HISTORY OF JOB SEARCH
Online recruitment started almost the same time in the USA and in England in the early 90's with providers like Monster.com in the USA, Jobserve.com in the UK and Allstarjobs.ca (started in 1997). A job bank at that time merely had a few thousand of open job positions and the chance of putting employers in touch with jobseekers was quite remote.
Since those early days, we have seen an explosion of job search sites and the technology has improved a lot for the benefit of both, recruiters and jobseekers. Nowadays, typing "Job Search" in search fields of Google or Yahoo, you get millions of pages dealing with this subject.
Now we have a new problem: how not to get lost in this jungle of ultimate Career and Job Search Services (of which many require an inscription fee). What do we really want? Using the Internet in first place has the advantage of speed and the possibility to look in any geographical area for the required job that the candidate is qualified for, or aspires to. With the Internet installed at home,it is possible to investigate the potential employers, ask questions and apply for the position, without even taking off your pajamas.
How do we explain the recent evolution in online recruitment technology? Even if you feel relatively satisfied with the current search offerings of top job search engines like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com or Hotjobs.com, there are still many doors open for improvements and a lot of research is going on in the field of vertical engines, meaning-based search, intent-driven search, new clustering methods, and much more.
ALL-IN-ONE JOB SEARCH ENGINES
A recent trend in job search engines is the emergence of all-in-one or metasearch engines(sometimes also referred as vertical job search engines), allowing jobseekers to search across multiple websites. Among the most popular engines are
Indeed (in the USA),
Wowjobs (in Canada) and
Trovit (in the UK).
Probably the most powerful of all is Indeed, which was founded by Paul Forster and his partner Rony Kahan in the year 2004 to cover the US job market. According to Hitwise data, Indeed saw its market share increase by 302% in the year 2006 and this only seems to be the beginning. The success of Indeed and other metasearch or all-in-one search engines is the fact that job seekers can go to one place to find all jobs,overcoming the limitation of the job boards, which have a finite number of listings. A comparison of mayor job search engines reveals that there is no need any more to look in all the individual engines to find the best fits for the job you are looking for. There are more job sites than you can count, ranging from the top job sites like Monster and CareerBuilder to small, niche sites in just about every career field you can imagine. Indeed is searching in more than 1200 engines at a time and brings you the result in seconds on your screen. With a couple of clicks of your mouse, you search the major job sites, company sites, associations, and other online job sites by keyword and location to get job listings that match the criteria you selected. With it's high-tech search strategy, Indeed clearly leaves behind other so-called meta-job search engines like Jobster and SimpyHired. With Wowjobs and Trovit, metasearch engines focused on the Canadian and UK job market, and respectively the situation is very similar.
POSTING YOUR RESUME IN RECRUITMENT SERVICES
A developing trend with both jobs search engines and jobs boards is that many now encourage users to post their resume or CV together with contact details. The fact is, it`s proven that posting your resume in a proactive way in the mayor resume distribution systems will put it on the desk of hundreds of recruiters and can more than double the chance of getting a job!
The advantages of Resume Posting are:
- You more than double your chance of getting "discovered" by a recruiter who is looking for a person with exactly your experience and abilities.
- You put your resume in the hands of hundreds of recruiters, almost instantly!
- You are sending your resume only to recruiters focusing on your specific industry or job categories.
- You save a lot of time and money and you get an instant edge - with only little effort from your part!
- Your resume is passing a pre-selection system and when it comes on the desk of hiring managers they will read it very carefully.
