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How to Search for a Job

When searching for a job, don't limit your search to just one source. Looking at a variety of searches will ensure that your search is as broad as possible, giving you a better chance at finding a job. Newspapers, job search engines, job search sites and company sites can all prove helpful.

Most job searchers find that using numerous resources will produce faster and more favorable results. The more options you consider, the better the possibility that you will find a position that meets all of your desired criteria.

Job Search Resources: Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of a variety of sources you can use for employment searches.

Newspapers

• Pros: Information is categorized, concise and somewhat more reliable than the information that comes from websites that post ads for free. If the newspaper is local, listings are all for a specific area, taking out the distance factor.
  
  
• Cons: Information is packed together and difficult to skim. Many listings are repeated daily, so if descriptions are similar it may be difficult to keep track of which jobs you’ve applied for or decided against. Similarly, because job postings are listed in a limited space, they tend to be more vague.

Internet Job Search Engines

• Pros: The possibilities of job search engines are endless. You can search by category, location or even pay. Keyword searches can pull listings from multiple job categories, giving you choices you may not have considered. Many sites are industry-specific, taking out a lot of the guesswork.
  
  Job search sites such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com allow you to create a profile and store resumes online. Employers can search for you based on criteria you have saved, allowing a two-way search to take place. Many job search sites also offer free e-mail alerts, which send you messages containing new job listings that match criteria in your profile.
  
  
• Cons: The number of people that are searching the same job search sites as you is unbelievable, making the competition tough. Some sites do not screen or require payment for employers to create listings.
  
  As a result, employers may not be who they say they are, and job descriptions may be telemarketing or door-to-door sales positions in disguise. Look out for ads that advertise the moneymaking potential of a job without saying anything about the job’s actual duties.

Company Web Sites

• Pros: Job listings posted on company sites are often the most reliable in many ways. The descriptions are always accurate, information about the company is readily available and the contact information provided is that of the company. When dealing with a company Web site there is no middleman, preventing the possibility that your application will get lost as it's filtered through outside sources. Also, searching for specific companies in specific areas creates a higher possibility for success.
  
  
• Cons: Searching for a job on company Web sites is generally time-consuming. You must find companies you want to work for (whether through the yellow pages, trade publications or word of mouth), navigate their sites to find out if there are open positions and then apply to individual positions. All of this can take a lot longer than running employment searches on job search engines.

All of these tools can be helpful, whether utilized alone or in combination. No matter which job search tool you choose, verify that the company and listing are legitimate before applying or putting forth too much effort. Use your judgment. Most companies will use company e-mail addresses and numbers that can be found on their Web sites. Double-check the information by going to the company’s site and looking up its contact information.

Finding the right job can take time, so don’t rush the job search or get discouraged. Perseverance will eventually pay off.