Not Useful

by Jason Cazier

Created on: December 25, 2009

Monster has some benefits but for the most part has fallen to the bottom of many serious job seekers’ toolbox. I wish I could say Monster was a useful job finding medium, but as a recent job seeker I rarely if ever used the site in my job hunt. Monster is not all bad, but if you are serious about finding a job there are multiple options which are more effective.

There are multiple reasons for my dislike of Monster. The first and most annoying factor is the posting of job opportunities which are not really job opportunities at all. For example, affiliate marketing, MLM or network marketing, stuffing envelopes, survey taking, and others. While some may be viable ways of making money, the success rates are very low and there is usually a substantial fee to get started. On any given day you can log on to Monster and see nearly every other job positing is of this nature.

The second reason for my dislike of Monster is the sheer volume of users. Some postings generate hundreds of responses, which really hurt your chances of even being chosen for an interview. Imagine a simple customer service position being posted and the company is only looking to hire one employee. A listing like this could easily generate 300 applications, and you know the employer is not going to sort through all of them but rather close their eyes and point to choose five or so individuals to come in for an interview.

My third reason for disliking Monster as a job finding tool is the advertisements. I understand Monster is trying to maximize revenue, but do we really need to see 5-10 advertisements before reaching our search results. Go to college, apply for grants, sign up for certain website offers … give me a break already. You go to these sites to look for employment not to sign up for an internet college degree.

With my stand on Monster firmly established, I would like to offer five suggestions for a more efficient job search:

1. Indeed.com – Indeed is basically a search engine for job openings. This site pulls openings from multiple sites (even Monster occasionally) without all the hassle. Simply type in the occupation you are looking for or your zip code, and you will get hundreds of results each day…and no affiliate marketing or other potential scams.     

2. Craigslist – The jobs section on Craigslist is easy to operate and offers multiple categories to choose from. Most of these listings are from small businesses and are legit. However, you do need to be careful when wandering into the marketing or sales sections; this is where things can get a little shaky.

3. Local classifieds – This medium is not used much anymore, but in many cities it is still an effective way to find a job. Response to these positions is not as overwhelming as applying for a job on a “Monster-type” job board. Whether in the paper or on a local website this can be a good job finding tool.

4. Pounding the Pavement (Networking) – The method of getting out and talking to businesses, friends, and family members is still a highly effective way to find a job. Networking websites such as LinkedIn and Facebook are effective as well.

5. Career Builder – Monster’s slightly better looking cousin. CareerBuilder.com offers many of the same features as Monster but without the barrage of advertisements, and a little less crap to wade through.

While Monster is not a horrible job searching medium, there are so many better methods available. My advice would be to use your best judgment, and don’t chase the scams offering outlandish amounts of money or promises of success.

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