Online Job Search - 5 Methods to Find a Suitable Job

Online job search is quite common these days. In this digital age when everything is going online, the employers, recruiters and job seekers have chosen online platforms to interact with each other…

Internet offers a flexible, dynamic and 24x7-live environment. Finding job online is easy and it saves time as well. In this article I would discuss 5 most used and helpful job searching platforms of the internet.

Use Search Engines:

Search engines are the source of information on the internet for many. You put your query in the search box and search engines fetch few relevant web pages from millions. Use the power of search engines to find a job online.

In your search string, include the industry name, your career skills and add the term 'jobs' at the end. Try different combination of the search phrases to reach to new sites. Use local search engines, or include the name of your city in the search term to get information about local job openings.

Assume you are looking for a career in journalism; search for journalism jobs. And if you are looking for openings in California, modify your search term to make it "journalism jobs California".

Visit Employers' Websites:

If you know who the biggies in your target industry are, just go to their websites and explore the career opportunities with them.

Most companies maintain a section on websites wherein they display current job openings along with job responsibilities. Just check if your profile suits with the requirements; if it does, then express interest. Follow the instructions given on the website.

In case they ask you to send resume, follow resume writing guidelines to prepare your resume. Do not forget to attach a cover letter.

Hit Job Portals:

Visit job search engines, job listing websites, job boards and job banks to check if there is any suitable vacancy for you. Job providers, employers, HR managers and recruiters frequent these boards to post jobs online. Hence these are the good places to find a job in any industry.

Some of the job portals allow job seekers to upload their resume so that they can get offers from employers directly. Upload your resume and subscribe to the newsletters of these job portals to stay informed.

Also, look for some good career advice and career education sites to learn about the industry buzz and modern developments.

Join Social Networks for Professionals:

Online social networks are in the pulse of the day. Join these networks, specify your interests and network with entrepreneurs and recruiters.

There are social networks meant for professionals. Join these communities and keep a close eye on vacancy and current opening section.

Browse Classifieds - Help Wanted Columns

Surf online classified ads and ad listing websites. Visit the help wanted, situation vacant columns for suitable offers. Join their mailing list, if any, to stay informed about latest job openings.

You can follow any or all of the above mentioned online job search methods. Online job searching is the easiest way to find permanent, temporary, freelance or home based jobs in any industry!

10-Strategies for Job Search Success in a Tight Economy

With graduation quickly approaching we are aware that some of you may still be job seeking. Although the current economic recession is foremost on the minds of anyone seeking employment. Engineering students and graduates are still very much in demand.

However, employers are being more cautious about commitments and the numbers of anticipated hires have been, according to the research, reduced.  Here are a few recommendations for those students still looking for employment in this tight economy:

1. Stay Positive!

Although we admit this can be tough, staying positive will help you stay motivated, focused, and ensure you are working on your job search EVERY DAY.

2. Refine and Update your Resume

A well written and visually pleasing resume can make a difference in securing interviews. There may be more experiences to add, completed projects and co-curricular activities to include. 

3. Utilize a Diverse Approach

Visit corporate, research facilities’, educational institutions or other employing organizations websites in your area(s) of interest. There are numerous tools on the internet offering employment opportunities.  There is a list of Job Search Links and Grad Resources on our website under Job Search Resources to help you get started.

4. Pay Attention to Hot Job Markets

Although generally the job market is cool, there are four areas experts indicate are growing at stronger rates. These include: the U.S. Government, Healthcare, Green Technology and Sustainability, and Information Technology.

Network, Network, and Network! Many jobs are found through personal connections. In fact, your acquaintances are excellent resources to connect you to opportunities.  Connect with faculty, staff, family associates, former colleagues and others for the chance to learn about different employing organizations, hiring practices, trends and opportunities.

5. Try Networking Online

Social and professional networking on the internet is becoming increasingly more popular. Having a

strong personal online brand can help you, and goes far in your ability to make and sustain connections. Online networking and marketing tool you can use. If you do not have already register, try to register for a LinkedIn account.

6. Do Your Research

Research the organizations where you’d like to work.  Make sure you know their competitors, their major challenges, their financial outlook, their mission, vision, and values. Reviewing their website and checking for recent press releases are means to get current information. If you can, schedule an informational interview with someone who works in a company you want to work for. The interview will provide great information about what they do, and could result in an addition to your network!

