Job search websites are one of the most visited websites in the world. These websites help you in finding the perfect job openings that you are looking for over the internet. Based on the criteria such as location and job type, the job search websites lists the job openings. Job search website is a search tool that explores various job opportunities that are available in a particular company. They have become the fastest mode of recruiting a candidate.

Conventional job searching methods such as visiting every company and handing the resume are not only time consuming but also are costly. The main advantage is that you get all the recruiting companies and agencies at one place. The job search website also sends you mails or messages on your mobile phone when your skill sets and experience match a job opening in a particular company. These are called as job alerts.

Mostly before using job search websites, you are supposed to become a member of that job site. Once you become a member, you are allowed to post your resume. The biggest advantage of posting resume electronically to job search websites is convenience. You can post your resume from home. Applying for a job in a particular company is just a mouse click away. If your resume is selected, your are called for an interview otherwise they send a reply mail stating that your job skills do not match their requirements.
 
Job search websites will also give wide exposure to your resume. Hundreds of recruiters can view your resume and decide whether the skill sets match a particular job. Thus chances of getting an interview call increases manifold. Job search web sites also speed up the recruitment process. They have become the favorite destination for recruiters to search the right candidate as many candidates post their resume on them. Using job search websites you can directly apply to various companies.
 
Job search websites take special care in making your job search easy. These websites also tell you the name, email address of the person to meet in case you are selected for the interview. Jobs are being daily added on job search websites. That is why the search results may differ everyday. Now days, recruiters use job search websites to hire candidates. Job search website is the cheapest and easiest way of finding a job. They also provide job-searching tips that will speed up the job search process. Many placement agencies have also come up with their own websites wherein you can log on and post your resume.

Recruiters find these sites convenient as they can view many profiles at one place. One more advantage is that recruiter can see the resume whenever he or she wants. The resume is available 24/7. Job search web sites also give good customer service in case you have any queries. Most websites do not charge anything for membership. Therefore, the next time, you want to search a new job then you know where to go.

When you want a job, there is no need to visit every company and post the resume. All you have to do is register yourself and be a member of a job site. Previously job searches were considered a tedious task but due to job sites, job searches have become an easy task. There are several jobs available on the job sites. A job site is nothing but a database of various jobs that are advertised for various positions. All you have to do is specify the category of your job, the area and city in which you are looking for the job. The job site then lists the possible jobs according to your category. It also lists the company in which the jobs are available. A job site gives detail information about the job vacancies available in a particular organization. Thus, a job site is a convenient way of searching a job.

The main advantage of job sites is that you can search jobs from the house. You can simply post your resume to any job site and apply for job using just a mouse click. There is no need to move from one place to another in search of job and waste money on transport. Job sites have become an ideal job search tool for job seekers. You may be located in any part of the world. All you have to do is log on to that particular job site for searching job. If a job matches your profile, the job site sends a mail in your mailbox
           
Conventional job searches have taken a backstage. More and more people are using internet for searching jobs. The sole objective of a job site is to bring recruiters and job seekers together. A job site is like a job resource centre that has links to hundreds of jobs. When you post your resume on a job site, your resume will be viewed by thousands of employers and recruiters daily. Recruiters log on to job sites everyday for hiring people.

A job site simplifies job search process. Some job sites also provide some job searching tips that are very helpful in finding a job. Indeed job sites are a time saver. It is the fastest way of getting a new job. Most job sites provide excellent customer service that patiently listen and give answers to your queries. Once you post your resume, the job site takes care of finding the job. In some cases, after posting your resume, you may immediately get a call for an interview from several recruiters. Job searches on the internet have been rising rapidly, thanks to the number of jobsites available today.
       
For recruiters job sites are cost effective, as posting a job on a site does not cost much.
Most of the job sites that are available are user friendly and do not require indepth knowledge of computers for posting a vacancy advertisement.

A job site may have your dream job that is just a click away.

Job Search Engines – What Are The Best Job Search Engines?

Times are definitely tough economically and many of us have either lost our jobs or are in danger of losing them. Looking for new jobs can be a challenge. Local newspapers seem to have smaller and smaller ‘help wanted’ sections and rarely carry listings for opportunities that are beyond your local area. The solution could be job search engines.

What are Job Search Engines/Websites?

Job search websites are massive databases of available job listings which can be searched through by job seekers like you. The jobs can be searched in a wide variety of ways, including by location, job title, company name, experience required, field or industry, and more. You can even combine criteria to help you pin down your search more specifically.

These online search engines are even better because they are usually free to use. Many also provide additional services, such as job advice and resume posting for no additional charge.

The Pros and Cons of Job Search Engines

Job search engines have plenty of advantages. For example, you can search through new listings 24/7. You don’t have to wait for the morning paper to scour the ads. Plus, employers can post new jobs 24/7 so you’re more likely to see fresh opportunities daily instead of in local papers.

Another benefit is the searching capabilities. You don’t have to browse through all of the listings to find the ones that are best suited for you. Plus, most job search engines allow you to customize your search requirements and have daily or weekly job updates sent directly to your email so you’ll always know when an interesting position becomes available. You can also act faster.

Job search engines also make it easy to apply online which saves you time (your application is delivered instantly to the eager employer) and money (you don’t have to print your resume or use a stamp).

Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages. Most of the job search engine databases contain tons of legitimate jobs from well-respected companies but you’ll also find quite a few get-rich-quick scams, too.

Another disadvantage is that some job search engines do not keep their listings updated. You’re likely to find postings for many ads that were filled a long time ago. That can be frustrating. However, most of the engines do allow you to organize your search by most recently posted opportunities which improves your chances of finding available work.

Choosing the Best Job Search Websites

Currently, the best job search websites available are Monster.com and the Yahoo job search, Hotjobs.com. Both of these sites provide all of the advantages above, plus plenty of extra features such as the free resume posting which will increase your odds of landing a great job. Additionally, these are two of the biggest names in the industry so companies that are going to post their job openings online will most likely do so at either one or both of these sites before anywhere else.

Finally, you’re going to find the most search options at these sites and both will email you news about recent postings that meet your specifications. That makes it easier to find a new job even in a competitive market.

Have you been in the job market longer than you expected? Are you frustrated because you just don’t see as much progress as you would like and because you feel like success-the perfect new job-is eluding you?

There is no doubt that job searching can be stressful. Not only do you have to cope with what often feels like rejection, if you are currently unemployed, financial concerns may be an added stressor. It may not be much better if you are looking for a new job while currently employed, as you are probably trying to juggle too much to do in too little free time, and may also be worrying that your current employer may learn about your job search prematurely.

No matter how you look at it, job searching is stressful!

But, could your beliefs be making your job search even more stressful than it would be otherwise? Let’s look at a couple of the most common beliefs that many job seekers hold, and that can cause undue stress.

1. Comparing yourself to others.

Did your neighbor Mary land the job of her dreams after searching for just a week? Does cousin Bob brag that he sent out his resume to 20 companies and got calls for 20 interviews in return?

Every single person is unique. The qualifications and credentials they offer, the experiences they bring to the table, the achievements and results they have produced in the past-every job seeker is different. Also, each situation is different. One industry may be expanding while another is contracting. The economy in one geographic area may be booming while another is declining. Certain professions are more in demand than others.

It is simply a mistake to compare your job search to any other…not even to a colleague with very similar qualifications and goals as yours. You can’t compare apples to oranges…you can’t even accurately compare a yellow delicious apple to a red delicious apple.

Instead, be willing to let go of the comparisons and see if instead there is a lesson in the other person’s job search. While the situation is different, perhaps they used a particular technique that you could adapt to your own search. Comparisons almost inevitably cause unnecessary worry and stress and oftentimes blind you to a lesson that might help you along your path.

2. Holding unrealistic expectations

Sure, it is possible that you could send out your resume Friday and have a job offer Monday afternoon. Anything is possible. But it is unlikely.

It is important to recognize that even the AVERAGE job search often takes months. The traditional rule of thumb is to plan for one month of job searching for every $10,000 of salary you are seeking. Whether or not this is accurate, is debatable. But, what is clear is that job searching often takes time. Just taking a moment to think about the hiring cycle will show you this is true: a company may solicit and collect resumes for an opening over a period of weeks, they then spend another couple of weeks interviewing and re-interviewing candidates, then another couple of weeks conducting reference checks and making a decision. It is the rare job search that will conclude successfully in a time that is shorter than even the typical hiring cycle.

Of course, you have no control over these external hiring processes. All you can control are your own actions. So, if you expect your phone to be ringing off the hook for interviews and you just sent your resume out for the first time last week, or if you expect a solid job offer just two weeks into your search, or if you have other goals or hold other expectation that are not realistic, you are just setting yourself up for disappointment and stress.

So, what is the solution to these faulty ways of thinking?

Goal-setting-realistic goal-setting–is absolutely essential. You need to be thinking all the time about your job search and the goals you’ve set for yourself. In this way, you maintain awareness and open yourself to recognize and act on opportunities that arise.

While the ultimate goal, obviously, is to achieve your target job, setting this as the goal that you strive for each day and each week can lead to frustration. The actual timing of when you are offered and accept a job is often based on factors that are outside your control. Thus, setting a goal that you will achieve an offer for your target job in 6 weeks, for example, can just lead to frustration and a loss of motivation when six weeks comes and goes without an offer in sight.

While I certainly encourage you to set a job offer that matches your target as your overall INTENTION, as your actual working goals, I suggest that you select goals related to events and activities involved with searching for your new job. To keep your goals manageable and motivating, I recommend you set weekly goals. It’s important that you write down your goals on paper.

To summarize, your goals should be:

* Attainable while providing a challenge

* Written

* Specific

* Stated in a positive way

* Manageable

* Measurable and trackable

* Timed with a deadline

Job searching may be stressful, but by resetting faulty beliefs and following some basic, proven goal-setting techniques, you can make it much less so.

Review your goals daily to make sure you stay on track and to adjust your schedule if necessary. To keep yourself motivated, always remember to plan a reward for yourself at the end of the week. This could be spending an evening out with friends, giving yourself permission to spend an afternoon in a hammock reading a novel, or buying a new sweater that you really wanted. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that you enjoy and you will be motivated to work for. It is amazing how successful you will feel-how successful you will know you are-when you begin measuring your success by how much you have accomplished rather than be how much further you have to go!

The rules of the job search have changed considerably in recent years. It’s not enough to be the most qualified candidate for the job. Successful job candidates understand that in addition to “having the goods,” they need to know their “buyer,” and how to sell to them. Think it sounds crass to compare a job candidate’s skills and experience to consumer goods? It isn’t. Rather, it accurately reflects the reality of the current job market.

Positioning Yourself to Get Noticed in a Crowded Job Market

The current job market is far more favorable for employers than it is for the average job hunter. An employer may receive hundreds of resumes in response to a single ad. The employer can then cherry-pick applicants with the experience, education, and skills they are seeking. So, how will you get noticed in a crowded job market? A strategic self-marketing plan will position you to get maximum exposure and boost your job search success, even in a highly-competitive job market.

Think about the last time that you walked into a grocery store. The top name brands with big budgets occupy the shelves at eye-level. The store brand sits right next to them with labels that proclaim that they are comparable to your favorite brand. On the lower levels you’ll find the bargain brands. Which are you?

The top brand that commands top dollar?

The generic store brand that promises to do everything the top brand does, but for a lot less?

Or, the unknown, discount brand that easily goes unnoticed?

Before you respond, consider the quality of your current marketing efforts in your job search and how you are presenting yourself to potential employers in your resume and during interviews. A well-constructed, well-executed plan will position you to get noticed by potential employers, much like those national brands which occupy an optimal position on the shelf at the grocery store. Your strategic self-marketing plan should take into account all aspects of your job search – from the strategies used to the information included in your cover letter, resume, and other job search marketing documents. Taking a proactive approach to your job search can help you avoid many of the pitfalls that job seekers encounter:

A prolonged job search – now averaging more than four months.

The frustration of pouring endless hours into minimally effective job search methods.

Time wasted pursuing jobs that aren’t a good fit.

An aimless job search that yields minimal results.

Job hunters typically favor the path of least resistance. Countless hours surfing online job boards and replying to newspaper ads coupled with the occasional job fair is a common theme for many of the frustrated job hunters I encounter. Unfortunately, these preferred job search methods are not the way that employers prefer to hire. Employers prefer to find new employees much the same way that we, as consumers, would look for a plumber, dentist, real estate agent, or hair stylist: through referrals.

A successful strategic self-marketing plan will take into consideration how employers prefer to hire; your unique career profile; your industry; and your personal situation. It will typically employ a mix of job search strategies rather than rely solely on a single method. This mix should allow you to tap into both the published and unpublished job market – where the vast majority of available jobs can be found.

Tapping into the Unpublished Job Market

‘But how am I supposed to apply for these jobs if they aren’t published?’

Fair question. You’ll need to tap into your current network and work to expand that network. It requires diligence and a willingness to put yourself out there. Many job seekers quickly rule out networking because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Reliance upon others makes us feel vulnerable. Then, there is the fear of rejection. So, why should we step outside of our comfort zones and engage in networking? Because some figures put the percentage of jobs that get filled without ever being published as high as 80%.

Hiring a new employee represents a substantial investment for an employer. The employer wants some assurance that their investment will be well spent. Hiring through networking and referrals also yields a higher quality job candidate. Since employers prefer hiring through networking and referrals, it is important that job seekers integrate networking into their strategic self-marketing plans.

It is just as important to build a strong personal brand. Your personal brand is a consistent image that is distinctly you. It creates your perceived value and distinguishes you from your competitors. Whether you’ve consciously created a personal brand or not, you already have one. It is basically your reputation with co-workers, bosses, teachers, clients, etc. Work to build a consistent professional image that is authentically you and will attract potential employers.

