Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting. Where do you start? What Web sites are best for your industry?
If you're suffering from "job search overwhelm," take heart. Remember the adage about how to eat an elephant one bite at a time.
Your quest for employment is the same.
It's less overwhelming if you slice the online job market into bite-sized pieces instead of trying to visit 1,000 Web sites in a single day.
Here are 4 ways to divide the online employment market into smaller niches -- and get hired faster.
1) Search For Local Job Sites
Like politics, most job searches are local. You'll likely get hired by an employer within 20-30 miles of where you are now. So it pays to find Web sites that list local job openings.
Tip: look for job listings at the Web site of your local newspaper or TV station. You'll almost always find something. Examples: startribune.com, kstp.com, detnews.com, nytimes.com. You'll often find links to other regional job sites this way, too.
A second tactic is to type your state or city name and the word "jobs.com" into your Web browser and see what turns up. Examples: Minnesotajobs.com, Chicagojobs.com, Phillyjobs.com.
2) Search For Jobs By Industry
No matter what line of work you're in, there's probably a Web site with employment postings for that industry. So doing a Google search for "job title + jobs" should produce leads.
Another good Web resource is SearchSimpleton.com. It has links to more than 1,000 industry-specific Web directories, from Accounting and Finance to Travel, Hospitality and Restaurant job sites. It's a good place to narrow your search to a specific industry or job function.
3) Search For Unadvertised Openings
Here's a neat trick. You can get hired by companies before they even know they need you, according to Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of the 4Jobs.com Career Network.
All you have to do is think beyond your title.
"Most people take their job searches too literally. If they don't find an exact match for the position Software Development Manager, for example, they give up. This is a mistake. Instead, look for companies hiring lots of software engineers and go pitch yourself as a manager to that company. That's because employers tend to fill lower-level jobs first over the Internet, so you'll be there ahead of their need for a new team manager," says Milgram.
How do you pitch yourself to employers before they've listed a job opening?
Research the company, make contact with people who work there, then send a networking letter. According to Milgram, your letter should say something like: "I've been in your shoes before, here's what you're going to experience as you hire new people, and I'd be happy to talk to you about it."
"The successful job search is not about you, but about the growth and the future of the company you want to work for," adds Milgram.
The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll get hired.
4) Contact Old Classmates
You already know that networking can uncover the best job leads. It's essential that you tell everyone you know about your job search. But don't stop with those people.
Talk to everyone you used to know -- folks you haven't been in touch with for years.
And the easiest way is to contact people you went to high school or college with. Even if you haven't talked to them in 20 years, you have something in common and they ought to be glad to hear from you (unless you stole their lunch money or did something equally inapt).
Two Web sites to help make contact with old school friends are Classmates.com and Linkedin.com. Also, most college Web sites will help you get in touch with fellow alumni -- try yours and see.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1996, he and his team have provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in all 50 states and 23 countries. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly, CBS Radio, and many others.
Building and expanding a business is a difficult task, when... Read More
The question confronting most people who want to find a... Read More
A "blog" is simply an internet (web) log. Blogs are... Read More
Ever wonder if you are in the right career? If... Read More
Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!We can... Read More
Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost... Read More
Have you ever gone through the interview process, felt confident... Read More
Taking a job out of fear and desperation will never... Read More
The thought of writing a resume intimidates... Read More
In today's unpredictable economy, the idea of job security with... Read More
A study conducted by the Journal of Consumer Research in... Read More
You are looking for a job and you are out... Read More
Mental preparation is probably your most important task as you... Read More
They say that most people do complete and total career... Read More
The fastest way to make a good interview go bad... Read More
After completing their translation training programmes at higher professional education... Read More
Freshly qualified accounting graduates when asked by the interviewer "Are... Read More
You have worked hard at finding your next job. You... Read More
Is your current or most recent job truly what you... Read More
Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the... Read More
The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted... Read More
Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become... Read More
Many people in the last decade have experienced either a... Read More
One of the trickier questions an interviewer might put to... Read More
I generally shy away from using the word "networking" when... Read More
As it does with every main life aspect, feng shui... Read More
How many times have you been asked, "What is your... Read More
Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up... Read More
These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More
If you're wondering how to become a real estate agent,... Read More
If you want to land an interview, you'll need more... Read More
Is an International Resume still a Resume? This is a... Read More
As a head-hunter and Career Coach I see so many... Read More
Good question, considering that nowadays you can find many useful... Read More
Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to... Read More
In a day of background checks, pre-employment drug screening and... Read More
You've been a model employee: responsible, industrious, creative and productive.... Read More
Looking for work is generally a miserable undertaking. No matter... Read More
The subject is constantly in the news and may decide... Read More
Looking for a new job, whether it is with a... Read More
Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More
Making Your Future Work Better For YouIt's the commonest concern... Read More
Seeking meaningful and fulfilling work can become a discouraging, confusing... Read More
You've just been granted an on-site interview in another town.... Read More
You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur... Read More
Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can... Read More
The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact... Read More
It has been a long morning and you need a... Read More
Writing an effective résumé can certainly be challenging. There are... Read More
It is hard to be a stay at home mom.... Read More
I don't know his name and he wasn't trying to... Read More
Starting a new job can feel like moving to a... Read More
Brian's work was exceptional. Still, as his boss,... Read More
Everyone dreams of a life full of love and adventure.... Read More
10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More
* If you believe you deserve a salary increase, ask... Read More
Using a general résumé.DON'T DO IT! You cannot successfully use... Read More
Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean with... Read More
Doesn't every job search start with Google?Way back in another... Read More
Whether you are a person who is thinking about becoming... Read More
If you want a drink of water, do you hire... Read More
There has been a lot of talk recently about American... Read More
In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are... Read More
1. An attractive layout that is easy to read and... Read More
I referenced the circus because I just finished another interviewing... Read More
Q. I just finished a job interview. Everything went well.... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |