How to Use The Internet in Your Job Search

Using the Internet in your job search is not necessarily easy. It crosses a variety of services and information resources. No single list, network, or resource will contain everything you need for a fully effective online job search.

What Makes Up The Complete Job Search?
Many people believe they are hard at work looking for work when they religiously scan the Sunday Classifieds. Unfortunately, what they are really doing is expending 100% of their effort on only 25% of the possibilities.

A Real Job Search has 4 Main Activities:

1. Reviewing job leads
2. Researching and contacting employers about possible opportunities
3. Networking
4. Having a resume ready to hand out as opportunities present themselves.

And Now it has 2 Alternatives -- Off-line and On

Review Job Leads
Print Newspapers / Journals / etc.
VS
Online Job Banks / Recruiters / Newspapers / Journals / Associations / etc.

Research and Contact Employers
Print Telephone Books / Business Directories / Employer Pamphlets
VS
Online Telephone Books / Business Directories / Association Links / Industry sites / Employer Webpages / etc.

Networking
Meeting with anyone you can through meetings / friends / colleagues (a.k.a. Pressing the Flesh )
VS
Participating in appropriate Mailing Lists / Newsgroups / Chat Forums as well as turning OFF the computer to make calls and attend meetings (a.k.a. Face Time)

Prepared Resume Ready to Post or Email
Having a nicely designed copy as well as scannable copy printed and ready to mail or present on demand
VS
A plain text copy ready to post or email on demand.

However you approach your job search, you cannot put all your eggs in only one of these available eight baskets. A successful job search means using a combination of as many baskets as possible in different ways. While you are the only one who can determine your level of comfort with any given basket, you really must use at least one basket from each main area (job leads, networking, research, and the resume) to get the best results from your efforts. Why?

* If you don't have your well-written resume in plain text, it won't be easy to send in response to ads found online nor to email to new contacts.
* If you don't attend local networking meetings, you could be missing a chance to meet the best person positioned to help you with your search.
* If you don't look at the jobs posted online you could be missing lots of local opportunities you've missed in other places.
* If you don't shut off the computer, how can you call employers and speak with them about possibilities and convince them how much they need you?