Call me an optimist. Or consider that marketing and advertising have been down so long that just about anything looks like up. However you rationalize it, there is growing evidence that employment in marketing and advertising disciplines is on a slow yet inexorable upswing.

What follows is a random sampling of articles analyzing hiring trends, advice on where to look and listings of actual jobs – all of these aggregated for your use but by no means exhaustive. In fact, I urge readers to use the comments section to add their own insights and links to resources you think can add to the utility of this post.

  • Insight. From Ad Age Talent Works, “Recruiters Say Hiring Is Coming Back to Life, Slowly.” An especially interesting facet of this article is a debate over whether recruitment is stronger for those hardy souls who braved cutbacks and still have jobs or among those not as lucky. My opinion: just because someone survived job cuts doesn’t mean that they are “best of breed” and therefor more worthy of recruitment attention. All you need to do to validate that assessment is look around at your current colleagues, many of whom are no doubt exemplary, and then also look at your extremely capable brethren who didn’t fare as well.
  • Job listings – Minnesota-specific. Minnesota PR Jobs Blog (or @mnpr on Twitter), which posts jobs in multiple disciplines and not just public relations.@jaredroy on Twitter, who is an indefatigable bird dog of job openings both locally and nationally. That’s in addition to his day job. @minnesotajobs on Twitter is a blend of specific jobs and valuable resources, although the job postings are across the board and not marketing-specific.
  • Job listings – national. From Mashable, “Career Toolbox: 100+ Places to Find Jobs.”

I promise to add to this post as I uncover more insights and resources  and as readers (nudge nudge) particiapte in the help-fest.