The Pros and Cons of Internet Job Searches
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-01-13 15:13:27.417605-05:00
Are these statements about using the Internet to search for a job true or false?
____ About 1% of job searchers find their new job via the Internet.
____ The Internet is your best source of information about jobs and companies.
____ Very few people get an interview for the type of job they are seeking from a job search Web site.
____ The Internet is the place to start your job search research.
All of these statements are true. But they seem contradictory, right? So what's the real scoop about using the Internet in your job search?
News about Internet job boards seems to be everywhere. We hear about millions of jobs that companies have listed on the Internet. The advertising makes it seem so easy to enter a resume, and then sit back and wait for an interested employer to call.
But that's not the whole picture. It's true that entering a resume is quite easy. Figuring out which resume words will attract the most attention is also doable. Looking at online lists of job openings can make us feel busy and productive.
The catch comes with the "sit back and wait" part. Employers almost never call job seekers who have put their resumes online on a big job board.
Another catch comes when we use too much time looking at Internet job lists. It's much more effective to spend a lot of that time getting personal referrals to companies.
So what's the point of using the Internet at all?
There are a few – but only a few – good reasons to put your resume online.
And there are lots of good reasons to use the Internet to find out about possible employers.
Put Your Resume Online
- The Internet can take you directly to the Web sites of specific companies. Many companies post openings online on their own Web sites.
- You can apply for specific company jobs with an e-mail letter and attached resume.
- If you post your resume on the Web site of a specific company, rather than on a general job search Web site, you have a far greater chance of getting an interview and a job.
- Local and state governments usually have up-to-date job openings on their Web sites. Use them.
- Use industry-specific job boards of trade groups and job-related membership associations. These exist in every job field. Employers use them to recruit employees with specific skills. At the very least, you can discover employers in your field.
- If you're looking for work in a different city, use the Internet to check job classified ads in local newspapers. This saves time and money.
Use the Internet to Find Out About Possible Employers
- Use the Internet to learn about career fields, types of jobs, and industry trends.
- Find lists of trade and professional associations. Contact your local chapters. Attending meetings or conferences is a great way to network and learn about an industry.
- Learn about a specific company or organization from its own Web site and from articles and opinions posted on Internet business sites.
- A company's website provides names and contact numbers for staff. Use them to network and arrange informational interviews.
Cautions and Tips
- When researching industries, companies, and jobs, keep your focus narrow in each Internet session. Focus on industry-specific and individual company Web sites.
- Limit yourself to a small amount of time on the Internet at once. Aim for no more than 45 minutes or one hour per day. Use most of your job-search time getting personal referrals for informational interviews.
- Remember that many jobs listed on the large job boards are generic descriptions, not actual jobs. Others are outdated. It's probably not worth spending your time researching these jobs.
- Make your resume specific to a job and a company. Don't mass e-mail your resume.
- Even if you post your resume on legitimate job search Web sites, you are likely to receive solicitations from resume services and other businesses that want to sell you something.
- Be careful. Don't share your personal information unless you're sure where it's going. Some sites are scams that sell your resume or e-mail address to fraudulent marketers.
Additional Resources
How to Use the Internet in Your Job Search
Step by step, the Riley Guide shows you how to improve your job search with wise use of the Internet.
Job-Hunt
This Web site evaluates online job search sites and leads you to the best ones.
Find Businesses Online
Find out what you need to know about any kind of company or nonprofit organization.
Job Search in the Age of Internet: Six Jobseekers in Search of Employment
See how these savvy jobseekers combined online methods with traditional job searching. Learn their tricks and what to avoid.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes and Noble.com
The Guide to Internet Job Searching, 2006-2007 Edition, Margaret Riley Dikel and Frances E. Roehm, VGM Career Horizons, with the Public Library Association, 2007 Demonstrates the best use of the Internet for a job search. Includes many web sites for job leads in specific fields. Updated every two years.
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