Thoughtful networking and the ongoing process of building a strong personal brand can significantly boost your job search success. Networking and personal branding can:

Catapult you to the status of the name brand items that first come to mind when we have a headache, get a cold, or are in need of new sneakers.

Make potential employers aware of you and want to work with you.

Put you on the short list for jobs before they become available.

Boost your job search success by creating a strategic self-marketing plan that incorporates a strong personal brand and a strategic self-marketing plan. To learn more about creating your strategic self-marketing plan, visit SavvyJobseeker.com and download an excerpt of The Savvy Jobseeker’s Guide & Workbook: Five Steps to a Simply Successful Job Search.

Are you worried about the economy? Concerned about rising unemployment figures?

In recent months, the job market has become increasingly competitive, and yes, all the indicators are that it will become even more so. But even as the economy slows, there are many who are incredibly successful in conducting fast, effective job searches. Even in a recession–even in the midst of rising unemployment–you CAN build your career and secure a job that is personally, professionally, and financially rewarding. Here are 21 tips that you can put into action today to speed your own job search and drive it to a fast, successful conclusion.

1. Set weekly goals for your job search – To keep your job search moving forward I recommend you set manageable and motivating weekly goals. Your goals should be: Attainable while providing a challenge; Written; Specific; Stated in a positive way; Manageable; Measurable and trackable; Timed with a deadline

2. Be clear about your focus – Knowing what YOU want, what YOU are passionate about, and what YOU bring to the table will provide you with a confidence that simply can’t and won’t be matched by many of your competitors in the job market.

3. Create and follow a multi-pronged job search plan – An effective job search campaign is one that includes the strategic, planned, methodical use of a variety of job search approaches.

4. Approach your job search as if it were a job itself – Get organized and create a system for managing your job search. At the very least, you need a calendaring system, a system of logging inter-related and follow-up activities, a contact management system, and a filing system.

5. Assemble a support team – You should build a support team around you of people who can help you stay motivated and on track while giving you honest feedback and helping you stay accountable to your goals.

6. Develop and promote your personal brand – Personal branding differentiates you from your peers and helps to position you as a leader in your field. By knowing and promoting your brand, you achieve instant, precision-like focus that positions you as the ideal candidate for the specific type of opportunity that interests you.

7. Prepare your CAR success stories – Take the time to think about and document CAR Success Stories (Challenge-Action-Result Success Stories). What are some of your greatest accomplishments that illustrate the strengths you want to highlight in your interview? What were the challenges you faced related to these accomplishments? What actions did you take to meet the challenge? What were the results—quantified results when possible—of the actions that you took? You will use these in your resume, during networking meetings, and in interviews.

8. Perfect your resume – Your resume is your first introduction to most employers, and your only chance to make a good first impression. Keep your resume up-to-date at all times. Rewrite your resume to convey and illustrate your unique value proposition complete with accomplishments and “CAR success stories” that differentiate you from your competitors in the job market.

9. Cultivate your network – There is no more effective job search technique than networking. Make networking a part of your daily routine and plan to spend the majority of your job search time on networking activities.

10. Create and practice your elevator pitch – You will hear the “what do you do?” or “tell me about yourself?” questions over and over. Preparation is the key to confidence and the key to making a lasting, positive, and memorable first impression. Be ready with a 30-60 second pitch that confidently conveys to the listener who you are as a professional and what your value proposition is.

11. Do your research – Take the initiative and identify the companies that you really want to work for. Determine where you would fit in their structure and what you have to offer them. Develop a proposal that clearly illustrates how you would deliver a return on their investment in hiring you. Now leverage your network to set up meetings with the hiring decision-maker at the companies.

12. Strengthen your industry contacts and knowledge – Informational interviewing is a great technique for almost everyone. Contact people who can tell you what is going on in the field, help you better understand the competitive landscape, describe for you what it is like to work in the field, and ideally point you in the right direction for the next person you may want to speak with.

13. Build your online presence – Creating and maintaining a blog on your area of career expertise is an extraordinary way to build your credibility and visibility. Business networking sites like LinkedIn and FaceBook are increasingly popular ways to expand your network. Consider writing articles on industry and profession-related topics. You can also participate in online discussions on topics related to your career focus.

14. Introduce yourself to headhunters – There are presently well over 15,000 recruiting offices in just the United States alone. Do a little research and determine which firms specialize in your industry of choice or positions like you are seeking. This small, segmented list is the one you should focus your time and attention on.

15. Be prepared for salary negotiations – Know your value and be able to clearly articulate the returns that an employer can expect from hiring you. Never forget that as an employee you are investment. It is up to you to know what your worth is, to make sure the potential employer is clear on what that is, and to make sure that they pay you the best possible price for your contributions.

16. Put together a strong list of references – Contact each person that you intend to list and ask for their permission. Never provide someone as a reference unless you have discussed it with them first and briefed them on your current job search. Verify the contact information for each reference and ask for permission to list a telephone number and email address.

17. Get out and meet people – Join and then take part in events held by professional associations and other groups. Attend workshops and trainings in your field or industry. Attend job fairs to meet directly with hiring decision-makers. Volunteer your career-related skills in your community. If you are an expert at something, offer to speak on the topic to various groups.

18. Always follow up – A hand-written thank you note or a more formal, typed thank you letter can make a lasting positive impression that gives you a distinct competitive advantage. A follow-up phone call on every resume you send, whether it is a resume sent cold, in response to an ad, or based on a referral from one of your networking contacts can make all the difference in whether your resume is actually read and considered or not.

19. Adopt a “failure is not an option” attitude – Celebrate your accomplishments daily and weekly, but recognize that a successful job search requires persistence and consistent effort. It can be difficult to remain motivated when you don’t immediately see results but remind yourself that job searching is a process and that it takes time. Reward yourself not just for the results, but for the effort.

20. Consider an “outside the box” solution to employment – If you are having trouble finding that one, perfect full-time position, consider a “portfolio” career that is built around a variety of part-time jobs, which may include some combination of employment, self-employment, freelancing, consulting, and temporary jobs. While many of us have been raised to believe that a full-time job is really the only secure work arrangement, a portfolio career may actually be more secure because it involves multiple streams of income.

21. Adjust your attitude – An enthusiastic, “can-do” attitude that exudes self-confidence and a clear understanding of the value you offer in the workplace will make all the difference. Always put a smile on your face when you talk on the phone; it will shine through in your voice. Make eye contact and watch your body signals and posture when you meet with contacts in person. Your positive, confident attitude is one that people will like to be around and will make it more likely that you will be hired.

When you turn on the news and all you see is bad news about the economy and the job market, it is easy to become so anxious that you actually scare yourself into inaction. Don’t let that happen to you! There are great jobs out there to be had. Stay competitive, remain in action and working toward your goals each day, and one of those jobs WILL be your new job. Job searching does take time, even at the best of times, but by leveraging these 21 tips you will find yourself back to work faster than you thought possible.

Gone are the days when people used to go through the situation vacant columns of newspapers and job magazines to find suitable positions. Today’s people use the power of internet to find information. Whether it is job, education or anything else – internet is the most flexible medium to search information. Job seekers of present time should use the power of internet to ease up their job searching process.

However, searching something on internet can be compared with searching a needle in a stack of straw! What if you have a magnet with you – won’t you be able to find the needle easily? Similarly, search engines help you get relevant information online.

Use Search Engines to find out your dream job:

You can find out latest and relevant job openings through search engines. As all the search engines are text based, you need to be careful while choosing your search phrases. If you are looking for a career in advertising and marketing, then search for phrases like: careers in advertising, advertising jobs, jobs in marketing, copywriting jobs, marketing jobs, openings in ad agency etc. More search phrases you can think of more options you get.

If you are looking for ad agency jobs in a particular city or state, then add the location with your search phrase. For example, if you are looking for jobs in ad agencies in California, then your search phrase should be: ad agency jobs in California and alike.

Search engines can really help you explore employment opportunities in your preferred field.

Job Portals

As the name suggests, job portals are the websites that publish job openings categorically to ease up your job search process. HR managers, recruiters and organizations with certain positions to offer, log on to job portals and post their requirements. Job seekers browse the job listings and act upon the ad that best suits them.

Some job portals allow job seekers to create their accounts and upload their resume. When employers find a matching profile for the vacancy they have, they contact the person to initiate the recruitment process. This is an easy way of getting job offers directly in your mailbox without doing anything.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to the job listing websites so that you get email alert as soon as a new entry is posted on the board. By subscribing to job listing websites, you can stay updated all the time and respond to the employers quickly.

Browse Career Section of Corporate Websites

In case you are looking for openings in a particular organization, just visit their website and look for the career section. It is a common practice to list current openings in the career section of company website. Browse the list to check if any of the vacancies match your profile – if it does then send your application to the concerned person.

Start using the power of internet for job searching and experience the difference. Search engines, job portals and corporate websites are the best places to find latest job openings these days.

Question: What does home improvement have to do with the job search?

Hint: It takes more than a vision and a toolbox to get the job done.

When I bought my place a few years ago, it required some work to put my personal touch on it. I wanted to update the bathroom a bit by painting and replacing some of the fixtures. I wanted to replace a few doors and install some shelving. I already had a basic toolkit and went out to buy a drill set and levels. I thought I had all I need and was ready to go. I thought to myself, “How hard can all this work be?” and I got started.

