One tool that is missing from this article, but its use is just common enough to pose a problem, is a fax sending/receiving tool. True, most businesses use e-mail but every so often you run into someone who wants a fax or who wants a signed document (gotta love tablets for the ability to sign documents on the screen). Is anyone aware of a fax service which doesn’t require a monthly fee?

Good post, thanks. However, Mint.com option is kind of scary… They keep saying that is is safe, but… They are way to young company to jump into it with all the important data. Am I wrong?

Along with #1, never store your personal files (TurboTax, contact information, that great American novel you’re working on at night, …) on your work computer. You might not have a way to get it off the machine once your job ends (abruptly).

thats where we differ Kev..

hotmama_36D@yahoo.com would probably go to the TOP of my list.

A mobile phone is probably the most essential device when job hunting – most recruitment agents refuse to use email maybe because it doesn’t give them an instant response. As you said, going mobile is generally a good idea – light laptop or internet cafes with portable apps on a USB drive – customise your CV with portable open office. I’ll be in the job hunting mode soon – just got a second-hand m200 off ebay, I can finally stop carrying around a 6lb-er.

to go with #2 I would also add that you think about spending the $ for a domain name registration and using the free webmail from that registrar. Or Yahoo has “mail domains” options. That will look even more (IMHO) professional than a yahoo, gmail or other email.

Good tips thanks Kevin
Hope all’s going well for your dad.

As a unionized state employee we had RIF rights. I wasn’t really fond of the union but they did us good in helping obtain bargening rights for wages.

In Washington state it is against the law for state employees to use the state intranet to connect to the internet. State email may be used for short infrequent and necessary comminications. I am a retired Washington state employee.

Mint eh? One, free service with access to ALL your accounts and full financial history! I’m certainly not paranoid and do lots of online shopping, banking etc. but this would definately be a step too far.

Another tip while on the road is to use synctoy (Or a Mac alternative) to sync all your data each day to a USB stick or SD card in case of hardware failure and no web access. 16Gb is cheap these days making this a practical option.

Kevin:

That is an excellent and very timely post for the rotten economy we are experiencing. I hope some other sites like Lifehacker, etc. pick it up.

Two other suggestions that I would make would be to make sure that you either regularly download or email to your personal address your outlook contact list (or at the very least print it out monthly) and in addition to the job agents, I would consider joining a Linkedin type of site to allow for some online networking.

Great advice though!

Lee