Job Searching Online

Introduction

Searching for a job online is not as easy as scouring the want ads in a newspaper. This guide will discuss some strategies to help locate a prospective employer. Keep in mind that Internet searches do not supercede the need to continue using more traditional methods of job searching. It merely supplements them.

Things You Need To Do

Here is a brief summary of some things you will need while job searching.

Resumes - An up to date resume is needed if your job field expects to see one. Even if your job field doesn't typically expect resumes it would not hurt to have one written up and available. Resumes indicate a person is serious and professional about their chosen career and provides a brief, terse summary of your skills.

If applying for several types of unrelated jobs, make certain you have as many custom tailored resumes as there are job fields being applied for. Never send generic resumes since this shows a lack of initiative.

Local Library Resume Help

Your library has many guides to writing resumes. These are typically kept in the 650 call number area of the shelves. Look at these to get an idea of what a resume should look like and contain. Books containing resumes specific to a specific job area can be often be found in the same shelf area.

Library computers can be used to write a resume via a word processor. If so desired, a wizard can be used to have the computer format most of the resume for you.

Bookmark Useful Job Search Sites

Bookmark all frequently accessed job search related sites. Store these in a separate folder titled "Job Search" or whatever you want to call it. By doing this, you don't have to continually search for job search resources that have been used before.  If you are using library computers, there are several job search engines available to you at http://www.hickorygov.com/library/ref/links/view.php?cid=85

 Track Applied For Jobs

Keep up with the jobs you have applied for online. How you do this is not important so long as it works for you. Save the Web page containing the job description or make comprehensive notes, so you can see precisely what you have applied for over time. This way you don't apply for the same job twice.

Cover Letters - Cover letters are important. Have several versions of a cover letter for the different types of job areas applied for if they are not the same field. Have a basic cover letter used as a template that you add to/subtract from as necessary to create new cover letters. This saves time so you may devote more energy and time to locating possible jobs. Books with examples of cover letters that show you how to write one are owned here at HPL.

 Email Account - Have a valid email account with a "normal sounding" email address. Use a respectable service like Yahoo, Hotmail, your ISP, and not an eccentric or personalized speciality email account of a dubious nature. Make certain the user name chosen for your email account is not explicit, flamboyant, objectional, etc. An email account name like john_doe@yahoo.com or jjd@hotmail.com is the type of user name you want to use for this purpose. You don't want your email address to stand out because it is strange and unusual. Email addresses that advertise your various proclivities are especially inappropriate.

Email accounts are necessary to receive responses from companies applied to online. It is quicker to do business this way rather than use snail mail and telephones. Having the email address along with the physical contact info gives the company an additional means of contacting you. Companies expect that individuals will have an email account.

Put an email signature that gives your contact information such as an address, phone number, email address, etc in every email.

Internet Job Search Strategies

Job Search Engines

Using general-purpose search engines like Google, HotBot, AltaVista, etc for job searching is often a time waster and the entries within these search tools are often outdated. Use a search tool that has the sole purpose of job searches like the ones listed further down this page.

Locating Job Search Tools

Sites like www.searchenginewatch.com are good for locating specialized search tools and usually have links to job search engines. Try sites like this when searching for additional job search tools.

Google and other general-purpose search engines can locate job search tools. Type "job search engine" (with the quotes) in your chosen search tool and see what comes up. Open the desired results you wish to view in a new window or tab and bookmark them if they are useful so you won't have to find them later. The search string can be varied to see what other types of job search tools come up. Search terms like "business job search", "business job search tools", "teaching job resources", etc are possibilities for search strategies.

Peruse directories like www.yahoo.com and www.dmoz.com to see what job search tools are listed here.

Company Web Pages

If you know of a company you would like to work for, check their site to see if any positions are listed since most list these online. Company Web sites are often in the format "www.companyname.com" so try locating the company this way before using a search engine to locate their home page.

Usenet Job Postings

Usenet groups contain job postings. Try groups.google.com if you do not have access to a Usenet feed from your ISP. Find out which newsgroups deal with job postings and save their names in a file. If you have an ISP Usenet feed, subscribe to them in your Usenet reader software so you won't have to find them again.

If using Google Groups, limit the search to the newsgroup of interest and limit the date range to the past month. If you do not, you will see all postings that have ever been posted to the group in question.

Web Discussion Forums

Look for Web discussion forums that deal with the topic of job searching. These can give hints, links, and advice. People are often the best resources and may be able to help in ways a computer-based search cannot.

Resume Posting Services

There are sites where resumes can be posted. Some are free, some are not. Use these if you think they will help. However there is a privacy issue here. Your information sometimes is freely exposed for all to see. If you post a resume to a service like this, only put an email contact here and leave out sensitive info. Once contacted, you can give the remaining pertinent info.

Summary

The above information is enough to get you started on your online job search. Remember that search strategies can often be modified for different types of job searches. Bookmark useful job search strategies. Take the above advice and extrapolate some additional means of finding useful resources.