How to Conduct an Effective Online Job Search

There are some important things to remember when conducting an online job search.

Using the internet is essential today when job hunting, but there are some things to remember when conducting an online job search in order to be effective and successful.

Instructions

1. Remember that there are more jobs listed online than just what you find at moster, hotjobs, and craigslist. Many industries have specific websites that have job forums and boards. So use those keywords when doing an internet search, such as "accounting jobs" or "payroll jobs" rather than simply typing in "jobs." You might be surprised at the hidden sites you find with jobs listed.

2. Many companies have jobs listed on their own website rather than using job boards. You can easily do a local search for companies in your area and then check their own site. Make sure you follow their diretions exactly when it comes to responding, whether it's online, via email, or with an actual hard copy of your resume.

3. Keep a list of all the sites you visit along with your user I.D. and passwords. It's very unprofessional to respond to the same job twice, but these sites keep records for you if you use a specific I.D. Keep a record on an Excel spreadsheet or separate piece of paper with the website name, user I.D., password, and even notes if necessary about what jobs you've found and so on.

4. Remember that just because you're responding online doesn't mean you should be less than professional. Never use the abbreviations you use during texting your friends but act as if you're composing a professional letter. Always start emails with "Dear Sir" or "Dear M'am" or more preferably, the person's name ("Dear Mr. Smith"). Make sure your signature on your email account is professional and remove cute sayings, nicknames, and so on.

5. If possible, save your resume as a PDF file. Make sure you name the resume with your first and last name rather than just "resume." So, it should be named "Smith, Jane" or "Jane Smith." This will make it easier for the hiring agent to file it away and find it as well without them having to rename it themselves.