Resume posting has become an attractive business for the recruitment companies as they sell the access to their resume bank to headhunters and recruiting managers. Anyhow, jobseekers should be aware of the risks of uploading personal information to the Internet since they have no control over what will happen with their data and their resume might be seen by their current employer or even by "identity thefts". To learn more about resume online posting, click
here
TAKE A BREATH AND SLOW DOWN
The question is still if all the improvements in search technology also improved the overall performance of recruitment efforts. Finding a job still is hard work. It is very helpful to slow down, take time, and analyze if you are happy with your current situation and what career is really right for you. In our modern world, the best job success is earning good money with work that gives you a sense of purpose, expresses your talents and passions, and is consistent with your values. A lack of many Job Search Sites is that they do not assist the jobseekers in finding their best career fit and even confusing people in trying to evaluate their current situation. Job searching is a short-term pursuit of a position that matches your financial and career goals. Career planning is a long, progressive process of choosing education, training, and jobs that fit your interests and skills. This planning process also includes the evaluation of career change or self-employment opportunities. Deciding what type of work you want to pursue requires knowledge and understanding of your interests, your values, your motivation, and the skills you enjoy using the most. This is helpful whether you are choosing a career for the first time or changing careers for the twenty-first time. The Two-Approach Guide for Effective and Easy Job Search is intended to guide jobseekers through this process instead of simply offering hundreds of links without explanation and leading to confusion. One aspect that even the most powerful Job Search engine cannot cover is the fact that probably the majority of job vacancies are never posted in journals, newspapers or on-line and you only find them using the right contacts or your Network.
This "hidden job market" only can be exploited by keeping focus on people who have experiences, and contacts that might be interesting for you.
Good possibilities to build up your Network, are for example job fairs or similar events where you meet hiring managers, job lead sources and other valuable contacts.
CONCLUSIONS
Using state-of-the art job search engines, online recruitment has become a powerful tool for a fast, efficient and economical job search and the performance is improving constantly. But every jobseeker should be aware of the fact that even the most powerful job search engine should be considered only as a single tool in the Job Search Strategy and that still most jobs are found using personal Networks. Finding a job is all about people, the people you know, and people you meet who have the job information and who will inevitably help you get a job.
Online Job Search using all-in-one or metasearch engines definitely makes life much easier but should not be overestimated.
RESOURCES
1.Two-Approach Job Search Guide
2. David Hurst,Chairman - ORMC, 2004
3. Joel Cheesman's Blog, "Craigslist puts smackdown on verticals", October 19, 2006.
4. INTERNET Inc, "Job Search Verticals - The List", October 5, 2006.
5. Read/WriteWeb, "Search 2.0 - What's Next?", December 13, 2006.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Oswald J. Eppers, PhD is manager of the consulting firm
E&R InterConsult and founder of the Two-Approach Guide for easy and effective Job Searching and Career Assessment. He has more than 10 years experience as freelance consultant in the field of outsourcing, environmental and quality management.
Networking for Novices: It's All in Who You Know
Heading off to another conference and dreading the schmoozing scene? It might help to know that networking is a critical element of a successful job search. In fact, there is a lot of truth to the saying, "It's all in who you know."
Many jobs, particularly high-level and executive, fill through word of mouth, rather than through traditional channels. A solid grasp of networking basics keeps you in the loop and helps avoid the urge to skip networking opportunities.
Network here, there, and everywhere
Conferences and seminars are great places to meet influential people, but making contacts doesn't necessarily have to take place in hotel conference rooms. Day-to-day functions and events in your current job, as well as during free time, offer many opportunities to meet important people. An invitation you received to your neighbor's holiday party could be the perfect chance to meet that CEO or HR manager living around the block.
In this age of technology, your laptop is an invaluable friend when it comes to job searching. With a little Internet surfing, you will find an abundance of message boards and chat rooms that are industry-specific and provide not only the advice of other professionals, but also contacts that could prove useful down the road. Over time, networking helps you build a list of valuable contacts.
Networking is not a bad word
Some people dread the idea of networking because they equate it with "schmoozing" or "sucking up," but it is simply a process of getting to know people. If you are friendly and good at making small talk in social and work-related settings, then your list of "Who's Who" will grow quickly! Don't stress yourself by the idea of having to be "on" and making a good impression.
Basic social skills will get you through your first few rounds of networking, and while you may not impress everyone you meet, you can avoid leaving bad impressions altogether by doing your best to make sure people remember your name. Try sticking with these basics:
• Relax. People can tell if you are nervous or anxious, but you don't need to be - most of them are doing the same thing as you. Don't get hung up on titles. For the most part, everyone is approachable, and if they aren't, move on.
• Be yourself. You know how to talk to people. Don't over think it. Talk about whatever makes sense. Wander the room, hit the buffet, do what seems natural. Inevitably, a situation will arise where you can break the ice and start a conversation. There is always something to talk about, even the weather!
