The Internet is the world’s largest network, so use its reach to your advantage. Get to know people both locally and all over the world, because sometimes those distant contacts can be much closer than you think.
CURRENT GROWTH OF THE INTERNET
As the Internet grows and expands, so do the number of participants and the resources for finding jobs. Profit and nonprofit organizations are coming on-line, and they are finding it very easy and inexpensive to add their available job openings to their public servers.
AVAILABILITY OF THE INTERNET AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY
Many job seekers cannot search for work during regular business hours because of current work schedules and other responsibilities. The Internet is available to you when you are ready to use it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of time zones. Employers aren’t concerned that you are looking at their job opportunities at 2 a.m., they are only concerned with finding the best person to fill the position.
THE GEOGRAPHIC REACH OF THE INTERNET
If you are moving across the state, across the country, or out of the U.S., there is no need to wait until you actually arrive in your new location to begin your job search. Save on long distance phone calls and subscriptions to out-of-town papers. You may be able to set up interviews by phone or have them scheduled for shortly after your arrival.
DEMONSTRATING SKILLS TO AN EMPLOYER
Many organizations, especially businesses, are rushing to get onto the Internet. They see opportunities for advertising, possible commercial markets, and a vast wealth of information they can tap. Your Internet job search demonstrates to an employer your familiarity and skill with this new market area. This could set you apart from other candidates.
FIND OUT ABOUT COMPANY OPPORTUNITIES QUICKLY
You see a company’s job listings on-line, and you wonder if they have any openings of interest to you. Check their home page to see for yourself, but also think about contacting them even though your specific area is not being recruited at this time. Indicate in your cover letter that you noticed they were hiring, and tell them how your area of expertise can be of use to them. Be a step ahead and the first in line with a resume when they turn their attention towards your field.
POST YOUR RESUME AT NO COST
There are several databases and newsgroups that allow you to post your resume at no charge. Be careful about putting personal information on the Internet. Quality employment services should offer you protection for your name and address. Many resume banks will not reveal your contact information to employers until the employer has selected you as a potential match.
DEVELOP A STRATEGY
Know what kind of information you are looking for. Are you looking for general information about a particular career? Do you want tips on writing an electronic resume? Are you hoping to network with others in your field? Are you looking for information about a specific company? Are you looking for a list of job opportunities? Since it can be easy to get sidetracked, keep your goals firmly in front of you.
LEARN TO USE SEARCH ENGINES
If you don’t know where to start, try doing a key-word search of the Internet through a search engine. Most search engines are designed the same, they will use "robot spiders" and try to find everything related to whatever your search criteria. To streamline the process, try putting quotes around a phrase or connected words. Type in "posting resumes" and the spider will look for all instances where those two words appear together in an article or page. Capitalization will make a difference in the results of your search. Remember, what you type is what you get.
CREATE BOOKMARKS
If you find a website that you would like to return to later, create a bookmark to mark that site. You can save bookmarks (a.k.a. Hotspots, Favorite Places) on your browser through a pull-down menu.
COMPANY INFORMATION
If you get called for an interview, find the company on-line and start digging for information. Use one of the search engines or information sites, or often, if it is a big commercial company, you may be able to just type in www.COMPANYNAME.com. This may take some experimentation. Watch TV or magazine ads for company web addresses. Read the company’s annual report. Find out about their staffing patterns, what they make, market, or invest in.
ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT
The Career Center staff as well as the Librarians on campus should be able to help you with your Internet questions. Don’t be afraid to ask! The Career Center is located in Old Main, Room 013.
FOCUS ON KEY SITES
The Career Center staff has checked out a number of sites that are very useful. Several sites are considered "meta-sites" in that they have large lists of links that can be followed to find what you are looking for. You may have to surf from one site to another as you narrow your search, but the results can be worth it. Keep in mind, however, that much like classified ads, everyone else can see the same job listings you are perusing. Don’t rely on the Internet as your only source of job hunting. Use all sources available to you, and for personalized assistance, come to the Career Center.
Check out On-line Resources to find a list of Web sites to help you start your job search.
AVOID CERTAIN SITES
Avoid sites that ask for money. In most cases, you can get the information for free unless you are an employer. However, if the site provides information that is important to you, it may be worthwhile to pay a fee for service to save time and energy.
References
Goldsborough, R. (1994). Straight Talk About the Information Superhighway. Alpha books.
Riley, M. (1996). The Guide to Internet Job Searching.
Kimball, D. (1996). Internet Job Searching Tips. Illinois Wesleyan University.
Kiehne, J. (1996). Using the Internet in Your Job Search. Loyola University Chicago.