The Internet and Your Job Search
In a tough economy, it is more important than ever to explore all of your options when searching for a job. While pounding the pavement and pouring over newspaper classified ads may have been good enough in year's past, job seekers in today's market need to go one step further to maximize their chances of landing a position in their dream field. One of the best ways to do that is by hitting the web.
The following series of articles go over how you can use the Internet to land your dream job. Articles cover everything from blogging, Internet networking, and online job boards.
How to Utilize the Internet During Your Job Search
If you are not searching for jobs online, you could be missing out on some great opportunities. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, web-based job boards and career forums were among the most popular ways for people to find out about job openings in 2008.
Whether you are searching for a job in education, transportation, business, or virtually any other industry, the Internet can be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Below, we have put together a bit more information about a few of the most helpful job search tools available online.
Online Job Boards
With thousands of online job boards currently available on the Internet, it can be difficult to know where to begin. While larger job sites such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com offer a wealth of information about career opportunities across the globe, they can sometimes be too much to handle.
Instead, many people are increasingly flocking to niche career-specific websites that focus only on one specific industry. Two good examples of these are JournalismJobs.com (for media professionals) and AuthenticJobs.com (for website designers). Thanks to an increase in popularity, these job sites are now available for nearly any field, and all it takes to find them is a simple online search.
Social Media Sites
Social media sites like Facebook and MySpace aren't just a good place to catch up with friends, they can be a great place to look for new jobs, too. Both popular websites offer jobs listings boards, with information about current positions in a number of different fields around the country.
In addition to those sites, career-oriented networking websites such as LinkedIn, Spoke, and Jigsaw serve as a way to help employers find you—allowing users to post their resumes and contact information in a professional format online. Millions of professionals are already using LinkedIn to reconnect with former coworkers and form relationships with new contacts in their industry, which is why it is worthwhile to sign up for the service and get started making connections whether you are currently searching for a new job or not.
No matter which social network you choose, make sure to keep your profile clean and employer-friendly. That means no scandalous photos and no obscene comments from friends.
E-Mailing Contacts
It may seem old fashioned at this point, but job seekers still should not underestimate the benefits of sending a simple email to their contacts when beginning the hunt for a new job. Even if none of your personal contacts has a current opening in his or her business at the present time, there is a good chance that he or she may know another professional in the industry who is looking to make a hire. Sending a quick, short note to friends and colleagues and letting them know that you are available for hire is one the easiest—and most effective—things you can do.
Networking on the Web
One of the newest ways to find jobs online is by using Twitter. By signing up to follow the Twitter feeds of your favorite companies and headhunters, you will be the first to know when a new position opens up or when hiring is underway. In addition, a number of career-specific websites and job boards maintain Twitter feeds as well, which may provide a more comprehensive listing of available positions in your industry or field.
No matter which method you choose, job seekers should never underestimate the power of the internet when it comes to searching for the perfect job.
Article Resources:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsNPR
U.S. News
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The 10 Best Networking Sites
In today's competitive job market, it's no longer enough to just submit a basic cover letter and resume when applying for a job. When it comes time to select the best candidate, more and more hiring managers are turning to social networking websites for help.
Having an active account on a social networking website gives you a chance to show off who you really are—professionally speaking, of course—in a way that cover letters and resumes just can't provide. Whether that means giving a more detailed description of past accomplishments and awards, or inserting images of particular projects or assignments you had a hand in completing, there's no limit to the ways in which professionals can utilize social networking websites during their job hunt.
Below, we have put together a list of the 10 most popular networking sites for business professionals.
1. LinkedIn : With more than 50 million members in 200 countries, LinkedIn has become the preeminent networking site for both job seekers and hiring managers. Not only does the site offer a space to list your business accomplishments, but it also gives users an easy way to connect with other professionals in their specific industry.
2. Twitter : Job seekers are only beginning to understand all the ways in which Twitter can benefit their search. Post posting frequently about important events in your specific job industry, professionals can asset themselves as experts in the field—thus increasing their chances of scoring a top notch job. In addition, many headhunters and large companies advertise new job openings on Twitter before anywhere else, putting users who check those sites frequently at a distinct advantage.
3. Spoke : A directory for business leaders, Spoke allows users to input their professional information into its website. It then uses this data to connect like-minded users, along with those who may have been past colleagues. Whether you're looking to strengthen your business network or find new clients, Spoke is definitely a social network worth checking out.
4. Facebook : Facebook's vast number of active users makes it an important tool for job searching online. From college buddies to professional peers, almost everyone has signed onto Facebook at this point, which means you are at a distinct disadvantage if you aren't taking part.
5. MySpace : Despite its somewhat seedy reputation, joining MySpace can be a useful step to finding a job, especially in certain industries such as music, media, and the arts. Not only does the site offer networking features, but it also has a specific jobs board where companies list available openings.
