Best and Worst Places to Job Hunt Online
Finding a job is hard and finding the right job is even harder, especially with the condition of today’s job market. Gone are the days of walking into a restaurant, a retail store, or an office with your resume in hand looking for a job. Of course, that is still an option but the majority of locations will tell you to fill out an application online.
The internet is how we conduct business today and it is also the prime location to try to acquire a job. However, there are just too many websites advertising that their website offers a quick and easy way to find a job. Are in-store applications or drop-ins really a way of the past? Can social media networks help in the job hunt? And what are the best places online to look for a job?
Are all the Jobs really online?
Most companies tend to search for employees strictly online now, whether it is through job searching databases or simply through online applications via their own website. Visiting the location can still be incredibly helpful, especially for those that feel they fare better in –person, but most places prefer you to apply or, at the very least, contact them online. Posts on websites like Craigslist will even tell you if the location prefers in-person visits but to find out if there is a position available it is best to check on the internet.
Can Social Media Help with the Job Hunt?
Yes and no. Posting on your personal Facebook (Twitter, Tumblr, etc.) that you need a job will most likely not help but keeping an eye on the company you wish to get a job with may be fruitful.
For those that wish to use social media networks to build careers, getting a profile at LinkedIn may be your best option. It can help you build professional relationships and make further contacts. A LinkedIn network can be a fine resource for contacting those in your field who may know about some job leads.
The Best Job Hunting Sites
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Monster.com has been a successful destination for both employees and employers since 1994. It has one of the largest job search databases on the internet and the ability to post your resume for employers to find you. It also offers career advice and has a tool for researching companies.
Careerbuilder.com is one of the oldest job search sites on the internet. It has millions of posting and more than a fair share of employers looking for potential employees. Similar to Monster, it breaks down your job search to keywords, locations, and specific categories. Although it does have a fair share of spam and scam on it, so be wary.
Craigslist.org is not only useful for finding great deals or upcoming events but also jobs. The job board on Craigslist is broken down through city and has a multitude of categories for you to search for a job in, or you could even do a general “all jobs” search. The key to finding a job on Craigslist though is to check often and research the company doing the posting as much as possible. For as many great opportunities there are on Craigslist, there are also swarms of scams.
Indeed.com is a search engine specifically for jobs and can be more than useful for those that are tired of doing their own scouring. It is a meta-search engine that searches job sites, newspapers, and company career pages. It is the best place to look for new opportunities in a proactive way. Unlike Monster and Careerbuilder it doesn’t offer an option to post your resume and wait for someone to contact you.
The Worst Job Hunting Sites
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HotJobs is very similar to both Monster and Career Builder as a job searching and resume posting engine. However, it tends to have fewer postings than the other two and most on there are simply reposted from those other sites. It doesn’t have as much clout and doesn’t offer the extra perks that Monster does.
Craigslist.org alternatively is also one of the worst places to search for a job online. So many of the postings are viable but many are simply not what they say there are. There isn’t much transparency to the postings, which at times can be a huge timewaster.
Dave Landry Jr. is researcher and finance manager who frequently contributes to National Debt Relief in order to assist those in financially difficult times. He hopes you enjoy this article, and wishes you luck in your next job hunt!
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