Finding the Best Ways to Conduct a Job Search Online - CareerAlley

Finding the Best Ways to Conduct a Job Search Online - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Maybe youre on the job market for the first time or youve been on the job hunt for awhile but are looking for strategies to shake up your approach. Whatever your situation, weve got you covered. Here are 5 things every job searcher can do to make their process easier and dramatically increase their chances for success. Set Up a LinkedIn Profile: Depending on what field youre in, a LinkedIn profile might have replaced a traditional resume. Either way, LinkedIn is the place to be for professional networking. A business-oriented social networking site, LinkedIn allows users to do two primary functions: showcase their experience through a resume that can also display pictures, link to websites and more, and easily manage an entire professional network. This can be the hub of an effective job search. Its also safe to assume any employers will checkout LinkedIn during the interview process. Invest the time to set up your profile and make sure that youre connected with family and friends, former bosses and co-workers, and colleagues youve met through professional events like conferences. Get Your Resume on Job Sites: Sometimes we tend to view job sites as active assets in a job search: we go on, we search, and we apply to jobs. But there are passive aspects of job sites as well that can streamline your search. By uploading your resume and optimizing it for search keywords related to your field, recruiters and potential employers that are searching for candidates can find your name. For example, if youre a programmer make sure that your resume mentions all the languages youre familiar with. Uploading your resume has an added bonus; most sites allow you to use your standard resume when applying for jobs, which can save you a lot of time during the search process. more Job Search Sites Find Job Sites in Your Industry and City: When you think of job search sites, you might think of the major aggregators like Monster.com or Indeed. These are great sites to have in your job search arsenal. Often, employers looking for candidates in specific geographies or fields will use more personalized sites. If you live in Boston, for example, its worth visiting Boston.com as part of your job site explorations. If you work in non-profits, check out Idealist.org. Want to work at a university? Check out Higheredjobs.com. Are you in advertising? Make sure to visit Mediabistro.com. You get the idea: invest the time to figure out what Set up Job Alerts: Many sites offer a time saving feature that allows you to set up and save searches for common terms to your account. Lets say youre an administrative professional and you visit sites each day or each week searching for administrative assistant, office manager, and executive assistant. Instead of spending that valuable time repeating the same activity, sign up for an account on your target sites and set up saved searches. Usually sites will email you new jobs as they become available, or daily or weekly summaries depending on your preferences. Connect with other social networks: Several apps on Facebook such as BranchOut and GlassDoor allow you to use your connections on that social network in your job hunt. Social media can be useful for your job search in a number of ways. Utilizing smart tools like these, as well as actively networking with other people in your field can be a key way to opening up new opportunities. more The Dos and Donts of Social Networking If youre on the job market, make sure youre making the most of your digital search time: it can help you quickly land in a job youre excited about! About the author: Michelle Lim has written for Chicago Luxury Beds for years. When shes not consumed with her writing, you can find her reviewing designer bedding and keeping up with the latest designer trends online. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook