The Online Job Search: Part 1
by Jennifer Sedna
NelsonJobs Contributing Writer
Perfecting Your Job Board Strategy
Buzz around networking has grown rapidly in the last few years as being the way to find
your next job. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore traditional search methods.
Newspaper or online classified advertisements may be useful to some job seekers, and the
savvy ones expand their search to include online job boards. Today’s job boards offer
distinct advantages for many job seekers, especially when compared to the disadvantages of
networking—which include dead-end leads or referrals to jobs that aren’t the best fit. In fact,
job boards work particularly well for finding entry-to mid-level positions. They are also a
great resource for job seekers who tend to be somewhat introverted or who haven’t fully developed
a network of contacts.
Searching for a position on a job board is a two-pronged approach. The first
step is to create your profile(s) and then post your resume(s) so that employers can find you.
You should also look for and apply to jobs on the boards that interest you.
Creating profiles
Your profile on a job board might consist of only your name and contact information,
or it can be more involved, with salary requirements, level of education, industry experience,
job title of interest, etc.
- If a profile requires detailed information such as your desired position or salary preference,
it might be necessary to create more than one profile. For example, if you are interested in several
types of jobs, you can create a profile for each area of interest and avoid appearing unfocused.
- Unless you are certain that you want a specific position, you can enter different information
for each profile (e.g. salary, industry, location, etc.). This is handy since you will be included
in more employer searches, and can include appropriate salary for each desired position.
- Experts recommend that you create an email address that is used solely for your job search.
This will prevent you from being distracted by personal emails as well as protect your personal address from potential spam.
- Remember to keep your username professional since it will be seen by employers.
Posting multiple resumes
When recruiters and employers search job boards they do so by using keywords. They are usually looking for a candidate with specific skills in specific industries, or with certain job roles. When you post multiple resumes, you increase the likelihood that your resume will be seen if you change the focus of each resume, using different keywords and phrases.
Chances are not only do you have experience in different industries, but also different job roles. You can demonstrate this information by adding different resumes to your profile. Thus for a profile that targets sales opportunities, your resume might
focus on your sales experience; for a marketing-related position you can create a resume featuring your marketing experience.
Creating multiple resumes also allows for addressing industry-specific experience. For example, if you were an Operations Manager for a retailer, using the word “retail” includes your resume in searches where writing only your employer’s name (e.g. “Macy’s”) wouldn’t. You can then present your resume to emphasize and feature skills that are useful in the retail industry. Another version of an Operations Manager resume might feature managerial accomplishments with each organization, focusing less on the industry, and more on that specific job role.
To ensure your resume comes up on a specific search, look at what keywords, phrases, and jargon are used in job descriptions that interest you. You will be able to reach your target audience by including the most used and up-to-date keywords. You will need to look at several descriptions to make sure you use general terms not specific to a given company or industry.
Keeping your profile confidential
Most job boards have a privacy policy posted, disclosing who has access to your information. Even so, there are usually two reasons you might want to keep your information private: you don’t want your employer to find your resume and/or you don’t want anyone to use your personal information.
To create a confidential resume, you can use generic job titles (e.g. Confidential Candidate) and keep your employer anonymous with a descriptive phrase rather than an actual name (e.g. Fine Restaurant or Hi-tech Company). Always err on the side of being conservative to create these phrases. Even if you think it might sound catchy, calling yourself ‘Creative Caregiver’ or ‘Stellar Saleswoman’ is a risk and may sound too casual.
On some job boards employers don’t have access to applicants’ resumes. For example, some jobs posted on NelsonJobs.com don’t have a company name listed because the client has requested that it remain confidential. In such cases, you can upload your resume and apply for a job, where your resume will be reviewed only by a recruiter, not your current employer or someone phishing for your personal information.
Actively seeking jobs
In addition to posting your resume, you should take a more active approach and look at jobs posted on the boards. This increases the likelihood of finding a job of interest to you. It is also a good idea because some employers only post jobs and don’t look at resumes or profiles. Searching posted jobs is also a great way to find a variety of positions and learn about opportunities that you may not know existed. You can leave your search criteria very general, say just by defining salary or location, or you can get very specific by looking for one job title at a specific company.
You should visit job boards often to make sure you see the most recent job posts and submit your resume as soon as possible. This will keep your daily time investment at a manageable level, and help keep you enthused about your search. With that said, don’t avoid applying to positions posted more than a week ago, or even a month ago. It often takes more than a month after a job is posted to complete interviews. So, if you’re qualified, you still have a good chance of making it to at least the second round of interviews.
If the company name is disclosed in the posting then do some research. In addition to submitting your resume online, your application will stand out if you also mail a hard copy along with a cover letter addressed to the appropriate person. In your cover letter, include what interests you about the company and describe how your experience aligns with their mission.
Search agents
A Job Search Agent is a personalized, automated job hunting tool that searches a job board's database for postings that meet your pre-defined search criteria. When matching jobs are found, the job board’s Search Agent forwards them to you by e-mail. Often, you can choose to have new postings delivered to you daily or weekly. This is a great time saver, especially if your job search involves more time-consuming techniques (e.g. networking). Keep in mind that since the search agent is automated, it might bring up irrelevant positions or, more importantly, cause you to miss exciting opportunities. So don’t completely rely on the agent to do your work.
Follow-up
As with any type of application, follow-up is essential to securing an interview. How you follow up will depend on the company and the job board, but you should always send a letter to ensure your application was received and politely remind them of your interest.
For NelsonJobs.com, which has many confidential clients, you can call the branch associated with the posting to make sure your application was received and to indicate your enthusiasm about being considered for the position. Now is the time to get offline and pick up the phone!