...and where are you in all of this?
You see I’m really getting tired of seeing and hearing those Monster and Career Builder ads that claim to be the answer to your employment needs. Ok I’m going to say it, “YES the Internet is a great source for job search,” but only if you use it proactively. Posting your resume alone is not going to do the job for you. That would be passive job search and that’s not going to work for anyone today. And all of the advertising, about employers waiting for your resume and how they will find you, can be misleading. Now I understand I might be a little hard on these sites so just so you know, I welcome your views. I want you to tell me I’m wrong and that you have some wonderful experiences to share. I will also be the first one to applaud if you have gotten success by posting your resume on any of the major sites. This is how we all learn so I encourage you to write. And In fact I would really like to know your secret as to what has made you stand out so we can benefit by your success.
And let’s talk about “standing out.” The fact is that when it comes to using the Internet it really all depends on visibility. And job search today, during these most trying economic times, necessitates the use of some of the most aggressive, creative and relentless job search techniques we’ve ever known. I fashion it like a new business owner who is trying to realize a profit too early. Instead he needs patience, perseverance, the drive to work hard at the process and most importantly he must give it time.
Here’s the deal. Monster and others are in the business of creating databases. Of course they post jobs, however their success is really based on providing companies, for a price, access to their vast databases in which they search for qualified people. These databases are populated by you and yes that means companies from all over the world have the opportunity to see your resume. But, considering the numbers of candidates who’ve posted, well that creates some pretty startling competition and very low odds that you will be found. Sure, people do get jobs via this process but who has the time to sit around and wait for the call. Instead, be smart, post your resume on any site you’d like, and while you are waiting be proactive and aggressive about your search. You can even do this on those sites by creating a search agent. These agents send you jobs that might fit your requirements and then it is up to you to respond. You should also be using these sites for research purposes and to find companies that you might want to work for. Several things are definite about these sites, first these companies do exist and second they provide enormous amounts of free information. Use this information wisely.
So I believe the answer is yes, the Internet is a fantastic tool for job search. The resources are endless and the possibilities are exciting. However the real issue centers around the instructions that didn’t come with the Internet when we got it. There are way too many people out there who don’t really understand how to use it to its fullest potential. And though I’ve laid out a few ideas here my suggestion is that you consult a career coach. Someone who can help you utilize all of the tools we have today to make your job searches more efficient and effective. And these days we all need as much support as we can get.
For more information about Career Coaching and the benefits it provides in a down job market contact Jan Mark at careergrapevine.com
Keep searching.
