Introduction
Issues in Online Job Searching
Key Mainstream Job Search Sites
Key Niche Sites
What Not to Do
Introduction
This workshop is a change of pace from the
preceding seminars. It's going to be a more
intense and more personal evening with a more
hands-on approach.
While conducting these seminars and developing
eSight Careers NetworkTM and Adaptive Solutions for
Independence, The Associate Blind, Inc., has
identified some of the issues those of us in the
blind community need to address as we use online
databases for job searching. I'll share with you
what we've learned.
Specifically, I'll discuss these four topics:
- Issues in Online Job Searching
- Key Mainstream Job Search Sites
- Key Niche Sites
- What Not to Do
And we'll have a job search demonstration by
some of the people within our Member Services
team, who will be using speech and enhancement
software, and then give you an opportunity to
conduct your own online job searches.
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Issues in Online Job Searching
There are three major issues for online job
searching:
First, there are two activities which happen
simultaneously. Job candidates are searching for
jobs, and employers are searching for candidates.
Each activity uses databases, so it's important
that you use appropriate, precise key words in
your resume so you can be matched with the
right job in a timely manner.
Second, as a job seeker, you can use search
agents. Here's how a search agent works: You post
your profile on a specific site, and, when your
criteria matches a job posting by an employer,
you get an e-mail notification about that job.
It's a static, slower type of job search, and
you'll get fewer leads than self searching, but
it's a good way to keep track of openings within
a specific field, a specific geographical area or
a specific organization.
Third, self searching is more complex and time
consuming. It's a trial-and-error approach for
each job search site because each is a little
different than the others. There are some
similarities among the sites, but look for those
nuances so you can effectively narrow the replies
you receive. Using adaptive equipment, of course,
makes self searching just that much more
complicated and time consuming.
All job databases organize data according to key
words. Be sure your resume contains the
right key words. Check sites for job postings which
match the job you're seeking, and look at the key
words used. That will give you ideas about what key
words to consider for your own resume.
Here's a site I've found helpful in writing a
resume using key words: www.eresumes.com.
It's well organized, contains good advice and is
inclusive. It's heavy on text and contains few
graphics.
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Key Mainstream Job Search Sites
These, I believe, stand out from the pack:
- www.monster.com
- www.hotjobs.com
- www.headhunter.com
- www.careers.yahoo.com
- www.joboptions.com
- www.quintcareers.com
These sites have various degrees of
accessibility. Each has unique features. All are very
large. Choose those which work best for you.
By the way, joboptions.com, one of the major job
sites, has a working relationship with the
National Association of People with Disabilities
(NAPD).
Also worthy of note is quintcareers.com, which
includes a comprehensive listing of top job sites
and categorizes job postings nicely by industry,
such as agriculture, teaching, art, social work,
medicine etc. (not just the traditional
breakdowns). There are now so many online job
sites; quintcareers.com helps you
narrow your search and winnow out the best.
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Key Niche Sites
In addition to the major job search sites, there
are also many niche sites, which can be more
helpful for you because they are targeted. Here
are examples:
- www.careerpath.com contains a list of U.S
newspapers (for checking classifieds).
- www.nytimes.com contains a classified job
section for New York City.
- www.njjobs.com contains a classified job
section for New Jersey.
Most of the disability sites which feature
job listings now are partnered with the
mainstream job sites. Here are examples:
- www.acb.org
- www.nfb.org
- www. wemedia.com
Check specific company sites. Many of them post
open jobs. I like the employer data available at
www.vault.com.
There's a helpful section about different
industries on www.WetFeet.com. It cites jobs, job
titles and job summaries within specific
industries. With a little research, you'll begin
to recognize career paths within each industry so
you can chart your own preferred course. This is
also an excellent resource for collecting key
words and understanding what is required of a
specific job. Navigating WetFeet.com may
be a little complicated for those using screen
readers, but it's still accessible.
Other examples:
- A helpful source for internships is
www.review.com.
- For government jobs, check www.usajobs.opm.gov.
- A prominent site matching freelancers with
clients is www.guru.com.
Each of these niche sites has a value. Get
acquainted with those which fit your career
focus. There are so many job boards on the Web.
Set search agents on the two or three sites which
offer the best potential for you so you'll be
notified when the right types of jobs for you are
posted.
Every site includes dates and reference numbers
on job postings. Check the number and posting
date on a job posting that interests you. Some
companies refresh them, especially those for jobs
which are difficult to place. Be cautious of an
old posting. Is it for real?
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What Not to Do
Here are some tips about what to avoid.
- Do not telephone a prospective employer, even
if the organization's phone number is on the job
posting.
- Do not pay for anything. On all viable job
sites, job candidates do not pay to access job
listings or to post a resume
- Do not send formatted resume. Send
resume in plain text online (as part of
your e-mail message). Don't send your resume
as an attachment.
- Do not respond to too many jobs on the same
site at the same time. If you respond to two or
three job postings on the same site, you'll be
perceived as someone just shopping around.
Employers will consider you a waste of their
time. Employers can identify how many times
the same resume¨as been submitted on
the same site.
- Do not be unprepared for a telephone
screening call. When you respond to a job
posting, employers will likely call you to
quickly eliminate those candidates who are not
interested or those who are not interesting. Be
prepared for that telephone interview. Have a script
available. Be responsive to the questions you can
expect. Think before you respond to a job posting.
If you tailored your resume to meet specific
qualifications, fine tune your telephone script
accordingly. Have your tailored resume available
during the phone interview so you can refer to it.
- Do not reveal your identity, if you don't
want your present employer to know you're looking
for a job. Know how the site will use your resume.
Post your resume without contact information and
arrange for the job site to e-mail you when you
receive a response from a potential employer. You can
then respond directly to the employer.
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