Job Search Sites: Bane or Boon?

Finding Your Next Employment Requires More Than The Internet

Nov 26, 2007

Don't limit your job search to just cruising the job search sites; there's a whole world out there for you to explore and find the right workplace for you.

Don't Limit Your Job Search

Too often job seekers are only concerned with what they think is the quickest and most reliable way to find a new career or job - by using the Internet. Limiting yourself to one mode means you are probably missing out on many other potential job positions. You need to have an active job search.

First of all, by relying mostly on the Internet Job Sites while looking for work, you will tend to get many repeats. Most job sites force you to join their site before you can see full listings; even when you do join, the jobs are also posted or advertised elsewhere, such as local newspapers. Many of the free/no membership required sites are just listings from other job sites - while it may be more focused to your particular line of work or area of abode, you are actually just wasting your time reading (and often re-reading) the posts.

Be Actively Involved

If you're looking for a job, you hopefully know what kind of work you want to do, and if you want to work for a large or small company. If you prefer a large company - check out the local businesses in your area. Chances are that company has a website, which will also offer some insight into the company mission/culture, as well as a link to job openings within that company. So now you are using the Internet in a smarter way. AND you'll feel more actively involved in your own job search, rather than just passively reading a job site and hoping a job you might enjoy and have the skills for will become available or listed today.

The smaller businesses might also have a website; but if not - DO NOT cross these opportunities off your list just yet. Get out that phone and CALL them; find out the name of the person who handles Personnel - see if you can talk to that person - find out if the company might be looking for a person with your talents ("will you be hiring any office personnel within the next few months?" "will you be looking for managers/line workers/accountants/graphic artists/you fill in the blanks in the near future?"). Ask if you could send in your Resume - then do it - with a Cover Letter expanding on your conversation of that day as well as how you could benefit that company.

Read The Newspapers - This is NOT Redundant

Searching for employment also means reading the newspaper - do not just rely on the website format. For whatever reason, reading the newspaper ads in the old print form will actually help you to see the ad more clearly than on the internet. An ad you might miss with its quick initial listing will somehow jump out at you when reading the paper. Do not be content with the web version of the employment/career section of the newspaper - be active - GET that paper and read the section(s). Your local library will carry it free of charge. This also brings us to the last but important point -

Get Out There!

By getting away from the computer and outside in the real world, chances are you just might meet someone who mentions about a job you might be interested in. You'll also feel better by being somewhat more physically active, and being around people. This will help if you do apply and get an interview - you need to be alert and active.

The copyright of the article Job Search Sites: Bane or Boon? in Job Search is owned by Paym Bergson. Permission to republish Job Search Sites: Bane or Boon? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.