Blog Minx

Note: This is a review of CareerRamblings.com, a career development website which offers bloggers of similar subject matter (well, I have a career, and I ramble) a chance to post a review of their site for a linkback. If you’re interested in doing the same on your site, here’s the link to the review rules. I’m reviewing the site from the perspective of a user but also a web editor, which is my day job, so I look at things like layout and design too.

Intro: I’m in my late 20s and have been in a few industries so far: hospitality, film, teaching, media and digital, with more to come I’m sure! I chop and change careers a lot, with plenty of lessons to be learned along the way. So a site like Career Ramblings is a useful tool for people like me who need to keep their wits about them in a constantly changing job market. John Anthony and Jane May, who run the site, both come from the corporate world armed with relevant tips for anyone in the workforce, from recent graduates to more seasoned jobsters.

Site design: The look is crisp and fresh, if perhaps a bit too blue for my tastes. I like how Jane includes her photo at the top; when someone’s giving advice, you want to see the face behind the words. The added fact that she is an attractive blond probably doesn’t hurt either

Site Layout: The advertising is prominent on the homepage without being distracting or overbearing. The sidebar contains reader comments and recent readers which adds to the freshness of content and interactivity. The ‘top articles’ tab at the top is a handy option, although clicking on some of the articles made them open in a new window which isn’t really necessary for the same site.

Content: John and Jane’s advice comes in succinct, easy-to-follow and knowledgeable posts. The titles are clear, key points are bolded, bullet lists are prevalent (always a popular editorial trick for bloggers), and relevant links are included.

Improvement? For the most part these bloggers have it all covered when it comes to great content and optimizing their site for users and search engines. But in the Era of Digg I would suggest having a Bookmark or Digg This! Button at the bottom of posts, making it easier for users to bookmark key posts or help share them with others.

Some top links: Top 10 Resume Blunders The Importance of Balance for Work and Home