How to get job alerts for your job search from Internet search engines like SimplyHired, Indeed, JuJu, and USAJobs

As part of your job search strategies, the Internet is a valuable asset that you should use on a daily basis. But, instead of going to individual companies' websites, try setting up job alerts on a variety of job boards. In this article I will show you how to set up alerts on some incredible sites, including one to find a job in working for the ultimate boss -- President Barack Obama.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet access

1. 

   Before you start this process, I strongly recommend that you set up a special job-hunting email address separate and apart from your personal email address. Think about it. Do you want potential employers sending emails to you at "Loverboy" or "Cheerleadergirl"? Of course not. I recommend that you set up an email address using your name on AOL or GMAIL or YAHOO or whatever email service you want. Then, on to the search engines.

2. 

   SIMPLYHIRED -- the website http://www.simplyhired.com is a great job search engine for job searches. At the time I am writing this article the site indicates it has almost 3 million jobs listed! The simplest way to set up an alert on SimplyHired is to enter a search term or terms for the type of job you want, and enter your own home zip code. The search engine lists jobs in a fairly large radius. Then, at the top of the middle column, click on "Get email alerts for this search." A drop down box allows you to enter your email address. After you enter the address, click on submit. SimplyHired then sends you an email entitled "confirm job search alerts subscription." Click on "confirm alert" and you are all set! Every day a new job comes up on SimplyHired that meets your search criteria, you will receive an email.

3. 

   INDEED.COM -- this site works just like Simply Hired. Go to http://www.indeed.com. The simplest way to set up an alert on Indeed to enter a search term or terms for the type of job you want, and enter your own home zip code. The search engine lists jobs in a fairly large radius. Then, at the top of the middle column, click on "Get email alerts for this search." A drop down box allows you to enter your email address. After you enter the address, click on submit. SimplyHired then sends you an email entitled "confirm job search alerts subscription." Click on "confirm alert" and Indeed wants you to enter a password (write it down so you remember) so you can manage your alerts. A screen will appear showing you all your alerts. You are all set! Every day a new job comes up on Indeed that meets your search criteria, you will receive an email.

4. 

   JuJu.com -- This website (http://www.job-search-engine.com/) is like Indeed and Simply Hired. The simplest way to set up an alert on JuJu to enter a search term or terms for the type of job you want, and enter your own home zip code. The search engine lists jobs in a fairly large radius. Then, at the top right hand of the page, enter your email and click on "Save alerts." JuJu then sends you an email entitled "confirm job search alerts subscription." Click on "confirm alert" and you're set. Every day JuJu will send an email that meets your search criteria.

5. 

   USAJOBS -- what better job these days than a job with the United States Government! Remember, when you work for the US Government, your boss is ultimately President Obama.

   Especially with the stimulus packages recently passed by Congress, your government is hiring! Start with going to http:/www.usajobs.gov. It is quite a website. They don't use the term job alert -- they call it a search agent. You can create a search agent by running a job search and selecting the "Save this Search and email me jobs" link at the top and at the bottom of the job search results page. But you will have to set up an account. That is why this one is different from Indeed or Simply Hired.

   From the main USAJOBS page, under the title Search Jobs there are two boxes, one to enter job title or keywords, and one to enter location (by name of city and state or by zip code). You may have to try this a couple of times, refining the key words to get what you want. Also, when the first search comes up, you can limit the radius of the search (say you only want to commute 10 miles from your zip code). Then, in the right-hand corner under the seal of the Office of Personnel Management, click on "Save this search and email me jobs!" From there you will have to set up an account.

   TIP -- be sure if you are a veteran to enter your veteran's preference.

   TIP -- if you already work for the United States government enter your eligibility.

   TIP -- A job alert on USAJOBS only send newly-posted jobs. You can set parameters for jobs, though.

6. MONSTER.COM -- For those of you who wonder, because they have heard of this site, this search engines does not appear to have emailed job alerts.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be discouraged if the same jobs show up on the search engine alerts -- often there are new ones and not each engine finds the same jobs.

• Good luck!