I thought I could get the projects done, no problem. Well, I was wrong. Although the work looked pretty easy, I really had no clue what I was doing. I quickly found out that each of these tasks required more than tools. While I knew what needed to be done, I had no idea how to get it done. I didn’t have the know-how I needed.

What does this have to do with your job search? Perhaps you are clear about what job you want. Maybe you know what needs to be done in an effective job search. You know you need to craft a resume and cover letter, look for job openings, and network. You may know what to do in your job search, but do you know “how to” execute effectively?

In my case, because I didn’t know what I was doing, I spent hours going back and forth to Lowe’s and Home Depot exchanging materials. Re-painting my bathroom took a week because I didn’t plan for how long it would take to strip off decades of old paint, apply primer and re-paint. Installing shelves took a week when it should have taken a couple of hours. Not knowing how to properly execute my home improvement work, cost me hours of time I could be doing other things. During the process, I got so frustrated and wanted to give up many times. I was tempted to call in some people who knew what they were doing, but my pride wouldn’t let me. I had to finish it myself. As I look back at my handy work now, I do have a sense of pride at what I accomplished, but it could have been done so much easier, in less time with less frustration.

It’s not uncommon for job seekers to waste a lot of time creating the “perfect” resume and cover letter for each position they want to apply for. Or spend hours everyday scanning job listing websites looking for the right job opportunity to materialize. After all, they’ve read and been told that they need a resume and can find tons of job openings online. That’s all true, but it’s not always the “what” you do but the “how” you do it that makes the difference. Even with all the right tools, success comes from knowing how to use them effectively to get the job done.

Here are 3 things I learned about the job search from my attempt at home improvement.

#1 Have A Plan: In the job search as in home improvement, you need a plan. You can’t just buy a bunch of supplies and get to work. You have to plan out the project and lay the foundation. The same goes for the job search. Once you’ve determined the job you want, you have to decide how you’re going to find that job. If you aren’t finding enough leads, you have to figure out how to get more or better leads. If you’re getting interviews, but not getting the right offers, you might need to fine tune your interviewing skills. Put your efforts where they will be most effective based on what needs to be done. For example, don’t waste time tweaking your resume and scouring job listing sites, if what you really need is interview preparation.

#2 Learn The Basics: There is a ton of information about job search strategies at your disposal. Granted, some sources are better than others but the information is out there. Take the time to learn the basics of job seeking such as how to craft a resume and cover letter that will get noticed by recruiters, how to look for a job beyond scanning job listing sites, how to interview effectively, and how to build and expand your professional network. There is no magic in the job search, and you can’t skip the fundamentals. Go back to basics, create a plan and work the plan, consistently.

#3 Consult With Experts: Put your pride aside and get help from a career counselor or career coach. It’s an investment that will last a lifetime. People don’t become experts without out experience. A good career counselor or career coach also has had a career they’ve managed. In addition to knowing the theory behind career choice and satisfaction, they’ve been through their own career transitions and had their share of challenges. They also have connections to recruiters and know how people really get jobs.

Professional resume writers can help you, too. With their help you can get a resume that presents you qualifications in the best way possible. They can’t work miracles, but they can some professional polish to your experience. 

Final Thought
Before you tackle the important job of getting the job you want take some time to set a good foundation. A little work on the front end to create a focused plan, learn the basics for job search success and consult with those more knowledgeable will save you time and frustration and will lead to a better finished product-  the job you want!

If you want to know how to create a more effective job search action plan, register for the upcoming job search strategies teleclass. Click here for more information: http://www.futures-in-motion.com/event-list.php

Request the free Special Report: 6 Tips For Discovering The Work You Love By Working With A Career Counselor to learn how to get focused in your job search.

HISTORY OF JOB SEARCH

Online recruitment started almost the same time in the USA and in England in the early 90’s with providers like Monster.com in the USA, Jobserve.com in the UK and Allstarjobs.ca (started in 1997). A job bank at that time merely had a few thousand of open job positions and the chance of putting employers in touch with jobseekers was quite remote.

Since those early days, we have seen an explosion of job search sites and the technology has improved a lot for the benefit of both, recruiters and jobseekers. Nowadays, typing “Job Search” in search fields of Google or Yahoo, you get millions of pages dealing with this subject.

Now we have a new problem: how not to get lost in this jungle of ultimate Career and Job Search Services (of which many require an inscription fee). What do we really want? Using the Internet in first place has the advantage of speed and the possibility to look in any geographical area for the required job that the candidate is qualified for, or aspires to. With the Internet installed at home, it is possible to investigate the potential employers, ask questions and apply for the position, without even taking off your pajamas.

