Finding Jobs Online

Finding Jobs Online

There are generally four types of places to search for jobs on the Internet. Refer to the job search chart for more information.

• Large job search sites - the ones you hear about on television
• Newspaper classifieds online - basically reading the paper on the web
• "Niche" sites - devoted to specific career areas such as teaching, marketing, social work, etc.
• Company/employer web sites - list jobs and enable application/resume submission online

HOW TO CHOOSE A SITE

With so many options, figuring out which sites will work best for your search is a challenge, particularly if you hope to post your resume with a site. It is critical that you thoroughly research each site you visit, asking yourself the following questions.

MAKING THE ONLINE JOB SEARCH WORK

There are some easy strategies you can use to make your online search successful.

• Follow the organization's or web site's instructions carefully!
• Spell out your qualifications clearly (use the job description whenever possible).
• Keep your resume up-to-the-minute current.
• Target specific companies and visit their web sites often.
• If you're referred for a job by someone, find out how your referral wants you to apply and approach the employer.

PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY!

With the increasing popularity of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, job seekers are finding that employers now have another way of learning about candidates. Employers have been known to access candidate profiles on these sites and use the information they find to make hiring decisions. In fact, offers have been revoked on the basis of these profiles. It is very important that candidates take the following precautions.

• "Google" yourself. What's out there about you, and what can you do about it? What is your name associated with?
• Don't just check your privacy settings on resume posting sites, social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and blogs. If you don't want an employer to see what's there, TAKE IT DOWN!

USE OTHER JOB SEARCH METHODS TOO!

There are so many places to look online that job seekers frequently make the mistake of thinking that ALL jobs can be found on the web. This is not true. The internet should only be used as one part of an overall job search plan, strategies for which can be found in Job Search handouts.