If you are new to job searching on the Internet, this article will explain the basic steps and help you avoid the pitfalls.
Previously, if you were seeking work, you would search the job section of the local paper, circle the jobs that interested you, and call them. It is no longer the case. Now, if you call a business asking about employment, they nearly usually advise you to apply online. That is all well and ideal if you have access to a computer and know your way around the Web, but not everyone can navigate the Internet. Some job-seekers have used the Internet for simple searches or to check out a favorite restaurant but may be unsure of how to navigate through other areas and are probably not savvy to marketing and spamming techniques that they are sure to encounter.
Where to Begin
Most online job searchers will start with a job search engine. Some of the famous ones are Monster, JobCircle, and Snagajob. These are each set up to help you find a job in your area (or an area in which you wish to work). First, enter your zip code. After that, you can usually refine your search by choosing a job category or typing in a keyword.
Observe items as you go down the results list. For example, if you see that some jobs have a slightly different-colored background or some other small change in formatting, they may be advertisements. Clicking on these may take you to an education program or plan in which they ask you to pay to make money/learn the business. Just skip these.
When you find a job that looks interesting to you, click on it (after you’ve determined that it is not an advertisement). It will lead you to the job information. Besides checking for the qualification requirements and benefits available, take note of the job number. It is a number used by that search engine to identify that particular job. Therefore, you should reference this number in any electronic correspondence (application, email, etc.). Also, check if the company prefers you continue to their website to apply instead of through the search engine site.
Beware of Advertising Misdirection
“Do you want to continue your education?” This question may pop up. It’s not a means for the computer to learn about you. It’s a commercial.
Some search engines will redirect you to an advertisement for a college (or other business). It may occur when you click on the job from the search list or when you click to apply. Please take a good look at this page when it comes up. It may have your personal information filled in already. It is nothing to be feared. They don’t have your information. Your Web browser has auto-filled the page. Your computer has everything. At this point, only you see this; the business does not have the data yet.
Look for the clickable parts of the page. You may find one that says “continue” and another that says “no thanks” or “continue to job list” (or similar). In any case, there should be two choices listed: one to apply to the college information, and another to skip it and continue to your job information. Once you’ve determined both of these, you can click on the one that takes you to the job list (or job application). If you want to feel more at ease, you can erase all the information that has been auto-filled on this page before continuing to the job page.
The Next Steps
If you don’t already have one, you should write a resume. Most places request that resumes be in Word format (.doc). That is Microsoft Word. If you don’t have MS Word, free software available online called Open Office lets you create Word documents. Other companies may need you to submit your resume online. If you have your resume in MS Word, you can usually cut-and-paste from your resume into the website resume.
If you find that you want to use one of the above search engines more than once, you may wish to register on that search engine and store your resume there as well. Registration is usually free, and you choose how much of your information can be seen by employers (there is searchability for employers to look at the various job-seekers). For example, you could choose to have your resume searchable (viewable to employers through a search) but keep your name and location anonymous. Your contact information is protected. You would get any correspondence from potential employers who found you by searching in a message area on the search engine’s website. You could have these messages forwarded to your email account, but your email address is not visible to the sender.
Refining the Search
If you are not finding the types of jobs-or enough of them-in the general job search engines, there are other ways to find specific jobs you are looking for. One is to go to a company’s website for which you would like to work. Once on their site, look for a link that reads “job openings,” “employment,” “careers,” or similar. Then click on it and proceed.
Another option is to find a search engine geared explicitly for that job type. For example, someone looking for a nursing job could go to Google and type into the “nursing job search engine” or “nursing jobs” search box. Then, look for one with an address that looks precisely for nurses, such as “nursemp.com” or “healthcareers.com.”
Tracking Job Search Progress
Other companies may need you to submit your resume online, especially with many job search engines. You can save a list by date or by employer contacted. For each entry, list the date, company name, search engine used (if any), name of contact, if you sent an application/resume or any other activity, job number, and contact information. You can refer to this list to make periodic inquiries (have they received your application? when are they taking interviews? etc.). Track your progress, and you will reach your goal.
Navigating the Internet may be scary at first, but once you know the potential risks, you will find enormous rewards. It cannot be avoided. On the contrary, it will become a powerful tool for your job search and overall career.
