Working the Job Search

Welcome to the How to Find a Job Class! This week, we'll move from writing resumes and cover letters to getting started on your job search. To recap, at this point you should have an idea of what type of work you are interested in and you should have a resume and cover letter ready to send out.
First of all, do not go directly online. I know that it appears to be fast and simple to use the Internet to find and apply for jobs. On the surface, it is. However, the Internet still accounts for only a small percentage of new hires. The Internet should certainly be a component of your job search, just not the only one.

Networking
Networking remains the top way to find a job, followed by the newspaper classifieds, and it really does work. Develop contacts - friends, family, college alumni, people in associations anyone who might help generate information and job leads. Check with your friends on Facebook and your LinkedIn contacts. You can take a direct approach and ask for job leads or try a less formal approach and ask for information and advice. Contact everyone you know. You may be surprised by the people they know.

Job Search Engines
Next it's time to tackle the job boards. Before you do, put together a list of "key words" from your resume. You'll use these to narrow down your searches so you don't get overwhelmed with postings. Start out using by using the jobs search engines. It's like one-stop shopping - these sites let you search many of the top jobs databases at once. Using them will save time searching the individual jobs databases; of course browsing the databases can sometimes be very rewarding.

Job Banks
The next step is to move on to the major jobs databases to see if they have positions that meet your interests. Why do you need to do this when you've already generated lots of leads? You'll be able to search by keyword, location, career field and other criteria. Many of the jobs databases will email you new job listings as they come in. You can also post your resume and apply directly for positions online. Finally, keep track of the positions you've applied to and where you have submitted your resume. It's important to be prepared when the phone starts ringing to set up interviews.

About Guide to Job Searching http://jobsearch.about.com jobsearch.guide@about.com

by Alison Doyle