Using Web Job Sites

Using Web Job Sites

WHAT SERVICES ARE BEST?
Many job site services are very useful. Some are not. A few are dangerous! Our opinions on the most common services offered:

1. Resume distribution services. DON'T!!

For a fee paid by you, these services will distribute your resume to hundreds of Web job sites or recruiters (?) to help you jump start your job search.

Don't use these services! You have no idea who will receive your resume or what they will do with it, and you have no way of recovering it when your search is over!

[It takes time and effort, but you should be customizing your resume to fit the opportunity and/or the employer. That's the most effective way to apply for a job with a resume.]

Most of these services collect money from you for generating unwanted e-mail or populating the resume databases of needy job sites, and it can sabotage your job search. This is not a short cut! It's a potential disaster, particularly
if you still have a job.

2. Job Postings

Both employers and independent recruiters/staffing firms post job openings on job sites. Some job sites try to offer you the capability to limit your search to only find job postings made by employers (and ignore those made by recruiters). It's a good option to choose, if offered.

Employer vs. recruiter. Usually jobs posted directly by employers are the best ones to pursue because your "cost of hire" will be less than if you are referred to the employer by a recruiter (who is paid a commission by the employer for sending the "winning" applicant). Even in good economic times, smart companies pay attention to the bottom line. They would rather not pay a recruiter's commission if another potential employee approached them directly and is, therefore, less expensive to hire, even if both would be paid exactly the same salary. The difference in "cost of hire" is the finders' fee (commission) paid to the recruiter.

Executive exceptions. Particularly in the very highly paid jobs (executive and top line management), the mere existence of the job opportunity may be confidential - the employer doesn't want the competition, the media, the internal organization, and/or (sometimes) the existing job holder to know that the opportunity exists or will soon exist. So sites which cater to this end of the employment food chain may not have many jobs posted openly by employers. These openings are usually handled by retained executive recruiters. Regardless of whether or not a job is filled - they are paid to provide a pipeline of qualified candidates, who are typically very difficult to find.

If you are a top-level executive, these retained executive recruiters are the recruiters you want to know. Unfortunately, the retained recruiters rarely, if ever, post their jobs anywhere except, in some instances, on their own Web site. They almost never use the commercial sites.The vast majority of executive-level jobs you see on commercial sites are posted by contingency recruiters (paid only if someone they identify is hired). If you make yourself known to the employer directly (via employer Web site, networking, or direct mail) the employer owes no fee to a contingency recruiter, and you may have an edge over contingency recruiter candidates who will cost the employer about 33% of a year's salary as an employment fee.

Free job postings? Job postings are a primary source of revenue for most job sites. So, be a little wary of a job site which offers "free job postings" to all employers. We now know that even a "dot com" needs to make money, so where's the revenue coming from? It's coming either from the applicants who are charged for access to the jobs or from the employers/recruiters who pay for "premium placement" in search results. Either situation is not particularly good for job hunters.

Fake job postings? As in the traditional ("off-line") world, some advertised jobs don't actually exist. Perhaps, they have been filled but the job posting was left up. Or, the employer may have posted the job prematurely to see if there are any applicants available. Or, the recruiter may feel the need to make their applicant pool more robust in specific fields, Or, someone may have made a simple mistake. Don't be discouraged!

Searching through job postings puts you, the job seeker, in control of your job search. And it's the safest method of finding a job on a Web job site.

3. On-line Application

When you have identified a job that interests you, most sites offer the ability for you to apply for the job on-line, usually with a resume that you already have stored at the site (be sure to read #4 below before storing that resume!). This one-click application can be a quick and convenient way for you to apply for a job, but there is definitely a downside.

View this application as a resume submission because that's what it is. And, the most effective way to apply for a job is to customize your resume to that specific job, emphasizing the experiences in your background that map most closely to the job's requirements.

So, it is often more effective, although slower and less convenient, to complete a form for each job using text you have developed specifically for that opportunity or to submit a customized resume.

Some sites offer you the ability to store several different variations of your resume, presumably emphasizing different skills and experiences you have (see #4 below), and this can help mitigate the effect of trying to use one "generic" resume for all jobs.

Best are the sites that provide you with an ability to contact the recruiter or employer directly. When such information is provided, be sure that you use it! Follow up directly with the employer (send an e-mail, call, FAX your resume directly to the HR department or to the hiring manager, etc.), particularly when you seem to meet all of the job's requirements and are very interested in the position.

4. Resume Postings - BE VERY CAREFUL!!

Most job sites offer job seekers the opportunity to input their resume (sometimes more than one) into the job site's resume/applicant database. Typically, selling employers access to the this database is a major source of revenue for job sites.

Resume "confidentiality" or "anonymity" ? REQUIRED! Only use sites that provide you with a method for you to conceal your identity (blocking visibility to your name, address, and phone number, at a minimum). Do not post your resume (or complete a "profile") at a site which does not allow you to protect your contact information, no matter how promising the site seems to be.

Free resume access? Maybe! Avoid any site which allows free searching of the resume database unless you are provided a method of concealing your identity! This is a major privacy risk for everyone with a resume stored in that resume/applicant database! At the very least, someone, hopefully a potential employer, should have to pay a fee to see the resumes stored on the site.

Free resume posting? Usually, yes. Few sites successfully charge applicants for posting their resumes in the applicant database. Since charging employers for access to resumes is typically a major source of revenue, most sites don't put a barrier (collecting a fee, in this case) between the job seeker and the applicant/resume database.

Executive exception. Executive job sites are among the very few that do successful charge potential applicants for the privilege of posting a resume in their resume database. The reason -- because executive-level jobs are very seldom posted or advertised anywhere. You still may not see many jobs posted, even on the best executive sites, but you will hopefully be exposed to the retained executive recruiters who have the opportunities.

Posting options. The best sites offer you several options for your resume posting:

• Multiple resume versions. The ability to store more than one version of your resume so that you have "canned" responses ready for use, depending on the opportunity - a "management" version for the manager openings, an "individual contributor" version for those great non-manager jobs, a "medical" version for the opportunities in the healthcare and medical industries, etc. You can see how it might be very handy to have different versions of your resume readily available so that you can choose the one most appropriate for a specific opportunity.
• One-click applications. The ability to send your resume in response to a job opportunity with a single click of your mouse. However, your one-click resume may not be the best one for every opportunity, so use this service very sparingly.
• Edit/delete control. You must have the ability to edit and/or delete your resume from the resume/applicant database. As you refine and improve your resume, you need to be able to update your posted resume. And, after you find a job, you don't want that resume messing up your job security or your future.
• Confidentiality options. These options allow you to "market" yourself (have your resume included in the applicant database for employers to search) while protecting your privacy. They include blocking certain employers from viewing your resume (risky), blocking your contact information from view (better), and more. It's a trade-off between privacy and marketing yourself. We strongly recommend protecting your privacy as the best long-term strategy!
• Viewer statistics. The ability to see how many employers have viewed your resume and contacted you (or not contacted you). This information can help you see how "searchable" your resume is (see Keyword Resumes for more information on putting keywords in your resume); how effective it is in marketing your skills and experience; and the number of employers visiting that site who are interested in someone with your background and potential.
• Don't be too discouraged if you don't get many "hits." It may be the wrong job site for you. Or your may need to work on your resume.
• "Premium" status. The ability to pay a fee for higher placement in an employer's search results. This may be a waste of your money. Placing higher up in the search ranking won't result in a job offer if you are not qualified for the opportunity. And, it would seem that employers would be (rightfully) leery of search results that are skewed not by the relevance of the resume but by revenue for the job site. Sites offering this option are probably worth avoiding!
• Be very careful when posting your resume on any site! This can be the proverbial double-edged sword for the job seeker. If you are familiar with Job-Hunt, then you know we are very concerned with the collection and use of the highly personal and confidential information contained on a resume. (See Protecting Your Privacy and Cyber-Safe Resume for tips on doing an online job search while protecting your job, if you have one, and your identity.)

5. E-Mail Agents
Many sites offer an e-mail service to keep you informed about new jobs added to their jobs database. When an appropriate job appears in their database of jobs, this service will e-mail you a notice of the addition or the actual description. This can save you time and effort -- you don't have to keep visiting the site to see if they have jobs for you. It's usually a good idea to sign up for the service if you can do it without compromising your privacy.

