If you're looking for a job, the Internet can be your best friend. Here are eight ways it can help you find the position you’re seeking.
1. Online Job Boards
It has never been easier to find job listings online. Many job board sites are available on the internet, and they have a wide variety of listings. Still, it can be helpful to narrow your focus a bit. The Balance Careers has rounded up a list of the 10 online job search sites it deems the best.1 This may be a good starting point, but if it doesn't help you find what you're looking for, there are plenty more options, with many specializing in a particular field like medicine or construction.
2. Résumé Posting
The internet also has many sites where you can post your résumé for potential employers to find. If you don't already have a résumé, online tools can help you create one. Then post it to as many sites as possible to cast a wide net.
3. Remote Work Opportunities
The beauty of the Internet is that you can potentially find remote positions that don't require you to be in the location where an employer is based. Along with cloud-based solutions and communication tools, it allows jobseekers to perform jobs from home or in a remote location, either in the US or abroad. If this is the type of job you seek, you have many options. If you have language skills, specialized knowledge, or experience with other countries, you may be able to find a great international remote position.
4. Local Resources
However, you may have more luck starting with businesses that are close to home. While many employers offer remote work opportunities, many are likely to want you to physically come to work at least part of the time. Check out the website of your local newspaper, local job boards, the social media accounts of local businesses, etc.
5. Email
Email is still a useful tool for seeking employment. It's a great way to contact people with whom you already have a relationship. It can also be used to reach out to a company of interest to introduce yourself and gauge their interest in hiring. Even if they aren't hiring at the present, you may still be able to make useful contacts that can benefit you in the future. Remember to be authentic and respectful. Don't send too many emails if you don't get a response, or you may come off as desperate.
6. Social Media
Social media can connect you with people who may be in the position to help you get hired, or at least give you leads. It can also help you represent yourself to potential employers. Try to make your social media accounts as professional as possible when you're in the market for a new job and delete any posts that may cause controversy or show you in a negative light.
"Don’t try to maintain too many social media accounts," advises Caroline Castrillon.2 "That will make it difficult for you to keep them up to date. The general rule is to focus on one or two for your job search, with LinkedIn being the primary one. Confirm that your contact information is accurate and that your LinkedIn profile matches the details on your résumé. If you have social channels that you've been ignoring for a while, like a Twitter or Facebook account you haven’t used in three years, this might be a good time to remove them. Let recruiters know you’re open to new job opportunities by changing that setting on LinkedIn. If you specify the types of positions that you’re interested in and your preferred location, your profile will appear in search results when recruiters look for suitable job candidates."
7. Search Engines
A simple Google (or your search engine of preference) search can point you in useful directions if you enter the right search terms. You can use a search to find new job sites to review, companies in your area, information about companies of interest, average salaries and benefits, and other job-related information. To have a more productive job search, get as much information as possible.
8. Personal Website
A personal website can be an effective tool for helping you get an interview or getting ahead of competing candidates. Aja Frost at The Muse spoke with six hiring managers about the role personal websites can play in the job search process.3 The majority indicated that the intro is the most important part. An intro should sum up who you are and what value you can offer to an employer.
Although the intro is important, but it's not the only part employers are looking at. If you can point to existing work or accomplishments that can demonstrate your value, you should include that information. "After hiring managers get a high-level sense of who you are and what you do, they search for proof you do those things well," Frost explains.
The Internet has given us many tools that jobseekers of older generations just couldn’t access. Use them to your advantage to help you get your ideal job.
1. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-best-job-websites-2064080
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2021/03/24/how-to-use-social-media-to-job-search/
The information provided is presented for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal or business advice. Any views expressed in this article may not necessarily be those of Nevada State Bank. Nevada State Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC