by Todd Pheifer

Created on: February 01, 2008

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE NEWSPAPER?

It used to be that you got out the daily newspaper, turned to the "want ads" and started circling open jobs. Over the last decade or so, things have begun to change in the job market. You can still find that section of the newspaper, but the modern job search has also shifted heavily to an online component. This has spawned a variety of job search websites that allow the employer and the job search candidate to find mutual benefit through connection.

THE BIG DOGS

There are several major job search engine such as Monster and CareerBuilder. They provide a variety of services including job postings, resume advise, and networking opportunities. The major sites have a lot of features, and they can be very helpful for job searches. However, they are also gigantic and you can start to feel very lost in the vast expanse of the online employment market. Because of the sheer size, some companies shy away from these major engines because they don't want to have their job swallowed up and never discovered by the right people.

INDUSTRY SPECIFIC JOB SITS

Other job search engines can be found with professional organizations and industry communication networks. Some companies are more prone to post jobs in these arenas because they tend to have concentrations of specific vocational types. This gives companies a pool of people who are more focused on that particular industry. This can be more desirable than a general population who will fling a resume at a job just because the job is there and who send a resume just because it can be done with the push of a button. Also, job seekers should keep in mind that some companies only post jobs on their own company websites. This doesn't necessarily qualify as a search engine, but people should remember so that they aren't looking for specific companies on major search engines.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW UP

Online job search engines are great resources, but job hunters have to remember the basics of job searches. For example, just because you can send out 500 resumes with the click of the mouse doesn't mean that you will get 500 responses. The job search still must include follow-up, persistence, and assertiveness. In other words, just because the Internet is involved doesn't mean that the job will come to you. When using online job search engines, keep in mind that you still have to go get the job. So be ready to hit the pavement (or the email) and make sure you are aggressive as you search for a job. Online job search engines are helpful, but they won't do all the work for you.

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