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So, where do
you find the jobs? Most people
start with the big Employment Super Sites.
You cannot, and should not, ignore the big sites, particularly if want to work for a large employer. However, they are much less important than they used to be, so limiting your job search to only the big sites is a very big mistake.
Don't Know What You Want to Do?
You're sunk until you figure out what you want to do. Seriously! If you don't know, it's like going to the library for "something to read" or to the mall for "something to buy." Chances are you won't get what you really want or need.
The key to a successful job search and a successful career is knowing what you want to do. If you don't know, it will be hard to find, and others will have difficulty helping you. For some ideas on possible careers, see Job-Hunt's Career Changer's Guide to Careers. You'll find detailed descriptions of over 180 jobs, the duties and responsiblities as well as the average wages, 10-year projected growth, and how typical the jobs are by city and state.
To find out what you want to do, if you don't know, read any edition of Richard Bolles classic book - What Color Is Your Parachute? Dick updates it every year, so you can purchase the latest edition everywhere. If you want to borrow it from your local library, you'll find it there - they will have this book even if they don't have any other career book that's ever been published.
Where Jobs Are Posted
Assuming that you know what you want to do and where you want to do it, you'll find millions of jobs posted online. If it has been a couple of years since you've searched for a job, start at # 1, and go through the whole list. Just need a quick refresher? Pick a topic that particularly interests you:
- Finding Employer Websites - hopefully you have at least 10 target employers, so find jobs at the source!
- Finding the Jobs on the Employer Website - where are they hidden?
- Leveraging Employer Websites - differentiate yourself with information
- Associations and Alumni Groups - very effective for networking
- Recruiters, Staffing Firms, & Head Hunters - can help or hurt
- Job Sites - new things to consider and new sites to use
- Classified Ads - very effective but watch out for the scams
- Job Aggregators - new and powerful
Direct usually works best for local small businesses. If you want to work at the local mall or in the local McDonald's restaurant, go to that business and ask for an employment application to complete. Dress nicely, be polite, and complete the form neatly and legibly, and you'll probably end up with at least an interview the next time there is a job opening.
Where Most of the Jobs ARE
Most job seekers don't want to hear this, but your personal network (online and off-line) is they way most people connect with their next jobs. For ideas and additonal information about networking, check out the articles written by these Job-Hunt Job Search Experts:
Re-Entry for Veterans plus Federal Job Search
Also read Wendy Gelberg's Job Search for Introverts articles if you are introverted or have a tendency to be shy.
Lastly, Be Careful Out There!
Remember - no matter what Website you are visiting, even one listed in Job-Hunt, be sure to protect your privacy, watch out for scams, and avoid the Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes as well as the Dirty Dozen Dangerous Assumptions!
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About the author...
Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff "graduate" who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. In 1998, her company, NETability, Inc. purchased Job-Hunt.org, and Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt since then. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg.
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