Finding a job online. How do I get started?

by Charlie Giammattei
(Conshohocken, PA)

I found your site through Google and am wondering where I should go to get started on my job hunt.

Great question! You should be exploring a few different sources for job opportunities on the web:

1. Niche job boards. These boards are highly targeted to their audience. If you post your resume to a niche board, you'll reach a targeted audience of employers who are looking for people in your industry or functional specialty.


2. Large boards, like Monster or CareerBuilder; job search engines, like Simply Hired and Indeed. These sources have thousands of jobs, but employers who post here receive hundreds of responses - many that are not qualified. They need to wade through the clutter to find good candidates. It's easy to miss a good candidate when response is overwhelming. Resume databases on these sites require an employer with good boolean search skills to find truly qualified candidates. Again, it's easy for your background to be missed because of a poorly constructed search string.


3. Social networking sites. I recommend setting up a profile on Linked In, and then joining some groups related to your specialty. You can let the group know you're in a job search. Linked In also has a good career section.


4. Career listings on company websites, specifically companies you would like to work for. Check out these websites - but network your way in. Don't apply over the internet!

Charlie, one final note. If you're on Facebook or My Space, make sure that you don't post anything that you would not want a potential employer to see. Employers these days are looking at social networking sites as a way to check references. Make sure that your information can pass this test.

Cindy McGeever