6. Doostang : Doostang is a social networking website that says it can accelerate its users' careers by helping them make connections with high-level professionals, and posting jobs with major companies that its users won't find elsewhere.
7. 85 Broads : For female job seekers, the social network 85 Broads caters exclusively to women. Not only does the network host online chats and networking events, but it also hosts offline regional gatherings, as well, to give its members an even better chance to connect.
8. Jobirn : Anyone hoping to cast a wide net in their job search would be well advised to check out Jobirn, the career referral network that helps applicants connect directly with reps from within major companies throughout the country. Not only that, but the site allows users to upload one resume that will be posted on more than 80 separate job websites at once.
9. Ning : Ning is a social networking site that lets users take control by determining exactly what type of network they'd like to create. Whether that's a network of peers in the same job field, or a network of people working for a specific company, Ning is definitely a site worth exploring for anyone looking to make connections in a niche field that isn't available elsewhere online.
10. Plaxo : The whole point of Plaxo is helping users keep in touch with the people they care about—and that includes past and present employers and coworkers, too. Like LinkedIn, Plaxo lets users upload information about their professional degrees and accomplishments. It also provides users with an easy-to-use address book that makes it simple to keep detailed contact information for all of your professional peers.
Back to the TopHow a Blog Can Help You Land a Job
Personal blogs have come a long way in the past few years. Whereas starting a blog was once simply a way to express your inner feelings and share your opinions with the outer world, nowadays people are starting blogs with a much more serious purpose in mind.
For anyone looking for a job in a tech-savvy field, starting a blog can be a great way to assert your expertise, prove your dedication to the industry, and show off your technical skills and web savviness at the same time. Not only that, but starting a blog can be a great way to get your name out there to the people that matter—hiring managers and executives from within the industry, who commonly keep tabs on blogs and publications related to their field.
Asserting Your Expertise
Posting regularly about current events and developments within a given career field is an excellent way to show how plugged-in you are to what's going on in the industry. Not only does this show prospective employers that you know a lot of about the field, but it shows them that you regularly read industry-specific publications, as well.
For example, listing an expertise in media relations on your CV or resume is one thing. Blogging about that topic on a regular basis is quite another. Writers who can blog in a professional, and accurate, manner for a sustained period of time will definitely be able to prove to those in the industry that they have the insider knowledge to take on any given job or task.
Proving Your Commitment to the Field
As you will soon discover, starting a blog that is updated regularly with original content is no easy feat. It is one thing to write one well-researched analysis of a current event within the industry, but writing multiple analysis's each day or week is another thing entirely. It takes time and dedication, which are both excellent traits to show prospective employers.
Of course, proving dedication and commitment takes time, which is why new writers shouldn't give up if their blog does not take off in popularity within the first few weeks. Top notch blogs can take many months, or even years, to gain a loyal following of dedicated readers. It is during that time that the bloggers themselves can really hone their skills and prove their dedication to the industry.
Showing Off Your Technical Expertise
Nearly every job seeker lists technical experience or web-savviness as a skill on his or her resume these days. But starting and maintaining an active blog is a great way to actually demonstrate to employers the skills you have. Web publishing platforms are simple to use and easy to set up. And still, the vast majority of employers are awed at any job applicant who has the technical skills to maintain his or her own website.
In addition, depending on your specific field, maintaining a blog or website could be a great way to demonstrate your skill in other online platforms, such as a graphic designer who uses his personal blog as a place to showcase his design and Photoshop skills to potential employers.
Advertising Your Services and Availability
It is entirely possible that a prospective employer would be reading your blog and decide that he or she needs to hire someone with your experience. To get in contact, though, the employer needs to be able to find your personal contact information. That's why it is so important to create a succinct and accurate "About Me" page on your blog.
Ideally, a blogger's "About Me" page should give would-be employers an easy way to get in contact immediately. Not only should this page feature a blogger's full name and e-mail address, but it can also lead to a downloadable resume, or clips to previous work that demonstrates a job seeker's skills.
In today's competitive job market, creating an industry-specific blog is one of the best ways to set yourself apart from the crowd of job seeker's vying for a position. While starting a blog is certainly not a requirement for any job, it is definitely an option worth checking out for anyone with the time, expertise, and inclination.
Back to the TopHow to Successfully Market Yourself on Facebook and Twitter
Sending out resumes and cold calling HR reps is no longer enough in today's tough job market. To separate yourself from other competitive applicants, it is important to get a competitive edge. One of the best ways of doing that is by successfully marketing yourself on popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Not only can doing so help you stand apart from other job seekers and land a job in the industry of your choice, but it can also give hiring managers the impression that you are a leader in the industry.
Before moving forward with plans to brand and market yourself online, though, it is important to take into consideration a few simple dos and don'ts.
