Job Seeking Tips for the Electronic Age
May 16, 2012 12:01 pm
Job search engines have proliferated in recent years. While these databases do a great job aggregating numerous job postings, the sheer number of niche job databases can be daunting for jobseekers. Need some advice about successfully navigating the seemingly endless online archives? Here are some tips:
Find specific databases
Any job search engine worth its salt offers options like specifying keywords or categories to narrow down listings, but you’ll still pull up many results that don’t seem relevant. The problem may be you’re using a search engine that’s too general and pulls in results from unrelated fields. If you’re interested in a specific field like non-profit management, engineering, journalism, teaching, and so on, try using databases tailored specifically to those fields.
Create e-mail alerts
Many search engines also offer e-mail alerts when new jobs within your field become available. By having search results e-mailed to you daily or weekly, you can streamline your search process. Instead of browsing a database, you'll receive results in your inbox.
Apply directly through the company website
When possible, instead of sending your resume through the search engine, make the extra effort to apply through the company's website. Some job search guides even advise sending a paper cover letter and resume when the job posting mentions the possibility. Since most people send these documents electronically, a paper resume will stand out more.
Think outside-the-box
Aside from online job searches, the Internet also boosts other tools such as social networking sites and LinkedIn that you can use creatively to reach out to potential employers. LinkedIn can enable you to discover connections you might already have within an organization.
Category: Miscellaneous Tags: Career Advice, Job Search, Online Job Searching
Equal Housing Opportunity