Online job searching has become one of the premier ways of finding a career, and new technologies allow searches for job openings as they occur. Companies will now recruit applicants online, which allows them a much wider range geographically. Many career-hunting sites allow applicants to submit their résumés directly to the companies, making the application process much easier. Most search pages even provide helpful information on relocating after being accepted for the job. There are many ways to find a career, a job, and a future, just by looking online, but some aspects of the Internet are not the best bet for career searching.

ONLINE RECRUITING

Recruiting applicants online is a major tool for companies, and there is much competition between companies looking for potential employees. However, without following through on the application with a phone call or interview, many applicants are discovering that online job searches are not the answer. Only about 4% of web users found their job online, meaning that recruiting online is not the only way for companies to hire employees (careerjournal.com). Companies in large job markets are still prowling the Internet for employees because it saves money and time. However, executive positions are not easy to find online, and there is no substitute for networking, research, and applying in person.

SUBMITTING RESUMES

The seemingly most appealing reason to use online career hunting is also the most dangerous and the least personal for employers: the online résumé. Technology now allows a potential employee to post his or her résumé in a spot where it will be seen by thousands of companies all at once (careercast.com). There are sites online where an applicant can submit his or her résumé to a search engine for anyone in the general public to access, or to a private site where only companies who pay a fee can access it (careerjournal.com). However, once the document is submitted to these sites, it is open for access, and may cause more trouble than it is worth. Companies may find it and use it for an example, or simply to up the number of résumés they have accessible. Posting a résumé may be pointless without experience or credentials, since the companies plow through thousands of them daily (collegejournal.com). A hard copy of the résumé is still the best way to apply. Web searches provide more than just searching and applying for jobs, they are a resource for all aspects of starting a career.

JOB RESOURCES ON THE WEB

There are many resources available online for job applicants. If a job creates the need to relocate, there are guides on the career sites to help prepare the new employee. The web also provides access to networking in a specific career field. Networking allows the prospective worker to make himself known throughout the job market and make an impression on managers of the companies (careercast.com). There are even sites that provide advice for negotiating salaries, interviewing, and changing careers. It is a good idea to use the resources on the Internet when looking for job information, but as for the applying, most companies look for a more personal application.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONLINE JOB SEARCHING

Many people assume that applying for jobs online will be quick and useful, but in actuality, the effort does not compare to simply applying in person. Often, companies do not have web sites, and do not check online applications. It is preferred that workers apply in person for most positions. Looking for companies online is a good way to track them down, but applying is best done on a more personal basis. Also, time should not be wasted looking for jobs online. Normal business working hours are best spent on the phone, e-mail, or interviewing for jobs, rather than surfing the internet and hoping to find an opening there (collegejournal.com). The Internet is a tool and a guide, and it is not the only way to find a career, and not always the best way.

SOURCES

Careerjournal.com from CNBC
Careercast.com
Collegejournal.com from The Wall Street Journal
San Diego Job Link from Sign-On San Diego