• Make eye contact and smile. It makes you appear sincere and interested. If you come across as distracted, or let your attention wander, it will show and it is downhill from there.
• Be polite. Put your best manners on display. Be a good listener and don't interrupt. Avoid making rude or biased comments, and end conversations gracefully. If you've done the job right, you might even score a business card before you go.
• Follow up. If you connected with someone and discussed the possibility of working together, follow up with him or her a few days later. Schedule lunch or arrange a formal meeting to discuss future endeavors.
If you leave a function empty-handed, don't be discouraged. You win some, you lose some. There will be other opportunities to meet people and hone your networking skills.
ResumeEdge.com is one of the nations leading resume writing service providers, offering professional resume writing, editing, and guidance. For additional resume writing resources, including free sample resumes, visit http://www.resumeedge.com today!
Secrets of Your Perfect CV.
Many students treat the CV as simply an exercise in listing their academic qualifications and school history; this is a huge waste of opportunity as well as your time! When you apply for your first position it is likely that you will be in competition with others (perhaps hundreds) who have similar histories, interests, etc. Why do you think that any prospective employer should choose you over all the others?
It is apparent, I hope, that you need to do something that will allow you to stand out as someone special, someone they remember and wish to see. How? Well, keep reading, the purpose of this short essay is to provide you with just a little guidance in what may feel like a mud-drenched minefield – remember, if you have found this article, if you bother to read and understand, then you are already ahead of all those who have not!
In the event that you wish to read more, just pop over to our site, www.cv-expert.co.uk. If you feel the need for some particular advice drop us an e-mail or ring, contact details are given on the site.
So, just what is likely to impress your prospective employer: captain of school football team, head of debating society, six month’s trip around Europe/Australia/Africa/wherever, or six months work experience in a factory? The answer, any or all of them, providing the experience is presented in such a way as to emphasise that you have learnt something of value to them. So, do not just list the action, but comment upon it, demonstrating decision making prowess, problem solving ability, setting and achieving your goals and so on. They will wish to see that you have gained from your experience(s), reflected upon them, and learnt some new understanding or skill.
Typically, it is likely that your prospective employer will be choosing a dozen individuals from, literally, hundreds or even thousands of applicants. It is essential that you do everything possible to differentiate yourself from all the others, in a positive manner, not by the use of shocking pink notepaper!
Put simply, those who van demonstrate whatever qualities the employer values will tend to get the interviews, and thence the jobs. When should you start thinking about your CV? Pretty much the day you arrive at uni! Yes, I know, there are a million and one other things that are much, much more exiting, interesting and, let’s face it, have an infinitely greater ‘wow’ factor. However, starting your CV early on does mean that you are able to compare what you have to offer with what the employer is seen to want, and then do something about it if any particular areas are, perhaps, a little weak.
During your first year, you should contact the careers service, go to any company workshops that may be run, and undertake some additional work relevant to your long-term aims, if you have any idea what these may be!
Many of the undergraduates I speak to have a common fault of under stating both their experience and achievements. It is absolutely essential that you recognise that, whatever you do, the experience can almost certainly be transferred to a different field. For example, if you earned money by part-time work in a shoe shop you will have gained experience in public relations, sales, stock control and so on; if you spent time serving behind the bar then you certainly have gained some knowledge of human character, as well as team-work and dealing with customers! Get the picture? Do not undersell yourself.
Employers like to see evidence of non-academic activities, demonstrating that you are a rounded character, look at the web-sites of relevant companies, many have guidance for onsite applicants; make sure that your application reflects their needs, address those areas that all employers look for, such as intellect, personality, judgement, drive and influence.
Your CV should address the needs of the particular employer you are applying to; this means that that you need to alter each individual CV for each individual job. Read the job description thoroughly, the words or clues will be there. The fact is, if you do not bother, and someone else spends an extra hour tailoring their CV to meet the employers needs, who do think will get the interview? And then get the job?
The individual who gets the job is not necessarily the one best at that job, but he or she most certainly is better at presenting themselves. You do not need to be top of the class, but you do need to know how to present your qualities.
We wish you luck!
