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Online Job Search: Job Searching In The Digital Age
Nimish Thakkar, MS, MBA,
CCMC, CPRW, SaiCareers.com,
New York
December 29, 2005
The
Internet has become a virtual home for many of us. From dating to
groceries, virtually everything is now done online, often with a much
higher level of precision, efficiency, and convenience. With its web
cast far and wide, the employment world has not been spared by the
Internet's omnipresent reach. Job seekers are very thankful for this
advancement, though; from networking to working through the net, you
can do it all online.
Job search chores that once required many office
visits can now be done from the convenience of one's own home or
office. Employers have also been very quick to embrace this new
medium. Recruitment efforts that at one time required HR managers to
work through stacks of papers can now be done through the push of a
button. Online job searching, however, does not in any way replace the
traditional
job hunting strategies; it merely
supplements what job seekers have been doing since the past few
decades. As a matter of fact, I always request my clients to use
multiple
job search strategies -- both online and offline -- in order
to achieve their employment goals faster.
Despite the popularity of the Internet, even the most adept online
users often don’t know where to start an
online job search campaign.
The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with this domain.
Online job boards
Often the first -- and most popular --
destination for
online job searching, the
boards provide candidates with an
added level of convenience and reach. Simply posting your
resume on a
large
job board could mean being accessible to millions of recruiters
and employers. “Job Search Agents,” a popular feature offered by most
job boards, automatically alert you every time an opening matching
your profile is posted. Networking tools, job postings, and job search
agents form a popular package fueling the popularity of these job
sites.
Newspapers
The traditional paper versions of newspapers are
now supplemented with an often free
online version. Help wanted ads and
detailed business and industry stories, news, and reports are popular
tools that spell “convenience” for any online job search campaign. It
is now much easier to browse through several newspapers and respond to
multiple postings within a matter of minutes.
Employers and recruiters
The very folks you are desperately
trying to reach are just a click away. Most employers and recruiters
encourage candidates to submit their resume on fully-automated
websites. Simply typing the company or recruiter’s name in any popular
search engine will bring up hundreds of results;
company or
headhunter research could never have
been easier.
Finding people online
If you happen to know the name of any
executive or contact, simply visit one of the popular “people
finding” engines. Type the name of the person and location;
if the contact is listed, matching contact information will be
displayed. Be careful, though; these sites sometimes provide home
phone numbers. Unless you know the contact personally, avoid calling
the home number. You can always visit the company's website or call
them to find the contact's work number.
Online networking
For those of us who prefer to network from
behind the screen only (not recommended as the only networking
strategy; utilize a combination of face-to-face and online networking
instead), there couldn’t be a better solution:
online networking. From finding
contacts and support groups to maintaining professional relationships,
online networking is a popular component of almost any
online job
search campaign.
Online groups and forums
Online groups and forums afford the
convenience of networking with several professionals at the click of a
mouse. There is almost always a forum or group available for your
profession. Members of such groups may be able to provide several
resources for your
online job search.
Government programs
Most
government programs provide free
information and resources on their website, making it easier for you
to browse through information or even apply for benefits.
Don’t be misled by the optimistic tone of this article.
Online job
search is not a panacea for the unemployed; the medium is simply a
supplement to the traditional job search strategies. The relative
simplicity with which an
online job search campaign could be executed
promotes a substantial increase in competition as well. Remember,
using multiple
job search strategies is the key to any successful
job
search campaign.
A Caveat: While online, be careful with your personal information.
Related
Articles:
Job Search Strategies And Tips
Common Job Search Mistakes
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