The Ins and Outs of Preparing for Your Online Job Search

Looking for a job is easier than ever thanks to websites and search tools that let you narrow your focus to positions that match your criteria. However, this creates a conundrum because there are so many online sources that help you find jobs online. All you need is some preparation to make the most efficient use of your time as you navigate your online job search.

Budget Your Time

Start out your job search by learning how to budget your time. Do you have more time in the morning while the kids are at school, or do you hunt for jobs in the evening after you get home from work? Determine how much time you have among running errands, eating meals, taking the kids to sporting events or recitals.

Once you figure out how much time you want to spend looking for work, start narrowing your parameters. In what cities do you want to work? Do you want to stay within a 30-mile radius, or do you mind moving to earn your next opportunity? How much money do you want to make? This helps you narrow your search just a bit. Now you get to focus on other aspects of your job hunt.

Know Your Criteria

As you investigate opportunities, know your qualifications and the desired salary. Online searches typically have menus for your industry, job title, keywords, location and salary range. The more you know about the type of work you want to do, the more details you can input on a job search website. Narrowing your focus saves time later, so you do not waste your time submitting applications for positions that do not fit your qualifications. However, this search has a caveat because you might miss opportunities that are slightly outside of your ranges.

You should try expanding your parameters a few times to see what comes up or just browse through jobs in a certain field. You may find some relevant opportunities that do not have a pay scale listed on the advertisement. Plus, various job search websites may categorize positions differently because no two services are the same.

Start Searching

Several tools can aid you in finding your dream position. Job aggregators compile opportunities from several sources into one searchable website. These types of websites collect information from job boards, publications, industry websites and employer pages to give prospective employees a wide range of opportunities. Aggregators typically allow you to create an account with an email address, and then you receive alerts when a particular job posting appears on the website.

Individual websites for each employer also have a wealth of information to mine. This strategy works if you already have a particular employer in mind. Search the website or the site index for words such as "job openings, "current jobs," "careers" or "work for us." The employer's human resources department usually specifies how to apply for each position.

Specialized groups also have job listings of their own. Examine industry publications, association websites and school alumni groups to find relevant positions. Some of these jobs may appear to members of certain associations before the postings appear to the public.

Utilize Advanced Tools

Advanced searches let you narrow your focus even further. The "inurl" function instructs Google to find Web pages that have certain words in them. For example, you want a sales job in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, companies may use different words to describe employment opportunities. Add as many of these words to the "inurl" query as possible. For example, go to a Google search box and type "[inurl:employment, jobs, hiring, careers, human resources] sales and Los Angeles" into the box. This produces Web pages that should go directly to employers' hiring pages.

Google allows you to narrow a quest by a particular website. If you already know a company's website, perform a search to find particular words associated with that employer. For instance, the string "jobs site:smithcoaccounting.com" produces any Web page on SmithCo Accounting's website with the word "jobs."

Job aggregators also have advanced searches, and all of them use the same type of format. The Web page for an advanced search has blanks to fill in, drop-down menus to make choices and check boxes that all help narrow your focus. You may find some job criteria that you have not considered before, such as contract work, nontraditional jobs, business opportunities and an obscure industry that might use your talents. You do not have to fill in every blank in an advanced search, but when you input more information you get fewer job postings. This helps save time, so you do not wade through hundreds of listings.

Network

Despite the technological marvels found on the Internet, sometimes the best thing you can do to search for a job is to take advantage of your network. Shore up your social media posts to catch the attention of a company that has your interest. Explore your contacts and seek out colleagues on specialized social networks. Someone who already works for a firm may have inside information as to a job posting.

Stay in touch with people you already know in your chosen industry, as they may have insider tips. However, in the midst of a job search, you should also seek out new contacts with similar interests. Get to know someone who can recommend you to human resources because employers may feel more comfortable hiring someone who an employee knows versus a complete stranger. Specialized social media websites give you the perfect opportunity to increase your network.

You have plenty of tools to help you complete an online job search. Use them to your advantage, so you get the most out of the experience and hopefully land a position sooner rather than later.

Photo Courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net