Tempesta & Associates, Inc. - Using the Internet for Job Search/Career Advancement

Using the Internet for Job Search/Career Advancement

written by: Kathy Bornheimer

Modern technology can be fast and intriguing. It can offer instant access to many avenues with little effort. Using a few strokes of the keyboard you can send detailed, personal facts to anyone, anywhere!

The Internet can enable people to cast a broad net anywhere in the world inexpensively. This is a great tool for research, shopping, entertainment and increasingly, job search. Because of quick access and aminimity many job seekers or career advancers will use the Internet to find their next job. The two best known services; Monster Board.com and Headhunter.com contain a multitude of resumes that can be accessed by anyone. More and more employers use their web sites or shared web sites to advertise positions. Again, it's fast and covers a broad territory.

This article will focus on two sides of this issue in away to optimize the technology but not make mistakes.

First, we'll address the issue from the job seeker/career advancer's side. If you're using one of the resume services mentioned above be aware of two things. These are massive data "warehouses". People all over the world are using them for job search. Resumes are not routinely "purged", so some of this information is old. In fact your resume may remain on the Internet long after you should have taken it off. A resume circulated this way is like "going out your front door dressed only in your underwear". The wrong people might see you. You have little or no control over who has access to your information or how it will be used. It is similar to responding to a blind box ad in the newspaper.

The Dilbert cartoon strip portrayed a fairly accurate possibility in the 6/14 and 6/15/99 editions. If you're currently employed this avenue may not be the best route because of who can obtain access to your information; first hand or expanded.

If you're unemployed you have nothing to lose by doing a general broadcast. The more people who see your resume the greater your chances are of finding a new or better job.

Often times third party recruiters are the ones most apt to take advantage of exploring the Internet to find candidates for their assignments. There are pluses and minuses to this also. A good recruiter who "picks you up" can be a great asset. You're more accessible to these professionals and make it easier to find you if you fit their area of expertise.

Because of the fact just mentioned the layout of the resume and the technical "buzz words" must lend itself to useful information at a glance. A glance on the screen is all the resume will get initially. If these "buzz words" are in plain sight, then the resume will be printed and read. The resume must be of the quality that can be submitted to the hiring manager. No one will do a rewrite and if a recruiter does a rewrite it may not be the document that reflects the original. This will be self-defeating if you get to the interview stage.

Do not include personal information on the resume document itself. Use attachments to be sent to specific individuals or companies when interest has been generated. The most sensitive, yet critical information would be salary parameters and professional references. You want to avoid inappropriate use of this information.

If the Internet service provider allows for targeting where the resume is sent take advantage of that option. If not then the information literally goes all over the place and possibly through multiple search engines. Here are some things to consider. Some recruiters (internal and external) avoid resumes from some of the larger search engines. They are looking select and fresh information. The size and age of the database is critical. You can easily get lost in the extreme volume. Many of the providers boast of the size of the database to attract advertisers. However, many savvy Internet users know that an old database can be ineffective.

As a final quality check "pull" your own resume off the Internet. Does it look the same way you submitted it? E- mail can do funny things. The most common problems are; extraneous symbols, misalign sentences, inappropriate spacing and omissions. You want to make sure this document looks good.

The best way to use the Internet in job search especially for the employed is to use a targeted company's web site do see if they're the best organization for you. Most are now listing their web sites in their want ads or marketing literature. However, a web site is only as good as the people utilizing it. Many a web master has developed a masterpiece only to have it languish due to misuse or under utilization.

Check to see how recently changes or updates have been made; the date is posted in the web site. Some are developed, go on the Internet but go unchecked or used for months at a time. The information is old or outdated plus your submission may not receive a response.

How user friendly is the web sites for job seekers. Many indicate job openings but are difficult to access by even the most savvy computer users. Is the web page used to not only attract candidates but qualify the positions to avoid inappropriate responses. You want to make sure that if you're submitting your resume that it will be retrieved, evaluated and responded to.

Web sites are still very useful for researching companies. Things to focus on include; products/ services, press releases, company history, philosophy, subsidiaries, etc. If the organization includes openings learn how to "glean" details to start your plan of action for quicker responses. Some resume submittals to web sites are delayed for weeks. It is not uncommon for a company to check e-mailed resumes only after an external recruiter has submitted a resume. A company wants to make sure that they haven't already received it so they can claim "first rights" by date received.

When using a specific company's web site for job search use the same techniques as if responding to a want ad. (Employment Times 12/10/98)

The Internet is a useful tool in job search or career advancement. But like all tools do not become dependent on this as your only method. Use it to expand or augment the net working, want ads or recruiters.

Be selective in choosing how you'll use the Internet to ensure that you'll achieved desired results. People are still the best connection in successful job search. Technology can bring people together or keep them apart. How the technology is used determines the success.

Tempesta & Associates, Inc.
6525 North Green Bay Road
Milwaukee, WI 53209

414-967-9250