RSS is the most underutilized time saving technology on the web. This deck includes an overview of RSS and recommended RSS readers/aggregators, and numerous recommendations on how job seekers can use RSS to save significant time during the job search process.

1. RSS and the
Job Search
© March 2010
David Swinney, Social Media Specialist

2. RSS
The Web’s Most Underutilized
Time Saver

3. What is RSS?
 Really Simple Syndication
 User-initiated subscriptions that provide
updates, news headlines, or other content
directly to the user for browsing at their
convenience
 Pull vs. push

4. Benefits of RSS
 Receive updates without visiting each web
site
 Quickly monitor large number of sites
 Short summaries or “table of contents”
 Alternative to email notifications
◦ Lessen e-mail overload
◦ No rejection of messages by e-mail
filters
◦ Reduce spam

5. RSS Value Proposition
“There is no faster way to peruse the Web
than via RSS. If you're not taking
advantage of RSS, then you're not making
the most of your Internet browsing time.”
Terrence O’Brien,
Switched.com

6. Uses of RSS
 News and announcements
 Blog postings and comments
 Photos
 Podcasts / music
 Auction items
 TV and movie listings
 Search results
 Tweets
 Job postings
 Many more

7. How to Find RSS Feeds
 Look at browser address bar
 RSS notification icon indicates
available feed
 Click on icon for subscription
options
 Many readers / aggregators (e.g.,
Google Reader, FeedDemon) can
automatically find feeds

8. How to Read RSS Feeds
 RSS Readers / Aggregators download and
display feeds
◦ Web-hosted service
 Google Reader
 Feedly
 Netvibes
◦ Browser-based application
 Sage (Firefox add-in)
◦ Desktop application
 FeedDemon
◦ Mobile

9. Hosted RSS Reader – Google Reader

10. How to Use Google Reader
 Monitoring Your Brand With
Google Reader
◦ http://www.slideshare.net/davidswinney/monitoring
-your-personal-brand-using-google-reader

11. Recommendations
 Make Google Reader your primary RSS
reader
◦ Free
◦ Requires a Google Mail account
 Only use other RSS readers that sync
with Google Reader
 Use RSS whenever you can

12. Hosted RSS Reader – feedly

13. Browser application RSS Reader –
(Firefox w/Sage add-in)

14. Desktop RSS Reader – FeedDemon

15. Mobile RSS Readers
 Applications available for
◦ iPhone/iPod Touch
 Reeder
 iNews
 Pro RSS
◦ Android
◦ BlackBerry
◦ Windows Phone

16. RSS Resources
 RSS, the Web’s Most Underutilized Time Saver
◦ http://www.switched.com/2010/02/10/rss-the-webs-most-
underutilized-time-saver/
 The Ultimate RSS Toolbox
◦ http://mashable.com/2007/06/11/rss-toolbox/
 Getting Started With Google Reader
◦ http://www.google.com/support/reader/bin/answer.py?answer
=113517

17. Using RSS in the
Job Search

18. Increase Your Job Search Efficiency
 Searching for a job is time-consuming
◦ Visiting job boards
◦ Processing e-mail search alerts
◦ Visiting/participating on LinkedIn
 Use RSS to save time every day
◦ Job Board search queries
◦ LinkedIn Network Updates
◦ LinkedIn Answers

19. Increase Your Job Search Efficiency
 Searching for a job is time-consuming
◦ Visiting job boards
◦ Processing e-mail search alerts
◦ Visiting/participating on LinkedIn
 Use RSS to save time every day
◦ Job Board search queries
◦ LinkedIn Network Updates
◦ LinkedIn Answers

20. Indeed.com

21. CareerBuilder.com

22. TwitJobSearch.com

23. Adding TwitJobSearch RSS Feed to
Google Reader

24. Increase Your Job Search Efficiency
 Searching for a job is time-consuming
◦ Visiting job boards
◦ Processing e-mail search alerts
◦ Visiting/participating on LinkedIn
 Use RSS to save time every day
◦ Job Board search queries
◦ LinkedIn Network Updates
◦ LinkedIn Answers

25. Generating RSS feed for
LinkedIn Network Updates

26. Adding LinkedIn Network Updates
RSS Feed to Google Reader

27. Increase Your Job Search Efficiency
 Searching for a job is time-consuming
◦ Visiting job boards
◦ Processing e-mail search alerts
◦ Visiting/participating on LinkedIn
 Use RSS to save time every day
◦ Job Board search queries
◦ LinkedIn Network Updates
◦ LinkedIn Answers

28. Generating RSS Feed for
LinkedIn Answers

29. Adding LinkedIn Answers RSS Feed
to Google Reader

30. Job-Related RSS Feed Resources
 How to Use RSS in Your Job Search
◦ http://www.timeatlas.com/web_sites/general/how_to_use_rss
_in_your_job_search
 Find a Job Using RSS Feeds & Google Reader
◦ http://www.watchingthenet.com/search-for-jobs-with-google-
reader-and-rss-feeds.html
 Screencast: How to create a RSS feed from an
Indeed.com job search
◦ http://www.timeatlas.com/tutorials/indeed.htm

32. Thank You
David Swinney
Social Media Specialist
david.swinney@gmail.com
http://davidswinney.com
http://twitter.com/davidswinney
http://linkedin.com/in/davidswinney
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