Because
finding a job is becoming more difficult in our ever-changing economy, many
people have rerouted their job searching techniques. Going out and looking for
a job can be an extremely stressful task. Searching takes time, energy, and
hard work. There are numerous websites that job seekers can use to view new job
openings in their geographical area and area of work to relieve some of that
stress. Many websites allow job seekers to post their résumé, make accessible
profiles, and network with as many people as possible.
Since the Internet’s popularity is
rising daily, people are becoming aware of the advantages of having everything
at their fingertips. This can be related to our topic job searching. Both job
seekers and the human resource professionals searching for qualified applicants
are beginning to use the Internet in their search. An article in The Hawaii International
Conference (Dafoulas, Nikolaou, Turega, 2003) states, “The
Internet offers a perfect environment for job seekers and companies searching
for hard-to-find employees.” Even though online job searching can be quite
convenient, it may not be the most realistic medium for some job seekers.
I am going to outline some
advantages of searching for a job using the Internet and provide a “how-to” so you
are successful in your search.
Advantages:
1.
Convenience. There’s no denying the convenience of
using the Internet to find a new job. There are no slacks to put on, no red
lights to go through, and no “first impression” to prepare for. By using the Internet
to search for jobs, you are not required to do anything but search.
2. Saving Money. Instead of driving all over town or
even out of state to make a contact for a new job, you are able to do that from
a computer. Traveling expenses are rapidly increasing due to gas prices. By
using the Internet for your search, you are eliminating that unnecessary cost.
3. Multiple
Employers. Human resource
professionals are becoming aware of the great amounts of people using the Internet
to secure a new job. Therefore, many more employers are posting their open
positions on career sites.
To begin an online job search, there
are a few things you will need to do so that you are fully prepared for the
long process. Because there will be no
face-to-face contact between you and the potential employers, you will need to
be extremely dedicated and ready to work. This process is quite difficult, so organization
is a much-needed personal trait that should be adopted. Being organized
maximizes your chances of hearing back from the employers. To help with
organization, create electronic resumes and cover letters for the employer’s convenience.
Many employers are beginning to request them electronically so that they can be
scanned for key words like “responsible for.”
Because there are so many unemployed people, there will have to be
something that sets you apart from others. This may mean customizing your
resume and cover letter with each separate application. This is where your
organization is most important. Should you get a call back from a job posting,
you want to be able to pull up the correct resume and cover letter for that
position.
Since nearly all employers request that
an application be filled out online, it is beneficial to save all of your
information to your computer. It is also smart to use some of the online tools
that are free to viewers. The online tools may include e-mail, profile type
websites such as: LinkedIn, Google Plus, blogs, and even social media sites. After
you have updated your cover letter and resume, it is time to begin searching.
You may find it helpful to search using some of the most popular job sites like
Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Craigslist.org, and many more. While using
those sites, you can narrow your search by geographical area, job type, job
name, compensation, and experience requirements. Most of those things would not
be discussed until a second or third interview with the employer. No matter
what site you choose to use, make sure you’re checking it daily. Employers
update their posts quite frequently due to their need of quickly filling open
positions.
Originally you used Facebook for
keeping in contact with friends and family, and now, it can be used for
networking and making lasting impressions. Although your Facebook is now
limited to what you post, making sure it is professional and acceptable by
employers it could be worth a potential position. This may not be the case for
everyone but, your profile may need a major revamp. By increasing your presence
online, you will attract more attention, especially if you are involved in
discussions about your related field. You can gain more online presence by becoming
part of LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be useful in many ways: keeping up with the
employers current events, checking job openings, networking with people of
potential employers, becoming familiar with professional speaking and “lingo.” If
you become familiar with the company and their issues, you will highly impress
them in the event of an interview.
If you are struggling with the amount
of time it is taking to prepare for an online job search, try using websites
that are designated to job search organization. These free sites like
JibberJobber.com, allow you to store all of your information in one place so
you feel less overwhelmed. So, for every job that you are applying for, you can
store all of the necessary information pertaining to it. If you are involved in
these types of sites, it is obvious to employers that you are actively
searching for work and shows dedication. If you’re going to use the Internet
for job searching, why not get the most out of it, right?
