Wading through the Web
The task of finding a job has evolved dramatically within the last few decades with the emergence of both social media and various job-posting websites such as Indeed, Monster, and more. No longer does one simply waltz into a place of business with a resume in hand, ready to be hired on the spot to begin working the same day. With the ubiquity of internet usage, we must now rely on our web-navigating skills to find jobs that interest us.
First, we’ll start with some general job-searching tips that you can use both online and in person. After all, some employers might appreciate an in-person application.
- Consider your interests – Identify activities you like to do and the challenges they offer.
- Assess your skills – Evaluate school, volunteer, work, or leisure experiences.
- Research occupations – Develop a list of possible careers based on your particular combination of skills and interests. O*NET provides tremendous online resources to do this.
- Devote time to your job search – Expect to spend several hours a day looking for a job.
- Be patient finding a job – A thorough job search is hard work. The more money you expect to earn, the longer it will likely take to find a job.
- Involve friends and family – They are a great source for support, assistance, and encouragement. Also, with the widespread use of social media, they can help get the word out that you are looking for work while also keeping an eye out for job postings that might interest you.
- Conduct field interviews – Meet with people in the field you are interested in pursuing.
- Use the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
- Visit your local ADWS office.
- Take advantage of training seminars.
- Prepare a resume and cover letter.
- Consult www.arjoblink.arkansas.gov, classified ads, and other nationwide job-search websites.
Along with these general tips, there are also some basic, web-specific guidelines you should consider when searching for a job.
Use the internet and social media effectively
The internet and social media can help and hinder your job search. Your local Arkansas Workforce Center can help you stay current on websites and other web-based resources.
Discover Arkansas
An excellent starting point for your job search is the Discover Arkansas website. Here you will find a thorough supply of information on Arkansas’ labor market.
Strategy
Develop a research plan before you begin looking for information. Decide in advance how much time you are willing to invest. Your search topic will influence where you look. Knowing roughly where your information might be found will help in developing your plan. If your searches are regularly coming up with broad occupations, you might try to narrow your search by using specific keywords related to your desired career.
Bookmarking
If you find something on target with your goal, bookmark the site, and come back to it. File and maintain relevant information. Discard information which has little or no immediate value. Avoid temptation to bookmark sites without description; that way you stay organized and know which bookmarked pages go with which jobs. Along with bookmarking, it is also possible to set up email alerts. Some websites allow you to save job searches as an RSS feed, making it easy for you to apply to jobs as soon as they are posted.
Goals
Have a goal and stay on track. Remember that surfing the web is not the same as using the internet for research. While it might be tempting to wander into the vast world beyond the confines of your job search, try to maintain focus on the task at hand.
Be careful
In general, when using the internet, you always have to be on the lookout for scams. This also rings true when going about searching for a job online. Be sure to use reputable services to avoid scams that ask for personal information such as your social security number. Also beware of job postings that ask you to “buy into” the company before you become an employee. Keep an eye on small details surrounding job postings that might indicate that posting is simply an advertisement.
Be present
Post your resume on job boards and other job-search websites. By doing this, employers can find you. Beware that everyone can see where you have posted, including your current employer, although you do often have the option to keep that resume anonymous.
Network
There are online communities everywhere on the internet, including those related to the job you are looking for. Go find those communities – often in the form of forums, social media pages, trade associations, blogs, and other professional groups – and communicate with those people in order to make new connections and gain new insights in the industry.
Be qualified
Try to only apply to jobs for which you are qualified. Many companies use automated services that will reject resumes or candidates if they don’t meet their qualifications before they even get to an actual person to review, so you could just be wasting your time.
Documentation
When searching online for a job, the sheer volume of job applications submitted can be overwhelming and difficult to keep track of. To make it easier on yourself, organize your job search and resources. Record the places you’ve applied to, people you’ve talked with, and the responses you have received.
This can be as simple as keeping progress notes on a Word document, or in a physical notebook if you prefer. You can even go as far as documenting the date of contact, names, telephone numbers, available positions, etc. It’s really up to you and which system makes the most sense to you.
A job lead form will assist in creating a database of people and companies. You can use this system to keep a record of names, job titles, phone numbers, emails and mailing addresses, and any other important information you glean from your daily job-search contacts.
Now that you are well-versed in searching for jobs on the internet, go out there and find the right career for you!
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