Many sites offer you the ability to create several different agents so that you can try different combinations of search criteria, e.g. different key words, different locations, etc.

Check to see that there is a process for you to use when you want to end the service ("un-subscribe") so that you can you can stop the mail when you get your new job. Use a Web-Based e-mail service address (and then check it at least once a day

How to make the Perfect Resume?

Your traditional printed resume must be supplemented now with a 21st century version that is compatible with e-mail and with Internet and database search technologies.

• Changing the content of your resume - small but very important changes
• Cyber-safe resume - protect your privacy, your identity, and your job (current, if any, and future). Don't skip this step!

Keywords in your resume - tips to increase the probability that your resume will be included in the serach results when employers search through resume databases, like those used in big-company applicant tracking systems and most web job sites.

Changing the format of your resume - a couple of short cuts for emergencies plus:

• Converting a Word document to ASCII text - compatible with the Internet technologies, safely transits e-mail systems (see Using Your ASCII Resume, below).
• Polishing your ASCII text resume - it doesn't have to be boring. You can jazz it up (a little).
• Sample ASCII text resume - cyber-safe, with keywords added, and polished to look more interesting
• Personal Resume Web Page -- Add simple HTML tags to your ASCII resume, and do some "search engines optimization" so your resume will be found.
• Basic HTML tags will get you started, and here's help viewing your Web Page as you work on it.

Some final touches will make your Personal Resume Web Page more employer-friendly and optimized for the search engines.

• Adding META tags should help with some of the search engines.
• Using your ASCII text resume - now that you have an Internet Resume, use it!
• E-mailing a resume - usually the fastest way to respond and generally preferred by recruiters and employers, but not as easy to do well as you might think...
• Keeping Your E-Mail Out of the Spam Filters - a new complication to the resume e-mail process.
• Cutting-and-pasting your resume into Web job site resume and profile forms makes things move more quickly and, hopefully, minimizes the extra spelling and gramatical errors that can happen when you are typing text directly into a resume/profile form.

You do still need your traditional printed resume:
when you have developed a relationship with a specific potential employer or a trusted recruiter who has requested your complete resume. when you respond to an employer's ad or an off-line opportunity through the USPS (or "snail mail") system. It's a good idea to include a plain, scannable version of your resume with your printed resume when you are responding via regular mail. Then, if you are the "right" candidate for the opportunity, you resume may be scanned, particularly by companies with more than 500 employees that may have an internal applicant tracking system.

Finding Jobs Online

So, where do you find the jobs? Most people start with the big Employment Sites. You cannot, and should not, ignore the big sites, particularly if want to work for a large employer. However, there are many more resources for your job search now than just the big sites.

Assuming that you know what you want to do and where you want to do it, check out these pages of Onlinejob-Hunt new Guide to Finding Jobs Online. We've had to expand this page to a guide because of all the new resources that are developing.

If it has been a couple of years since you've searched for a job, start at # 1, and go through the whole list. Just need a quick refresher? Pick a topic that particularly interests you:

• Finding Employer Websites - jobs from the source!
• Finding the Jobs on the Employer Website - where are they hidden?
• Leveraging Employer Websites - differentiate yourself with information
• Associations and Alumni Groups - very effective for networking
• Recruiters, Staffing Firms, & Head Hunters - can help or hurt
• Job Sites - new things to consider and new sites to use
• Classified Ads - very effective
• Job Aggregators - new and powerful

Starting you online job search

1. PREPARING FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH

Decide What You Want to Do
It's impossible to find a job if you don't know what you want to do. It is the first question you will be asked when you say that you are job hunting. If you don't have a good answer, people will be unable to effectively help you (and they may wonder how seriously you are looking for a job).

Get Comfortable with Your Computer and Being Online
You won't spend all your time in front of your computer (or you shouldn't), but you need to feel comfortable. It may increase your job market "value" and market competitiveness.

Get Support for Your Job Search
More "heads" are definitely better than one - the old cliché is absolutely true, so don't do your job search in isolation. A solitary job search can be demoralizing, and it can also be more difficult because you'll only have access to what you find by yourself. Leverage the experience, expertise, and network of friends and colleagues, and don't forget to help others, too. You will all be more successful.

Friends, outplacement counselors, your school or college's career center or placement office, members of your church (or temple or where ever you practice your religion), former co-workers, your local government, your federal government, one of the independent job hunt support groups, career counselors, and/or a job search coach can help you enormously. They will help you find resources and contacts, keep your spirits up, give you ideas, help you explore you options, and give you a boot in the pants when you need one.

Collect Information
Identify the jobs, employers, and locations that interest you, and then find out what you can about them. The Web is a treasure trove of useful information (just be cautious about believing everything you read!).

Pull Together Your Resume, Including an Internet Version
Once you know the job you want and have collected information, you need to create your resume, actually, two or three versions -- for print, for e-mail, for completing online forms, and for a personal resume Web page -- with "keywords" for recruiters to find.

2. IMPLEMENTING YOUR JOB SEARCH

Select a FEW Job Sites to Use
It has been estimated that there are 80,000 Web job sites. And there are thousands of other sites that have job openings -- company Web sites, professional association Web sites, Chamber of Commerce Web sites, college alumni/ae Web sites, etc. That's more options than you could probably use in a lifetime!

How do you navigate through all of this to your new job?

Finding the Jobs
Read this article to learn about all the many places that jobs are listed, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. You'll want to check them all out to find the ones that work best for you.

Choosing a Job Site
Don't post your resume or leave a profile on any site until you have read this article. Not every job site is a good, or even a safe, place for you to post your resume or to leave contact information! So, learn how to spot an unsafe site before you get started.

Using Web Job Sites
Then, read Job-Hunt's article on to see how Web job site usually work, what services to use and what services to avoid.

Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes
Job-Hunt's famous list of pitfalls (with some solutions, too).
If you have identified potential employers of interest to you, track down and visit the employer's Web site. Frequently, particularly for larger employers, the company Web site will also have job opportunities posted.

Follow Up Relentlessly and Politely (Off-line, too)
When you have identified a job you want or a company you want to work for and submitted your online application, send your resume, with a targeted cover letter, to the recruiter and hiring manger (using paper and a postage stamp). Then call to see if they've received it, and what is happening with the job that interests you.

Don't assume that every e-mail message you send is received and read! Currently, spam (bulk unsolicited commercial e-mail) and computer virus-generated messages in circulation comprise an estimated 70% to 80% of all e-mail traffic. Companies and people have responded to this deluge of junk e-mail by using filtering software in an attempt to separate the "good" mail from the "bad." So your message and resume may be deleted or diverted by one of these electronic gate keepers. Following up via phone and "snail mail" is a necessity. Be politely persistent.

Spend More Time OFF-Line than ON-Line (Off-Line is Where the Jobs Are!)
The Internet is an awesome information source, but think of it as a "tool" in your job search toolbox. You will be hired by a person who will probably want to meet you and talk with you before offering you a job. So, use the Internet's vast information resources to help you, but don't limit your efforts to this on-line world.

Reality is that the vast majority of jobs (estimated at 85% or 90% of them!) are NOT posted on a Web site or even advertised in your local newspaper. They are never advertised at al! These jobs comprise "The Hidden Job Market."

The people hired in the HIdden Job Market jobs are known to the organization before a job opportunity has been documented or, sometimes, even recognized. They are the "friends of the friends" of the hiring manager or of another employee. Don't be discouraged! You can find those jobs, and the Internet can help you get started.

Networking Resources
If you belong to a professional association, look for a "career center" (or something similar) on the association's Website, or go to a few meetings to see if you can connect with other job seekers.

Track Your Search
Set up a process for Tracking Your Job Search so you know when and where you left a resume, what job sites have worked the best for you, etc. Over the course of time, you may lose track of the sites that you used, and having some records of your activities will help you know where to go to delete or "inactivate" your resume when you get a job.

IN CONCLUSION
Yes, it is a LOT of work to find a new job! There are very few true short cuts, but the Internet has increased the apparent size of the job market, automating the application process while also adding some new complications (like protecting your privacy). In a way, the Internet has made it more difficult to find a job.

You will survive this process, and you will succeed at finding a great new job! If you're lucky, you will also learn a lot about yourself and make a bunch of new friends in the process. Now, go for it!!

Good luck with your job search!