Cyber-Savvy Job Hunting
If you want to get ahead in your career, go online the next time you're looking for a job.
America Online's Regina Lewis gives The Saturday Early Show an overview.
Finding an interesting job or learning about what's available in the marketplace and how you might fit in has never been easier. The Web can help with finding jobs ranging from hair stylist to dog groomer, or entry-level to executive positions. There are "e-cruiters" out there ready to sign you up.
The volume of online job postings grew by 60 percent in the past year. Job sites range from enormous boards, such as Monster.com, CareerPath.com or HotJobs.com with millions of resumes, to niche postings, such as TruckersJobBank.com or Nursing-Jobs.com.
What are the benefits of looking for a job online? If you want to move to a new place, you can go online and browse for jobs from a distance. And online resources can help you gauge your market value.
(For employers, the benefits include being able to easily advertise nationally and fill jobs faster.)
Before a job hunter starts a search, the Internet is the perfect place to explore what is really desired in a job and the tasks enjoyed.
Once you know what kind of jobs you're looking for, where do you search on the Web for help?
Check out sites to see what others doing similar work are charging. One example is the Monster Talent Market on Monster.com.
Another site, HotJobs.com, has good research resources for exploring companies, and you even can block your resume from being seen by certain companies (such as your current employer).
If you're looking for career advice, it's easy to find it on the Web. Networker.com is a great resource to find events, trade shows and meetings in your area of expertise, in your city or even another city.
Most sites will format your resume and even put up front the information employers are looking for.
Once you've posted your resume, you're already in the hunt. There's a lot of recruiting conducted online, so if you're even just thinking about entering the job market, it's smart to post your resume online. Human resource managers and headhunters regularly scan online resume postings.
On HotJobs.com, compose a short cover letter. One resume tip is to email yourself your resume to be sure it looks the way you want. When you send your resume via email, send it as an attachment (Microsoft Word is most popular format), and include it in the actual email, so employers can scan it without having to download the document.
Look for a site that not only allows you to store your resume but also one with an "agent" that will use the requirements you enter (job type, location and salary), scan the database and send you daily updates with matches.
For example, on Monster.com, every time you log in and go to My Monster, you find out how many potential employers have looked at your resume, and the job listings they have left behind are posted.
Aplying for a job online shows that that you're cyber-savvy and makes it easier for people within a company to route your resume internally. They can quickly forward it via email. And it's probably best to also send a hard copy in the mail with a note saying that it's already been emailed.
Most sites do not charge the job seeker a fee because the employers are paying to list the job.
There are 2.5 million resumes floating around in cyberspace, and the next trend may be online interviewing where employers can meet potential employees in a chat room.
Most Popular Job Sites:
monster.com
headhunter.net
careerpath.com.
careerbuilder.com.
careermosaic.com.
hotjobs.com
Source: Media Metrixsize=-2>
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