How do we explain the recent evolution in online recruitment technology? Even if you feel relatively satisfied with the current search offerings of top job search engines like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com or Hotjobs.com, there are still many doors open for improvements and a lot of research is going on in the field of vertical engines, meaning-based search, intent-driven search, new clustering methods, and much more.

ALL-IN-ONE JOB SEARCH ENGINES

A recent trend in job search engines is the emergence of all-in-one or metasearch engines (sometimes also referred as vertical job search engines), allowing jobseekers to search across multiple websites. Among the most popular engines are Indeed (in the USA), Wowjobs (in Canada) and Trovit (in the UK).

Probably the most powerful of all is Indeed, which was founded by Paul Forster and his partner Rony Kahan in the year 2004 to cover the US job market. According to Hitwise data, Indeed saw its market share increase by 302% in the year 2006 and this only seems to be the beginning. The success of Indeed and other metasearch or all-in-one search engines is the fact that job seekers can go to one place to find all jobs, overcoming the limitation of the job boards, which have a finite number of listings. A simple comparison of mayor job search engines reveals that there is no need any more to look in all the individual engines to find the best fits for the job you are looking for. There are more job sites than you can count, ranging from the top job sites like Monster and CareerBuilder to small, niche sites in just about every career field you can imagine. Indeed is searching in more than 1200 engines at a time and brings you the result in seconds on your screen. With a couple of clicks of your mouse, you search the major job sites, company sites, associations, and other online job sites by keyword and location to get job listings that match the criteria you selected. With it’s high-tech search

strategy, Indeed clearly leaves behind other so-called meta-job search engines like Jobster and SimpyHired. With Wowjobs and Trovit, metasearch engines focused on the Canadian and UK job market, and respectively the situation is very similar.

POSTING YOUR RESUME IN RECRUITMENT SERVICES

A developing trend with both jobs search engines and jobs boards is that many now encourage users to post their resume or CV together with contact details. The fact is, it`s proven that posting your resume in a proactive way in the mayor resume distribution systems will put it on the desk of hundreds of recruiters and can more than double the chance of getting a job!

The advantages of Resume Posting are:

- You more than double your chance of getting “discovered” by a recruiter who

is looking for a person with exactly your experience and abilities.

– You put your resume in the hands of hundreds of recruiters, almost instantly!

– You are sending your resume only to recruiters focusing on your specific

industry or job categories.

– You save a lot of time and money and you get an instant edge – with only

little effort from your part!

– Your resume is passing a pre-selection system and when it comes on the desk of hiring managers they will read it very carefully.

Resume posting has become an attractive business for the recruitment companies as they sell the access to their resume bank to headhunters and recruiting managers. Anyhow, jobseekers should be aware of the risks of uploading personal information to the Internet since they have no control over what will happen with their data and their resume might be seen by their current employer or even by “identity thefts”.

TAKE A BREATH AND SLOW DOWN

The question is still if all the improvements in search technology also improved the overall performance of recruitment efforts. Finding a job still is hard work. It is very helpful to slow down, take time, and analyze if you are happy with your current situation and what career is really right for you. In our modern world, the best job success is earning good money with work that gives you a sense of purpose, expresses your talents and passions, and is consistent with your values. A lack of many Job Search Sites is that they do not assist the jobseekers in finding their best career fit and even confusing people in trying to evaluate their current situation. Job searching is a short-term pursuit of a position that matches your financial and career goals. Career planning is a long, progressive process of choosing education, training, and jobs that fit your interests and skills. This planning process also includes the evaluation of career change or self-employment opportunities. Deciding what type of work you want to pursue requires knowledge and understanding of your interests, your values, your motivation, and the skills you enjoy using the most. This is helpful whether you are choosing a career for the first time or changing careers for the twenty-first time. The Two-Approach Guide for Effective and Easy Job Search is intended to guide jobseekers through this process instead of simply offering hundreds of links without explanation and leading to confusion. One aspect that even the most powerful Job Search engine cannot cover is the fact that probably the majority of job vacancies are never posted in journals, newspapers or on-line and you only find them using the right contacts or your Network.

This “hidden job market” only can be exploited by keeping focus on people who have experiences, and contacts that might be interesting for you.

Good possibilities to build up your Network, are for example job fairs or similar events where you meet hiring managers, job lead sources and other

valuable contacts.

CONCLUSIONS

Using state-of-the art job search engines, online recruitment has become a powerful tool for a fast, efficient and economical job search and the performance is improving constantly. But every jobseeker should be aware of the fact that even

the most powerful job search engine should be considered only as a single tool in the Job Search Strategy and that still most jobs are found using personal Networks. Finding a job is all about people, the people you know, and people you meet who have the job information and who will inevitably help you get a job.

Online Job Search using all-in-one or metasearch engines definitely makes life much easier but should not be overestimated.

