First steps. Looking for jobs on-line.

Dear Coach:


I’m ready to begin my job search on the on-line. But I’m not really sure what sites will be most helpful. Now what?

Overwhelmed

Dear Overwhelmed:

It’s not surprising you’re feeling a bit lost. Turns out the worldwide web really does offer a world of possibilities and that can be intimidating. So how do you zero in?

You don’t tell me what your major is, so I’ll have to answer your question in a general way. Most students know about the really big sites like Monster and Workopolis. These sites may have the greatest number of jobs, and in fact may be the best place for you to find a job if you have a unique and highly sought after talent. But if you are a student competing for jobs that many others could fill, you may be one of literally hundreds, even thousands, applying for a job.

You may want to increase your odds by looking at other internet sites with less competition. These include:

* company and other employer sites,
* industry association sites,
* web sites of employment agencies and head hunters,
* web sites for university career and placement services (CAPS)

Let’s look at each one.

If you’ve done your research, you know the companies you’re most interested in. Often companies decide to use their own site first for recruiting rather than pay the fees for big job sites. They also may not want to deal with the volume of resumes that come their way if they use a large site. If the company is a really big, though, they may ask you to enter your resume information into a software template so they can scan it for key words. A smaller company website is more likely to accept an attached resume. Using these websites lets you target the companies you’re most interested in and increase you’re likelihood for an interview.

Most professions and industries also have associations with websites. And many of these sites have on-line job banks. Their advantage is that employers have sought them out looking for talent in your field and the competition is usually less because fewer people are aware that they can use them. If you belong to an association, it also implies a built in endorsement of your credentials, even if this is not really the case.

Employment agencies often don’t charge the person applying for a job a fee. But many do. Be wary of agencies that promise your dream job by providing you with information you can easily find on your own. Agencies are often interested in someone who already has a track record. They may be a good source for temporary work while you’re seeking a professional job or if you’re looking for a job in an area the agency specializes in. Some agencies, for example, have a lot of non-profit clients or specialize in a particular market sector like health.

Finally, don’t overlook your campus placement sites where many employers in your region post jobs. By seeking out your school’s grads, they’ve already indicated a bias in favor of applicants from your university.