Do: Create a mission statement. Even if it's just a mission within your own head, be clear about what you are hoping to accomplish through your online exploits, whether that is landing a dream job, making more business contacts, or becoming known as an industry expert.
Don't: Go too broad. Categories like media or sports have been written about by hundreds of thousands of "experts" at this point, which means gaining entrance to that field will be tough for anyone who does not already have a large following. For a better chance of success when it comes to marketing yourself online, focus on becoming an expert in a niche field. If your area of expertise is finance, for instance, begin marketing yourself as an expert on family finances or 20-something finances, for example. Do anything you can to separate yourself from the competition.
Do: Make relationships. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are all about relationships. Without them, your network will likely be pretty small. What does that mean? To make better relationships, remember to give credit where credit is due (providing links to sources in your blog posts and Tweets) and commenting when others in your network post thought provoking or insightful material.
Don't: Forget to update. Once you start down the path of becoming an expert in your field, it is important not to slack off. Going days or weeks without updating your Twitter feed or Facebook page sends potential employers the message that you are not very dedicated and discredits your reputability as a reliable professional.
Do: Develop a brand. In most cases, your name will be your ultimate brand online. But more than that, developing your brand depends on staying focused on providing news and content from within your niche field. By staying focused and clear on your ultimate goals, branding will become easier to tackle.
Don't: Get too personal. It may have been fun to publish party pictures on your MySpace or Facebook accounts back in college, but that is not acceptable when you are trying to market yourself to potential employers. Make sure to scrub your social networking profiles clean of any images, links, or comments that do not reflect the professional image you are trying to project.
Do: Create an account on all the major networking sites. Even if Facebook and Twitter are the primary networks you are planning to use, it is also worthwhile to create slimmer, less robust accounts on other major networking sites, as well. Instead of filling these profiles with information or photos, simple provide a link to your website where they can obtain more information.
Back to the TopNavigating Craigslist and Other Job Boards
Extensive job listing websites can be a great resource for professionals looking for new career opportunities. The problem for many, though, is that the resources on these boards are too vast. The sheer number of listings that pop up each day can become overwhelming, and searching to find listings that fit your specific criteria can become exhausting.
That is, unless you understand the basics of navigating the mega-job boards and career websites.
Watch out for scams. Scams and fake career opportunities can persist on virtually any job board, but these issues are especially frequent on job websites that do not charge employers much, if anything, to post an available position. Sites like Craigslist charge only a nominal fee to post job opportunities, which is why anyone looking for a job should be especially careful before submitting any personal information—such as full name, address, or social security number—to any unidentified companies on these boards.
Check out aggregator sites. What sets websites like Indeed.com apart from the rest is that they allow users to search for position not just from their own website, but from thousands of other job boards and career websites at once. That means that by doing one simple search, users can find out about the listings on all the major job boards and Craigslist, as well as more niche career websites and portals.
Determine what you want. The more specific your search terms are when looking through job boards for open positions, the better tailored the results will be to your criteria. That means that for the best chances of finding the right job on mega-listings websites like Monster.com or Craigslist, users should put in as many specific search terms as possible, including location and salary requirements.
Search within your city. It might be tempting to see what jobs are available across the country, but for the best chances of finding an open position in your local area, stick to the regional-specific sections when searching through ads on online job boards. This way, when you find a position for which you are qualified, you won't be disappointed to realize it is actually a position that is only available 2,000 miles away.
Sign up for RSS feeds. By inputting your desired criteria—such as an "entry-level" job in "education" located in "New York City," for example—users can sign up for e-mail alerts or RSS feeds that will notify them when available positions that fit these criteria have been added online. That means that instead of wasting hours a day searching through job listings, RSS feeds and e-mail alerts are bringing the listings to you.
Explore niche sites. If mega-listings websites like Monster.com and Craigslist aren't delivering the results you need, do a little Google research and pull up more niche sites that cater to one industry or career-area specifically. These niche career sites are far more likely to offer jobs that fit your criteria, even though they may not offer the sheer number of listings like larger websites can.
Go directly to the company. With thousands of resumes coming in for one job opening listed on many of the larger job listings websites, it can be difficult for yours to stick out from the crowd. To improve your chances of success, it may be worth bypassing the job website's application forms and applying directly to the company itself. For example, if a job hunter sees on a job board that Smith Law Firm is hiring, he could apply directly through the job board's online forms. Or, he could email Smith Law Firm and inquire about any openings. It is likely that this inquiry will be met with the contact information for the HR representative who is handling the hiring, which will put your resume at the top of the pack.
Patience is the key. When it comes to navigating the large job boards and websites, it is important to have a little patience. Just because your dream job is not posted on the site today, doesn't mean it won't pop up tomorrow. Persistence is important when it comes to finding a new job in this economy, and having the patience to look through the job boards regularly will pay off in the end.
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