RESOURCES

1. Two-Approach Job Search Guide

2. David Hurst,Chairman – ORMC, 2004

3. Joel Cheesman’s Blog, “Craigslist puts smackdown on verticals”, October 19, 2006.

4. INTERNET Inc, “Job Search Verticals – The List”, October 5, 2006.

5. Read/WriteWeb, “Search 2.0 – What’s Next?”, December 13, 2006

The days of simply browsing through the Sunday newspaper and sending out a few resumes in order to win your next career opportunity are over. The days of retiring after having worked for just one or two companies are also over. Downsizings, mergers, offshoring, acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, consolidation, and other change initiatives have required rapid adaptation of workers, hard career decisions, and frequent transitions. These days, the average worker will hold approximately ten jobs before the age of 36. The average worker will change careers several times during his or her lifetime.

While the timeframe for your job search will vary with the specifics of your situation, a commonly cited statistic is that the average job search will take anywhere from three to six months from initiation to the day you begin your new job. The U.S. Department of Labor indicates that the average length of unemployment in the U.S. is currently 18 weeks (a little over four months), but this figure covers all professions, all industries, and all professional levels. Another common job search statistic tells us that you can expect to spend approximately one month job searching for each $10,000 in salary you are seeking.

Do you have a job search planned in 2008? If you do, and if you are looking forward to your next job search with dread, you are definitely not alone! Job searching can be incredibly stressful. But, with some planning, genuine effort, and sincere commitment, you can minimize that stress and land a new job – one that is personally, professionally, and financially rewarding – faster than you may have thought possible.

Here is a checklist to help you achieve a fast, successful job search in 2008.

_____ Set a clear target. Put yourself in the driver’s seat of your career by clearly defining your job search focus. In general, the more precise and focused your job search is, the better. For most people, the best and strongest job targets will include a statement of the job function and professional level paired with other indicators, sometimes just one and sometimes more than one, to make the job target more precise and ultimately more effective. These other indicators may be criteria such as industry, company size, company culture, or geographic location.

_____ Build your network of support. Don’t underestimate the importance of having a strong support network to offer encouragement and advice, to brainstorm and share ideas with you, to help keep you accountable to the goals you set for yourself, and to help keep you on track throughout the emotional roller coaster that a job search can be. Family and friends are often included in the support network, but also consider joining a job search group or working with a career coach, particularly one who is very familiar with job search mechanics.

_____ Adjust your attitude. An enthusiastic, “can-do” attitude that exudes self-confidence and a clear understanding of the value you offer in the workplace will make all the difference. Always put a smile on your face when you talk on the phone; it will shine through in your voice. Make eye contact and watch your body signals and posture when you meet with contacts in person. Your positive, confident attitude is one that people will like to be around and will make it more likely that you will be hired.

_____ Update and revive your resume. Your resume is your first introduction to employers. Don’t underestimate the importance of making a positive first impression with it! Your resume should be up-to-date, focused for the current search, employer-centered, and results-oriented. YOU are a commodity in the job market and your resume is your advertisement. If your resume needs refreshing, now is the time to do it. If you need help with your resume, you should definitely consider hiring a professional resume writer.

_____ Cultivate and strengthen your professional network. With more than 80% of available jobs never advertised, it is essential that you have the ability to access the hidden job market. Your professional network will be one of your most effective sources for information and referrals relating to the hidden job market. Of course, networking is all about relationships and so you should continuously nurture your network relationships regardless of whether you are job searching or not. But, whether you have or haven’t (If you haven’t, building network relationships would make a great New Year’s Resolution), now is the time to reach out to everyone you know to inform them of your search and to ask for advice and referrals. Consider using a website like LinkedIn to help with your effort.

_____ Establish and promote your personal branding. At its essence, personal branding is about the authentic and unique promise of value you offer. In relation to your career, it is about the promise of value you offer that differentiates you from your peers and competitors in the workplace and job market. Branding yourself can actually have such a dramatic effect that you will become hunted rather than being the hunter for your next job opportunity.

_____ Get organized and create a system for managing your job search. An organized plan and system will help keep you motivated, moving forward, and focused on achieving the ultimate goal. At the very least, you need a calendaring system, a system of logging inter-related and follow-up activities, a contact management system, and a filing system.

_____ Create and follow a written, multi-pronged job search plan. Answering ads or posting your resume on the Internet are the easiest, but usually least effective job search techniques. Your job search plan should include a balance of techniques to access both the published and unpublished job market. Further, it should include activities prioritized and strategically selected to fit in each of the five major job search approaches: 1) Networking and referral building; 2) Targeting and contacting employers; 3) Working with recruiters and agencies; 4) Internet job searching (which also has some overlap with the 5th technique); 5) Answering advertisements.