Electronic Job Hunting
Electronic job hunting has gone mainstream. Candidates are increasingly using the Internet to learn about job openings, send resumes, apply to companies and communicate with recruiters.
The number of job hunters tapping into the Internet isn’t known, but it’s definitely hefty. There are hundreds of career related sites on the Web, but nine million people came to just five major sites, AOL Workplace, Monster.com, CareerPath.com, CareerMosaic, and HeadHunter.net in June, according to Media Metrix, a New York City-based firm that monitors site traffic.
And visitors aren’t just technical professionals. They hail from such fields as management, sales, marketing, finance and accounting.
Convenience, speed, accessibility and a tight labor market are reasons why Internet job hunting has taken off. "Companies are using the Internet for recruiting because of cost and time," says Lynn Nemser, principal of Performance Partners Inc., a human-resources and management consulting firm in Pittsburgh. "The cost of recruiting on the Net is much lower than traditional methods. Also, jobs can be posted instantly and candidates can respond faster."
If you’re unemployed and want to launch an Internet job hunt, or are just browsing for something that appeals to you, remember that electronic searching has a different set of rules than traditional avenues. Here are 10 potential mistakes to avoid when pursuing a new job via the Internet.
1. Posting your resume indiscriminately
It may seem smart to post your resume at as many job banks as possible. After all, you’ll get maximum exposure to employers. But at some online job-search services, anyone can browse the resume banks. Before you submit a resume to one of these so-called "open" sites, know the risks and plan accordingly. What will you do, for instance, if your boss or co-workers stumble upon your resume and learn you’re in the job market? And how will you feel if your resume is copied to another site without your permission?
Even more serious is the possibility that someone who reads your resume might "borrow" your identity, warns the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. "People unwittingly aid the identity predators when they put detailed personal information online, such as family genealogies or resumes containing home addresses and phone numbers," says Beth Givens, project director for the San Diego-based group. Making your e-mail address public also may result in your receiving unwanted or inappropriate e-mail messages.
Do your homework and weigh the risks versus the rewards of putting a resume in cyberspace indiscriminately. You can limit your exposure by choosing to post only on sites where recruiters need passwords to see it or where you must give the OK before employers can see your full resume. Or you can provide generic information about past employers, then offer the specifics later in the hiring cycle.
Bernie Eisenberg, a senior human-resources manager in New Milford, Conn., was reluctant to reveal details about himself indiscriminately on the Web during a recent search. He opted to work with several sites that are password protected and to limit the amount of personal information he disclosed. Although he ultimately found his position as a manager of human resources at AMS Services Inc., a software development firm in Windsor, Conn., through a newspaper advertisement, he was pleased with the results he generated from internet postings. He received four calls from recruiters "for real jobs that I wouldn’t have [received] otherwise," says Mr. Eisenberg.
2. Sending your resume to an employer as an attachment
Applying online is a great convenience. But employers don’t want to receive resumes as attachments because they may carry viruses. Instead, they prefer that you cut and paste your resume into the body of your message or application.
Many job-search and corporate sites allow you to respond to specific openings by completing an online form, then pasting in your resume before sending it. For example, SAS Institute Inc., a Cary, N.C., software development firm, uses an online application form that can be downloaded to submit by e-mail, fax or mail. Always follow the company’s directions on how it wants to receive your resume.
Regardless of the format you use to apply, include key words that reflect your experience and skills, as well as words listed in the job posting, in your application. Most companies use recruiting software that searches keywords and prioritizes resumes based on the number of those words it finds.
3. Inviting employers to a personal web site that isn’t top notch
Some job seekers are creating highly visual resumes in cyberspace. But if you want employers to visit your home page and you provide links to it in your e-mail, be sure that your presentation is professional and technically sound. After all, the reason for having a professional home page is to show off your skills and enhance your marketability.
In this context, your home page should be a business presentation, not a family album. Consider developing an online portfolio, not just a resume. You might want to include samples of your work, capabilities or philosophy, as well as factual details about your experience. Don’t include jokes or inappropriate sayings, personal information about your family or photos. If security is a concern, control access to your web page with a password.
4. Writing elaborate e-mail cover letters
Often, your initial communication with an employer will be via e-mail. Make it short and to the point. Cite the job you want in the "subject" line of your e-mail. Mention it again in the " summary" section of your resume, along with your overall qualifications. You can follow up by sending a longer cover letter and a printed version of your resume by regular mail.
5. "Flaming" others
You can develop a lasting reputation, good or bad, on the Internet. It’s easy to network online through news groups, listserves and job-networking groups. The point is to learn what’s going on in your industry or field and about potential job opportunities. But your correspondence may stay in cyberspace for years and companies can use search engines to review it. Think about the impression you create in your messages. Never be unpleasant to others, no matter how justified you might feel. Instead, be as helpful as possible by providing information, suggestions and ideas.
6. Getting lost on the Internet
The more organized and focused you are while job hunting, the better. With so many interesting sites to visit, you easily can get distracted while searching the Net. Before you know it, an hour or two may have passed and you didn’t actually job hunt. Make the most of your time by setting job objectives (job title, location and salary range, etc.) and creating a target list of companies to pursue.
7. Putting all your eggs in one basket
Developing an online strategy is one tool in your career-advancement kit. For many candidates, the Internet opens up an exponential amount of job-related information, including vacancies, company profiles, industry information and professional contacts. But don’t make it your only option, says Bernadette Kenny, chief operating officer of Lee Hecht Harrison Inc., a Woodcliff Lake, N.J., outplacement firm. She advises job seekers to explore traditional and "new media" job-search avenues, then devote the most time to those that offer the best results.
8. Applying to multiple jobs at the same company.
Some companies post multiple job openings on one web site. But recruiters at these firms say many candidates often apply for several of their openings simultaneously. Not only is it time consuming for them to review all the resumes, but they naturally assume that such candidates don’t know what they want to do.
Be aware that the decks are stacked against you when you apply for multiple jobs listed for one company on the same site. Usually, a system allows the employer to evaluate resumes for all open jobs simultaneously.
The more focused you are, the more likely you’ll be perceived as a serious candidate and considered for openings. Only apply for jobs that you’re truly suited for.
9. Listing references on your resume.
In a tight job market, references can be a great source of candidates for recruiters facing difficult searches, say search executives who prefer not to be identified. To avoid having references contacted for this reason, only provide their names when you’re asked to and when you’re certain you’re being considered for a job.
10. Mass mailing a resume.
Recruiters on the Internet complain about the volumes of resumes they receive from unqualified candidates. Fred Rhines, president of Remedy Intelligent Staffing, a Danbury, Conn., recruiting firm, says some job hunters apply for jobs they don’t really want by using "broadcast" buttons on career sites. These services are programmed to send resumes when certain positions are listed, even if job hunters aren’t interested in the company or location. Avoid this by reading job postings carefully and applying only when they match your background and interest, Mr. Rhines advises.
-By KEVIN C. WILSON, a consultant whose Ridgefield, Conn., practice supports companies in their recruiting efforts.
For a complete listing of Other Courses Click Here
|