7. Effectively Correspond with Employers

Well constructed cover letters, letters of inquiry, and thank you notes are all key tools. Get objective feedback on your written correspondence and always follow e-mail etiquette guidelines.

8. Maintain Accurate Records of Contacts and Follow-up on Job Leads

You are applying for numerous job opportunities so it’s best to track of your job applications. Include the date of application, contact information and a copy of the job description whenever possible. Try creating a Job Log. Oftentimes the hiring process takes several weeks so your follow-up is often essential.

9. Sharpen Your Interview Skills

Spend time reviewing your experiences, formulating responses to typical interview questions and highlighting your unique educational and professional background. 

10. Remain Focused

Set and achieve small daily goals, try new strategies, and do something every day towards finding a job!

Important Tips for Technical Interviews

Technical interviews have evolved over the past five years as certain technical skills, particularly software development and testing skills, has been somewhat commoditized. Interviewers are now looking to assess not only your technical abilities but your ability to think critically, to solve problems, and to work on a team with well defined business goals and objectives.

It is true that, above all else, technical professionals gain or fail to gain employment based on the breadth and depth of their technical abilities and the demand for their specific skills.  Increasingly, however, many managers are looking for candidates who balance their technical acumen with a broader interest in and understanding of the business world. 

This quick guide provides you with two tips to help you appeal to these managers by weaving business topics into your technical discussions during a technical interview.

(1) Understand (and be interested in) their business

Many interviewers are seeking technical candidates with a seemingly genuine curiosity about their company, their products and services, and their plans for the future.  Knowing this, research the organization before your technical interview and know at least the following: 

The industry or industries in which the organization operates

* The main product / service lines

* When the company was founded and by whom

* The firm's primary competitors

* The overall size and health of the firm, including revenues, growth and size

* Any major industry news or trends

Armed with this information, accent your interview responses with tidbits about the organization; doing so can really set your answers apart from the typical technical candidates.

(2) Ask questions about how their business decisions impact (and are impacted by) technology decisions

It naturally follows that if you are genuinely interested in a job, a company and an industry, you are going to want to know more about each of them. The best way to express these interests is to enthusiastically ask thoughtful questions whenever appropriate during your technical interview.

It can be difficult to segue from technology discussions to broader business discussions, and you certainly don't want to veer off course or appear evasive- it is, after all, a technical interview.  You can, however, skillfully craft questions and responses that exhibit your curiosity about the position and the business, show that you've been paying attention during the interview, and show your technical talents.

And nothing demonstrates your eagerness and inquisitiveness like well-crafted follow-up questions. Here are some sample questions that firmly illustrate your curiosity while relating directly to the technical interview dialogue:

* You mentioned that your company is acquiring another organization this fall and integrating their HRIS into yours.  How will this initiative affect the launch of the applicant tracking system on which I'd be working?

* You mentioned your upcoming product launch and its potential impact on your web severs.  What was your last major product launch, and did you see a significant affect on system volume then?  Did the systems perform well?            

How You Can Get the Job You Want

If you've gone through the utter rejection of losing your previous job, the hunt for a new one can be identity threatening and rejection filled. Depending on your luck and skills, job hunting can tear down the biggest of egos.

Here are three stages in obtaining your next job, the first is to get the interview. You'll find that your cover letter and resume are not just important but critical. It's a myth that people don't judge you by what you send. Everybody does. The reality is an HR professional will scan a resume of seven seconds, if that long. If they don't like what they see, you're gone.

The second stage is once you're called into the interview, convert that interview into an offer. If you can't get an offer, get a hand off or a referral. Third, you have to be able to negotiate what you're worth. You never get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.

Starting your new job search

By using the Internet, applying to different employment agencies and recruiters, scanning the want ads and working through referrals, you cover the bases of aggressive job hunting. Recruiters can be helpful in that they have corporate relationships in place. "There are two types of recruiters: contingency and retainer. The contingency type gets paid between 15 to 33 percent of what you'll earn after you accept your position. The retainer types are paid in advance. They generally work for highly specialized jobs. What people have to remember is that recruiters don't work for them, they work for the companies that pay them.

Job recruiting Internet sites are good sources in your job hunt. But take note that by putting your resume on the Internet, you're posting your personal information for a world of eyes to see. Learn more about posting your resume on the Net in the article Balancing Risks and Rewards: Putting Your Resume on the Net, which is on this site.

