Job Listing Website Reviews
A major challenge every job hunter faces is WHERE to look to find job openings. Many people get really lost in all the resources available on the internet. I want you to succeed! When you can't find good jobs to apply for I know you get depressed, so I am here to make it easier and to help you FIND THEM!
It's getting pretty competitive out there, especially with large companies and governmental agencies implementing hiring freezes. Some sites are specific to an industry, some are SWEEP sites (which means they collect listings from many job boards), and then there are those sites that are fee-based.
I plan to include more reviews in my next several newsletters covering job listing sites. Be sure to watch for the newsletters and encourage your friends to sign up to get more information on these sites.
Since I go online and job hunt with each of my career counseling clients I've gained first hand experience using these sites. Here are some of my recommendations and my insights on some websites you may find useful.
FREE SITES
Indeed.com - This is a good "sweep" site which means they gather jobs from many sources including major job boards, newspapers, associations and company career pages. It also allows you to search by city or state. There are a lot of listings so plan on spending extra time reviewing them carefully.
Simplyhired.com - Another sweep site, reveals how old the listing is, and lets you search for specific employer listings as well as jobs.
Craigslist.org - This site is very basic but it does have jobs you likely won't see anywhere else. It's very inexpensive to post a job so many smaller employers (and large ones too) are using it. It's only available in some cities.
FEE-BASED SITES
Award-winning employers - Good employers make for happy careers, which is why this sight is a great site to start with. It covers over 1300 employers which have demonstrated that they provide a good work environment, and which have been recognized as a terrific place to work.
The Ladders - Targets the 100K + executive. The sight has good listings - some you won’t find elsewhere, but you also won't find a lot in any one city. The higher up your position, the fewer the jobs, so think about relocation. They break their service into specific fields: Finance, HR, LAW, Marketing, Operations, Sales, Technology. Many working executives use this site to keep their future options open.
TARGETED SITES
College + University jobs - A terrific resource that allows you to search by state and then connect to each individual college's own employment listings.
Nonprofit - This site covers positions across the country, and includes paid and volunteer opportunities which may help you add some more strengths to your resume.
Federal jobs - Did you know that the federal government is the largest employer in the U.S.? Many jobs pay comparable to corporate positions, too. Currently the government has over 41,000 jobs open! This is a LARGE site, with many specialty departments and offices throughout the country making it well worth the time it takes to look.
HOW you search is almost as important as WHERE you search. Sort by state first, then city, or zip code. Try various job titles to find the keywords that are most appropriate to the job you are seeking. "Manager" may be too general as it will result in a great many openings. Try targeting an industry, for example: "manufacturing," or be more specific. Using the term "Project Manager" rather than "Manager," may help you sort out better options that fit your needs.
Copyright 2009 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.
Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah and Dr. Phil and has a busy career counseling practice providing individual consulting to clients nationwide. She is the best-selling author of: " 60 Seconds & You're Hired!", " Soaring On Your Strengths", " What to Do with the Rest of Your Life", " Winning Resumes" and, "Winning Cover Letters". Contact her: 425.226.0414, email: robin@robinryan.com, or visit her website:www.RobinRyan.com