Morris County Library > Reference > Internet job search tips
Internet job search tips
The Internet is
- THE place to find jobs in all places and professions
- a convenient way to apply for jobs
- a great place to research potential employers
- an employment service...you do the work
- completely confidential...think twice about sharing personal information
- a substitute for traditional job search practices...the 20% rule
Leads
1. There is no one comprehensive Internet site that lists all available jobs.2. There is no single source to identify employers offering specific benefits etc.
3. Every traditional job lead has a viable counterpart on the Internet.
- Monster.com--full-service
- NJ Dept. Labor One-Stop Job Search--job ads from several sites (aggregator)
- NJ Civil service--online only, not all municipalities participate
- Newspaper ads--classifieds in online papers & paper papers are different
- Trade journals--profession/industry-specfic opps, mostly management
- Company listings--example: WholeFoods
- Social media: LinkedIn & Twitter
- New Jersey Staffing Alliance--employment agencies by industry specialty
- Job fairs--meet dozens of potential employers in one place
Which online job site is best for me?
- Free is the best price...skip sites requiring money & examine all options before paying for "enhanced features."
- The bigger (number of employers & jobs), the better.
- Industry/profession-specific sites offer more opportunities for specialists than "full-service" sites.
- Social media sites (LinkedIn, FaceBook) for identifying personal contacts within a company or industry.
Rules of the road:
- Always select "advanced search"...take advantage of all database options
- Always run "keyword" searches (rather than guided/menu search)...maximize efficiency
- When you find a good job search site, save it....bookmark or favorites
- Create an Internet Job search log: Date, site checked, jobs applied/resumes sent. Try to avoid applying for the same job twice.
- About salary surveys
- Trust your gut...if the job site/posting seems "fishy" skip it.
Practical tips
- Establish a separate e-mail account for your job search. Lynne.Olver@gmail.com is more appealing to potential employers than IHATEMONDAYS@aol.com
- If you list your telephone number, check your answering machine.
Is the message professional and clear? - Google yourself. Other people have your name too. See what your next employer will be seeing.
- If you don't have a computer or your Internet goes down? All public libraries in Morris County offer free, high-speed Internet connections with MS Office. Free wireless too!
Career Central...jobs, career services, salaries, e-resumes