Often, your resume will get you the interview, so it's imperative that it's written by a professional, Referrals are really the bread and butter. The key is to try and reach the decision-maker through the back door by approaching someone who knows someone. 

Don't stop with one

Consider sending your resume to multiple employers so that you get as many interviews as possible. Do something everyday for your search. Send out resumes, follow up on the phone to make sure that your resumes have been received but don't be a pest. One call will do.

Those who are unemployed should accept the first offer that comes their way. "You can always jump ship afterwards," he says. "If you get two offers, take them both. Tell company number one that you'll start immediately. Tell company two that you're very flattered however you have a project on the table and you don't feel right just jumping ship. You'll be more than happy to start with them in three weeks. In two weeks, you'll know if company one is right for you. If it is, call company two and say, 'I'm sorry, I decided to stay where I am. Thanks anyway.' If company one is not right for you, call company two and say, 'I was able to conclude my project faster than expected. When can I start?'" 

Interview like a jobholder, not a job hunter. Job hunters might come across as needy, dejected and too willing. Too much honesty isn't necessarily a good thing. Being too honest and revealing too much can turn against you in the job hunting process--especially, if you've been laid off or let go. When an employer asks you, "Why did you leave your last job?" or "Why were you let go?" he's really asking: "What's wrong with you?" An example response is: "My company suffered a severe downsizing. My immediate boss had no choice but to let me go and after he let me go, he was let go."

Dress Professionally

Would you hire this guy? Don't come into the interview cocky. Dress professionally. Go after every interview like it's the last one you'll ever have.

Salary Negotiations

In salary negotiations, the person who mentions the number first loses. When they ask you how much looking for, say that you don't want to disqualify yourself by a number, can you tell me how much you have budgeted for this position? You can also give employers a ballpark, saying that your current compensation package is in the $60,000 range and that you want to stay in that range. Lump all your compensation together. By throwing out numbers you might sell yourself short. After all, you don't know the company's range of salary or compensation.

Send thank you letter

Say thanks by sending thank you letters within 24 hours of each interview. If three people interview you at one company, send three separate thank you notes. When competition for a job is tight, thank you notes have the power of swaying an employer your way.

How Should We Handle Staff Conflicts? A Checklist

Identify the Symptoms

One of the keys to successful conflict resolution is early detection. Typically, the earlier you notice a conflict between employee members the easier it is to settle it.

Look specifically for usual behaviors. Note, for example, if a usually quiet and reserved employee becomes suddenly more abrasive and brash or if a top producer inexplicably becomes lazy and disengaged.

It is vital that you document specific instances of troublesome behavior! Include brief descriptions of each event in a log, and record the time, place and people involved for each occurrence. The purpose of the log is twofold; it's used during the upcoming resolution session and may be helpful in performance appraisal or even as justification for termination if it gets that far.

Identify External Sources

Never dismiss employee infighting as "unavoidable" or "random." There may be external root causes of these conflicts that have more to do with your office and culture than with the individuals operating in it. Those affected are mere victims.

Over-crowded, noisy, or otherwise uncomfortable offices, as examples, are ripe for staff battling. Job insecurity, rampant gossip and discrimination are other culprits.

If you suspect these external sources, address them quickly with executive management and inform your staff, as guided by your supervisors, that you acknowledge the problems and that steps are being taken to correct them.

Conduct a Resolution Session

Confronting employees about unusual or disruptive behavior is never easy, but it's far more challenging if you are unprepared.

Choose a quiet, non-confrontational setting. This typically isn't your office.

Have separate meetings with the affected employees. Mass resolution sessions can be disastrous, and at best are inefficient and emotion laden.

Don't be vague. Site the specific examples you've documented in your log.

Steer the dialogue around the behaviors more than attitudes, and avoid the temptation of giving your opinion about who is right or wrong. Attitudes are impossible to qualify, and attempting to officially document them can get managers in murky legal waters. Stick with behaviors!

Agree on what acceptable behavior is, and agree to have a follow-up session in a couple of weeks to see how he or she is progressing. Draft this "resolution document" with the affected employee, and not beforehand.

Make three copies of your resolution document: one for you, one for the employee, and one for the filing cabinet. Both the employee and you should sign and date the agreement. Email is not appropriate for this type of official record.