If you’ve had to look for work in the past few years, chances are you’ve taken your search online. More than 79% of American job searchers said they used the internet or online resources to help their search.
Online job search sites have existed for over two decades now, and many are still going strong today. Along with traditional job search sites, social media is very much participating in the job search game with 84% of job recruiting organizations saying they have or plan to use social media in job recruiting. And of course there are any number of job referral sites in use by universities or professional organizations to help their members or alumni find the employment they seek.
With all of those online options, what strategies can you employ to help you find a job online fast?
1 – Have your full resume and basic cover letter ready to go
You should always tailor your resume and cover letter to the company and specific position you’re applying for, but the best way to do that is to have basic versions of both documents ready to go that you can then tweak when you apply for a job. This can make your application turn-around time much faster so you can get your application in fast when a position becomes available. This is especially important if the listing is only open for a certain amount of time or only accepting a certain number of applicants.
2 – LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn
Whether you’re specifically looking to be recruited on LinkedIn or not, your LinkedIn profile is one of the first things prospective employers will check. Make sure your profile is clean and ready for business and up-to-date with all of your latest work, professional organization memberships, and education or certifications listed.
3 – Let your social network know you’re in the job market
Despite the prevalence of the internet in job searches, you should never underestimate the power of your human network—friends and family are still a great tool to help you find a job. As it happens, the internet is still probably the best place to let them know you need help. Post on Instagram or Facebook that you’re in the market for a job (unless that would cause problems with a current employer) and ask your friends and family to let you know if they know of any opportunities that would work for you.
4 – Setup job alerts
This is a big one. Most online job search sites will allow you to setup a profile where you can upload your resume and other qualifications to make job applications faster. Most will also allow you to set alerts for certain kinds of positions opening up in certain areas. Set those alerts for yourself so you will be notified if a position like the one you’re looking for comes available in your area.
5 – Use government job search sites
While many government jobs are also on other job search sites, try both federal and local job search sites to look for available government jobs near you.
