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The Internet can play a significant role in your job search. While online job postings tend to get the most attention from job seekers, there are many resources available on the web to help you with your search. This section highlights the various ways you can leverage the Internet as part of your overall job search strategy; in addition, you can access a pre-recorded informational webinar all about how to get the most of our the Internet during your job search.
There are numerous sites where individuals may search open positions and post their resumes for employers and recruiters to view. Most sites offer job postings which are free to job seekers. Many of these sites also offer additional resources including company and industry research. Another resource offered on many job boards is a personal “job search agent.” Job search agents continually look for jobs based upon specified criteria, and notify the candidate by email when matching jobs are found. After entering job search criteria in the job search agent, job seekers will begin to receive emails from these sites containing jobs, which match the criteria entered. Most sites let job seekers decide how often they wish to receive notification of matching jobs. Typical options are daily, or every 3-7, 14 or 30 days. Most sites allow you to set up more than one agent for multiple positions. Taking five minutes to set up a job search agent can ensure a regular flow of potential opportunities, and free you up for more important activities such as networking.
While searching for jobs is usually free, posting your resume can be free or fee based. The fee-based sites are not always the best, so focus on the free ones first – particularly if you are uncertain as to whether organizations in your target industry utilize online resume sites.
Online job boards fall into three main categories: general job boards, niche job boards, and meta-search tools.
General job boards such as monster and careerbuilder are extremely popular with both job seekers and employers. General job boards literally list thousands of open positions across all locations, industries and career specializations. These sites also allow job seekers to post one or several versions of their resume. While searching for positions on general job boards can be effective, keep in mind that there is typically a high-volume of applicants for each position. It is not at all uncommon to submit your resume for a position and never hear back. A better strategy might be to search for positions on the job boards, but instead of applying online, attempt to “break in” to the company through an individual in your network. Having your resume submitted directly to HR by someone that currently works for the company (and will receive a referral bonus) or is connected to someone that does, is typically more effective than applying to a general mailbox online.
Niche job boards are similar to general job boards in that they typically list open positions and allow you to post your resume. However, instead of focusing on all locations, industries and career specializations, niche job boards focus on one specific segment. For example, there are niche job boards that focus on areas such as: specific cities, career fields such as accounting, certain technologies such as Oracle®, different ethnicities, etc. There are also niche job boards that cater to individuals either coming from or looking to get into the “Big 4” – for example, Big4.com. There are also niche sites that focus specifically on executives earning $100K+ such as TheLadders and 6figurejobs. The advantages of the niche sites are that the types of positions listed are more targeted and that there may be fewer applicants for each position. However, the niche sites may not list all of the positions in your area of interest, so it is always best to balance your use of niche sites with at least one general job board.
The third type of online job board is a meta-search tool. Meta-search tools search and pull positions from a variety of locations on the Internet and combine them on one comprehensive site. For example, a meta-search tool such as indeed or simplyhired will pull positions from general job boards, niche boards and company career pages and place those jobs all in one place. While meta-search tools can save a lot of time, you also need to be aware that technology is not perfect – some crucial jobs/sites can be missed. It is always best to search a couple of sites to make sure you have adequate coverage.
Strategically using job boards can be a very effective part of your overall job search strategy. When using job boards, keep the following recommendations in mind:
Many job seekers have successfully found employment by posting their resume online. It is best to work with your Transition Assistance coach to determine which sites would be most effective for you. Keep in mind that your resume becomes public the moment it is posted. If you are conducting a confidential job search it is recommended that you remove identifying information, such as your name and instead include your e-mail address only. Be sure to avoid using an e-mail address that may appear unprofessional for example: ilovedogs@yahoo.com or babydoll5@gmail.com. Also be aware that the information that you are posting needs to be accurate – many employers will eventually compare your background investigation results to the resume you originally posted online. Finally, understand that many of the individuals contacting you in response to your online resume may be search firm recruiters. If that is the case, read our guidance on search firms.
Before posting your resume, work with your Transition Assistance coach to finalize your resume style and file format. Most online posting tools prefer resume data to appear in chronological order, so if you currently use a functional resume you may need to convert it to chronological style. The file format you use for your resume will depend how the resume is used once you upload it online. Generally speaking, online posting mechanisms do not deal well with fancy formatting and symbols, so it is best to keep things simple. Read our guidance on resume preparation.
Caution! It is important to do your research before posting your resume on a job site. Read the site’s Privacy Policy. Some sites promise they will not sell your personal information, while others will reserve the right to sell your personal information to others. To safeguard your privacy and identity, remove all personal information from your resume such as your phone number and address. A current email address is enough contact information for a potential employer to contact you. If you are worried about spam, you might want to set up another email account for your job search.
Most importantly, never give your social security number to anyone online – even if they ask.
When your search is complete, and you have found employment, make sure that you remove your resume from those sites where it has been posted (this is where keeping track comes in handy). Do not leave your resume up for your new employer to see and wonder if it is an old posting or new. You might also want to consider putting a posting date on your resume to avoid the risk of any miscommunication.
In addition to the three main types of job boards, there are several other ways to effectively utilize the Internet in your job search. Work with your Transition Assistance coach to understand how these options fit into your overall job search strategy:
In addition to job boards, there are several other ways to effectively utilize the internet in your job search. Work with your Transition Assistance coach to understand how these options fit into your overall job search strategy.
One way to further build your professional network is to search for potential contacts online. There are many different options for building your network by using the Internet:
When reaching out to individuals you have identified via virtual networking, always let them know how you came across their information and your purpose for contacting them. It is also important to conduct yourself in a professional manner and to thank them for their time. Always offer to reciprocate in any way that you can. For additional tips, access our guidance on networking.
Company research can take place during all stages of a job search – in the beginning when you start to identify and research potential job targets; in the middle as you research these targets and pursue networking conversations within these organizations; and towards the end when you secure an interview and want to be prepared for your conversation.
Company research can help you answer questions such as, “What is the company’s profile?” “Is the company financially secure?” “Who are the decision makers?” “Who are the company’s key competition and customers?” “What is the business model?” “Has the company been in the news recently?”
Don’t forget to consider company career pages as part of your company research strategy. Other sites, such as glassdoor.com and vault.com might also provide insight. Company career pages often offer information on company culture and benefits as well as job postings that may not be available on other job boards. Work with your Transition Assistance coach to identify a list of key companies, and plan on visiting their career pages on a regular basis.
Like company research, industry research can take place during all stages of a job search. As you develop your job search action plan with your Transition Assistance coach, industry research can be an important part of the exploration process to understand the types of industries in which you may be interested and to validate whether or not moving to one of these industries is a viable career option. As you get deeper into your search, industry research can help you learn more about the key players, trends, and news that can help you find opportunities, land positions and be successful in your new position.
If you’re considering changing fields, the Internet can be a good source for basic information on different careers including requirements, earning potential, occupational outlooks and trends, etc. Occupational sites can be a good start when researching a new career option, providing you with data needed to conduct an Informational Interview to help determine your interest and aptitude for a particular field.