Job Site Reviews
From LoveToKnow Online
If you're just starting your job hunt, the plethora of job-related websites may seem confusing, but reviews of the more popular job sites can help you start your search.
Online Job Site Reviews
The Big Time: Monster.com
For many, the first stop in an online job hunt is the extremely popular and well-trusted Monster.com. This job site features keyword- or zip-code-based job searches in a plethora of professions, allows job hunters to create a personalized account with different resumes and cover letters, and keeps a detailed record of jobs applied to. Unfortunately, Monster's popularity comes with a price - ad-rich pages (often, an ad loads before you're allowed to go to the next page) and copious job postings for temp agencies and recruiters. In addition, the site tends to focus on career-oriented jobs in the administrative and computing sectors and not on part-time or unusual jobs. However, Monster is a good first stop on your job hunt because it covers a multitude of professions, is well-respected, and is fairly user-friendly.
Think carefully about entering your phone number on Monster. Some users have received numerous phone calls from companies they have absolutely no intention of working for. If you just post your email address, you can screen potential employers at your leisure and waste much less time on the phone talking to companies you are not interested in.
Simple and Straightforward: Craigslist
If Monster's complex interface isn't for you or you want local or specialized listings, you might want to try Craigslist when hunting for a job. Craigslist job postings are inexpensive and organized by location and job type, and contain everything from top-level management positions to creative freelance and part-time work. The upside of a job site like Craigslist is its accessibility - it's easy to navigate and you can apply to most jobs with a simple e-mail. The site is free for job-searchers and does not have ads. However, the site does not screen employers before they post an ad and doesn't receive anywhere near the traffic enjoyed by a large site like Monster. Unfortunately for job hunters, Craigslist offers no features such as resume storage or a list of jobs you've applied to, so it requires a bit more legwork. But Craigslist is a great gap-filler for job hunters who aren't finding what they want via a larger job site such as Monster.
Middle Ground: Careerbuilder
Combining a large selection of jobs with smaller sites devoted to freelance work, career information and apartment hunt resources, Careerbuilder.com is a good one-stop shop for today's job hunter. The site offers specialized job searches and stores resumes for job hunters, and even links to career fairs and temp agencies. However, like Monster.com, Careerbuilder includes lots of ads and pop-ups that might discourage you as you hunt for jobs.
Don't Forget The Obvious: Newspaper and Specialty Searches
Looking for localized and specialty positions? You may want to unleash the power of a search engine like Google or Yahoo! (though Yahoo! has its own job search site entitled Hotjobs). This can uncover local listings and profession-specific sites that list up-to-date jobs in your field and area. Bottom line - job search sites are useful, but should be only the first step as you embark on the quest for the perfect profession. Happy hunting!
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Comments
Thanks for the suggestions, Joan! It's always good to hear about free online resources.
-- Contributed by: Lorie WitkopI want to make a note about job sites that combine listings from other sites. WorkTree seems inexpensive, but you can get the same service for free from Beyond.com and Indeed.com. I recommend those.
-- Contributed by: Joan PThanks for the suggestion, Roger.
-- Contributed by: Lorie WitkopThis page has been accessed 2,159 times. This page was last modified 20:42, 26 August 2007.
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