Launching Your Job Search – Job Search 101

• General Advice
• Posting job search website links (with brief reviews)
• Posting headhunter / Executive search website links
• Tools and Templates

There are five basic types of “job searchers”:

1. “Not Happy” – People who are not happy with their compensation, don’t like what they are doing, don’t like their manager, are past due on a promotion, or just don’t like their company.
2. “Worried” – People who are worried about their company (may not survive, maybe taken over, etc.), worried about their job (potential job cuts), worried about their industry, etc.
3. “Career Change“ – People who have just finished a degree (while working), people who want to make a career change or all of the above.
4. “Not Currently Looking” – People who are not actually looking to make a change, but get offered a new opportunity (through a headhunter or a friend)
5. “Job Loss“ – People lose their jobs all the time for various reasons: Company downsizing, job elimination, takeovers/mergers, Company bankruptcy or poor performance.

Sometimes it feels like there is an endless number of job search websites (many of which are a waste of time). I’ve listed below a very brief overview of two popular job search sites with very different styles to get you started. There will be a more focused job search site article in a future post.

Every site is different, although most of them have the basics (which I’ve listed below, so you may want to refer back to this in later posts). There are too many options to list them all.

• Resume Posting: Many sites allow 1 or more resumes to be posted. Sometimes there are options to build your resume online, upload a Word doc, or cut and paste your resume into their form (depending on the site).
• Privacy: A Privacy option (which allows you to block companies) can be very useful. Blocked companies either be companies that you don’t want to work for or your current employer (the last thing you want is for your name to come up in a search by your current employer!).
• Job Search: The job search function allows you to narrow your job search to certain criteria (varies from site to site). Some also allow you to save 1 or more searches (with a number of options). This allows you to quickly run searches for specifics (as decided by you).
• Job Match Notification: Most sites will send an email to you with the results of your searches (but don’t flood your email with so many that you are overwhelmed).
• Linked Application: This is the ability to apply directly for a job opportunity. This is typically a link to the company’s career site and will save you time.
  
• Other Stuff: Some sites offer career advice, resume-building techniques, samples of resumes, samples of cover letters, etc. Some free, some not.

The grandfather (sorry Monster) of all job search websites. One of the first useful job search sites, Monster has spent a lot of time and effort to evolve with the fast-changing job search resource landscape (including buying up their main competitor at the time – Hotjobs). Monster is one of the more popular job search sites and their homepage looks more like a job advice site than a dedicated job search site. A brief overview:

• Resume Posting: This free service allows up to 5 resumes to be posted. You can build your resume online, upload a Word doc or cut and paste your resume into their form.
• Privacy: There is a Privacy option that allows you to block companies.
• Job Search: The job search function in Monster is very good. You can save up to 5 searches. Email notification is available.
• Job Search Advice: Lots of stuff to help you in your search.

Indeed.com

Indeed has what I call a minimalist homepage which allows you to focus on the task at hand (job search!). A brief overview:

• Job Search:  Powerful filters allow you to narrow your search to those opportunities that best meet your criteria. You can save searches and create “job alerts” which will send an email based on your criteria. Lots of choices on narrowing your search.
• Resume Posting: This site also allows up resumes to be posted. You can build your resume online, upload a Word doc or cut and paste your resume into their form.
• Privacy: There is a Privacy option that allows you to block companies.

Another great CareerAlley resource to check out: CareerAlley’s Job Search Site List