Now that you have the basics of
preparing your information and how to get involved in the World Wide Web for
your career search, I am hopeful that you quickly find the job you have been
waiting for. The process is long, yes. But the benefits of searching in this
particular way are reasonable and less stressful. If all of the steps I have
listed are followed correctly, you stay organized, and if you stay patient, you
will succeed.
Source
Georgios A. Dafoulas,Athanasios N.
Nikolaou, Mike Turega. (2003). E-services in the Internet Job Market . Hawaii
International Conference on System Sciences, 36, Retrieved from http://origin-www.computer.org.logon.lynx.lib.usm.edu/csdl/proceedings/hicss/2003/1874/03/187430075b.pdf
“Online Job Searching: Advantages and How To” discusses the benefits of searching for employment through the use of the internet. In the blog, online job searching is suggested as a solution to, as author Sophie Molaison states “our ever-changing economy.” Molaison begins to explain that people have began to change the way they search for employment and how these same people have resorted to finding work via the internet. She justifies the success of using the internet for job hunting with the statements, “Since the internet’s popularity is rising daily, people are becoming aware of the advantages of having everything at their fingertips.” Molaison goes on to justify her statements with three “advantages” of using the internet for searching for employment. She uses “convenience, saves money, and multiple employers” for persuasion that the internet is a good choice for finding work. When the logic of reasoning is applied to the answer of why Molaison would use these points to justify her belief, it is hard to disagree with her. Searching for employment opportunities online is convenient in the sense that you are clicking a button to apply avoiding any type of situations that could arise in public, such as discrimination of any sort. It also saves money because the internet is free and to access it requires lesser work. Originally, you would have to drive from point a to point b just to at the least inquire about job openings, but with internet job hunting you only need fingers and a computer. Lastly the idea of multiple employers is a major point to stress to anyone who ponders how to go about searching for work.
ReplyDeleteReasons listed by the US Department of State concur with Molaison’s idea of online job searching and the advantages:
• The Internet is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is particularly valuable for people who cannot job hunt during regular working hours or who are seeking employment in another geographic area or career field.
• Use of Internet information and resources is free.
• There are no geographic boundaries. A search can include any part of the United States or any other country.
• Using the Internet demonstrates leading-edge job skills that sets one apart from other job-seekers.
• Posting a resume on Internet sites provides maximum exposure with minimum effort.
The evidence that Molaison has provided as well as helpful tips are solid reasons to agree with her. The internet does poses the ability to help many find employment, despite how opinion based the statement can be. Molaison’s blog is a great read of advice and should be taken under consideration when job hunting.
Works Cited
Us Department of State. Using the Internet in the Job Search. Retrieved on July 13, 2013 from
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/2094.pdf
Now that we are fully aware of the advantages of online job searching, and how to do so, I am going to share some additional information with you regarding the steps you need to take to find the job you are searching for. These steps will inform you on how to get a job in today’s online job market.
ReplyDeleteFirst you are going to want to make sure you have your “brand” (Doyle, 2013). This would entail creating profiles and accounts on online social media, such as LinkedIn, Facebook…etc. You need to make sure your “brand” portrays you in a professional light. If your Facebook is not professionally based, you may want to think about shutting it down while you are applying for a job.
Next up, you are going to want to connect with the contacts that you have (Doyle, 2013). You should already have created profiles on networking sites, so this is your time to take advantage of them. Connect with anyone and everyone you know, because you never know who will be able to assist you, or possibly help you out with a reference.
At this time during the job hunt, a good idea would be to create a list of companies that you would like to work for. Make this list based on detailed research (Doyle, 2013). With this information, you are going to want to search those companies for any job opportunities they have available. Search engines are a great way to do this, and more information on those can be found in different areas throughout the blog above.
Once you have found a job that you are interested in, you need to take the time to write a targeted resume and cover letter for that position. This is where you are able to showcase what qualifications you have that link specifically to the job you are applying for. This way, the hiring manager will be able to see, in a glance, why and how you are the right person who qualifies for the job (Doyle, 2013).
Once you have created a brand for yourself, connected with your contacts, made a list of companies that you would potentially like to be employed by, and contacted those companies on opportunities, you should be all set to land that interview! Make sure to take the time to carefully evaluate what you are applying for, so there are no surprises if an interview does come your way.
Source
Doyle, A. (2013). How To Get A Job. In Ten Steps To Find A New Job. Retrieved July 19, 2013, from http://jobsearch.about.com/od/findajob/tp/tensteps.htm