5 Ways to Make my Online Job Search Effective
By Brad - Wednesday 2 Jul 12:39 pm
In less than a decade more than 75 million people have established a job search account at Monster.com. Millions more have used sites like Careerbuilder.com and Hotjobs.com or some other website dedicated to employment opportunities. With all these people searching no one wants to get lost in the crowd. Consider these five approaches to making your job search effective.
1. Focus the search with keywords. Don’t waste time and energy searching too wide a variety of job listings or applying for jobs you don’t want. Know what you are seeking then use keywords to focus your search.
2. Use multiple sites. Limiting your search to one job search website limits your opportunity. Employers don’t list on every available site; it isn’t cost effective. Some industries have their own career websites. Look around or consider a site like Indeed.com when you begin your search. Indeed.com and others search multiple job sites at the same time which may speed up your job search.
3. Market yourself professionally. Employers who list online screen applicants to weed out a large portion before they even start planning interviews. Don’t get eliminated for an unprofessional package. Prepare cover letter templates and resume ahead of time in plain text document so they can be read no matter what programs the employer is using. Have them reviewed and edited to avoid typos and errors. Establish an email address for your job search that is simple and professional. Some employers are just as savvy online as you are and can easily check your social networking page. Drunken photos, sexual innuendo (or worse) are not professional and may cost you the chance at a second look.
4. Follow directions listed in the job listing. Employers do not want to hire people who cannot follow instructions. Read the job listing and follow the instructions regarding what they are looking for and how they want that information. Many toss out any applicants who do not follow instructions without even glancing at the resume.
5. Apply for positions you are qualified for. Don’t waste time – yours or the employer’s. Know whether you are qualified and apply only if you meet the employer’s basic needs.
In order to make your online job search effective you should use the tools to your advantage. Start with these five simple rules and your search will yield more advantageous results.
Posted in: Job Search