How to Find a Job Using the Internet

This article provides helpful information regarding a virtual job search. You should combine these strategies in addition to networking with friends and family.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen and Paper
• Computer with Internet connection
• Digital video recorder (optional)

1. CREATE YOUR RESUME
   
   You should create your resume in a Word document. Bulleted resumes work best, both online and offline. (I will be writing an article on resume creation as well, so please keep a look out for it.)

2. SIGN UP ON JOB SITES
   
   The following sites are good job search sites: Monster, Career Builder, Guru, LinkedIn, Hot Jobs, Your Local Employment Security Commission, Local Online Newspaper Classifieds, Craigslist, Government Job Sites: Federal, State, County, and Local Government web sites, and Military sites. Be prepared to spend quite some time setting up your profile on these sites. Do not get lax, because an incomplete profile could cost you your dream job. Don't expect to do it all in one day. You may want to print this article out and cross off each site as you fully complete your profiles.

3. VIEW YOUR AREA'S EMPLOYER STATISTICS
   
   Look up your area's business listings. Search for businesses and visit their websites to see if there are any open positions. The best way to do this is visit the company's site and in the search box type "employment".

4. CREATE A VIDEO RESUME (OPTIONAL)
   
   Dress yourself in business attire and record a presentation of yourself to potential employers. Write out your script and practice it. Re-record yourself until you are satisfied with your presentation. In this "commercial" you are selling yourself. Remember to BE yourself. Post your video presentation on a video-sharing site such as You Tube. Be sure to include a link to it on all of your profiles.

5. SEND AN EMAIL BLAST
   
   Create a job search email to send to everyone in your address book. Design the email as a cover letter, explaining what type of employment you are searching for, what kind of company interests you most, and your experience/education. Be sure to attach your resume. If you have created your video presentation, provide a link to that as well.

6. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!
   
   If you have a MySpace, Facebook, or other such account, let your friends know of your job search. If you belong to any forums, modify your signature to include "Looking for a good job! Please see my video resume!" and provide a link to it. (Or hyperlink, of course.) In any electronic correspondence, provide a link to your video.

7. FOLLOW UP
   
   Keep a log of the companies you apply to, dates, who you communicated with, etc. When you apply for a job, wait a day or two then call the company to "check on your application". Ask if the position has been filled and if not, ask if the interview process has been started. If no contact number was provided, email them again, resume attached, with the same request as above. You want them to remember you. Even if you don't get the job, another position could come open, or the person they hired may not work out.

Tips & Warnings

• Large Career sites such as Monster and Career Builder have a lot of staffing agency postings. Visit those agencies websites and create a profile there as well.
• Craigslist has been known for scam artists. Do not send your personal information until you can confirm who it is going to. Send a test email to the email address provided and ask them to please respond to you. Let them know you want to verify they are a legitimate company prior to sending them your personal information.

Resources

• Monster
• Career Builder
• LinkedIn
• Guru
• Craigslist
• HotJobs

[RiteNow]

on 11/16/2008 Thanks. Helpful hints. *****

[iamageniuster]

on 11/8/2008 Great article. Now I'll try to find a job using this method.