simplify common web tasks, iMacros fills in forms and manages passwords in addition to a host of other features.
39. LeechBlock: Block those sites that waste your time. A little more intelligent than your average filter, this add-on lets users decide what sites to block and when.
40. Autocomplete Manager: Takes Firefox's already fantastic autocomplete feature and expands it. This extension doesn't even need the beginning of the address, only part of it, in order to fill in the blanks.
41. CheckFox: Lets users quickly check and uncheck pesky check boxes.

Security

The job hunt often takes unsuspecting internet users to a host of new and unfamiliar websites. With the recession affecting millions of Americans, employment websites are becoming popular methods of inserting spyware and viruses into unsuspecting computers. Getting a virus while searching for a job only adds insult to injury, these Firefox add-ons will help protect your computer from attack.

42. WOT (Web of Trust): Warns about risky sites trying to scam visitors, infect spyware or send spam. Color coded icons rate over 21 million sites.
43. Panic Button: Allows you to quickly hide all open tabs and windows. Great failsafe for searching job sites at work.
44. Decreased Productivity: Provides a "work safe" mode to cover up any surfing habits you may want to prevent your boss from knowing about. Also great for looking for a new job at work.
45. LastPass Password Manager: Automatically fills out forms and manages all your passwords. Even greater, this extension allows users log into multiple sites with a single click.
46. Lazarus Form Recovery: Automatically saves forms as you type. If your computer crashes or a server times out, no worries, everything is already saved.
47. Stealther: A great way of viewing web sites without leaving evidence of your visit, this add-on temporarily disables features such as browsing history and cookies.
48. BugMeNot: This wonderful extension breezes through compulsory web registrations by using user submitted passwords.
49. Duck Duck Go Toolbar: Blocks over 44 million different sites known for spam or Malware from appearing in search results. Also protects against "typosquatting" or mistyping web addresses.
50. Session Manager: Saves and restores all windows at startup or when a computer crashes. Also allows users to reopen accidentally closed tabs and windows.

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Ever wonder how a drug makes it from the bench to the marketplace and what types of jobs are required to support the process? I created a PowerPoint presentation that describes the activities and the jobs required at each stage of the development process. I also listed the degree requirements that are necessary to secure various jobs from drug discovery through commercialization.

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I just returned from my career development sojourn at this year’s FASEB meeting in San Diego, CA. Not surprisingly, all of my sessions were well attended. In fact, attendance at many of the presentations was standing room only. Again, this was not terribly surprising because the job market for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for the last 5 years has been dismal. However, in contrast with past years, there was a noticeable and palpable difference in the attitudes of many of the students and postdocs who attended the sessions. In previous years, many career development participants seemed resigned to the possibility of a “jobless future”. However, this year there was a small but vocal group of participants who openly expressed their anger and resentment at the possibility of not finding a job after completing their training. I think that many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have begun to realize that they are being exploited by a fundamentally flawed academic system and that they are “not going to take it anymore.”

Academia has always resembled a medieval, feudal system. Principal Investigators (PIs) are the kings because they hold all the power, money and authority and rule with impunity. Postdoctoral fellows are the lords or vassals who behave somewhat autonomously but have sworn oaths of allegiance and fealty to their kings. Research associates (technicians) are the indentured servants who rely on the king and his vassals for sustenance and protection. Finally, graduate students are the slaves whose lives and well being solely depend upon unquestioned obedience to their Kings. As we all know, feudal systems broke down when kings could no longer maintain control over their slaves and indentured servants. This culminated in rebellions and revolutions, the eventual demise of monarchies and ultimately gave rise to modern republics and democracies.

Although I am not necessarily advocating revolution (okay, so maybe I am), it is time that drastic and systemic changes be made to academia as we know it.  First, there needs to be a limit or moratorium on the number of students that are annually accepted into graduate programs. There are simply not enough academic, industrial or government jobs to justify the number of PhDs and postdoctoral fellows that are trained each year. Second, tenure should be abolished at all research universities and medical schools and be replaced with 5 year renewable contracts. This will force PIs, whose primary job is to do research (not teach), to remain competitive and productive. Further, it will reduce the likelihood that ego-centric PIs will be able to accumulate enough wealth and power to establish the “fiefdoms” that are prevalent in academia today. Third, PIs must increase their reliance on technicians (rather than postdoctoral fellows) to achieve their research objectives and goals. Allowing postdocs to work 5 or more years in the same laboratory because it is cheaper to hire them than technicians is, in my opinion, ethically and morally bankrupt. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it is vital that PIs actually become mentors and play active roles in advising and shaping the careers of their students and postdoctoral fellows. Given the paucity and competitiveness of academic positions, it is disingenuous for PIs to promote academic careers for every person who passes through or works in their laboratories. As a former medical school tenure track Assistant Professor, I didn’t find it too difficult to identify which students and postdocs were “cut out” for academic careers. Further, it is incumbent upon PIs to take the time to

learn about and promote job opportunities for scientists outside of academia. Attending career fairs or introducing career development seminars into extant graduate programs would be an important first step in this direction.

After I come home from career development meetings, I sometimes lie awake at night and wonder whether many PIs can fathom what it must feel like when, a PhD who spent 5 or more years in their laboratories, can’t find a job to “put food on the table” for his or her family. Having been there, I can tell you that it is very unpleasant and emotionally devastating!

In my opinion, it will be difficult for academia to continue in its current incarnation. I think that academicians must begin to address and fix the problems that they created for this generation of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Failure to do so may result in a “revolution”– which in this case– may be required to bring about the changes that WE ALL KNOW are long overdue.

Until next time….

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!!!!! 

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