Online Job Searches for Marketers
It is estimated that there are more than 40,000 job boards currently in operation and a quick scan of the most popular will show there is no shortage of jobs out there either. But there is a right way – and a wrong way – to go about landing your next job through an online source. In fact, if you’re just viewing the boards and submitting your resume, you are only completing one of many steps to land a job.
With me today to talk jobs, job hunting, and how to do it effectively was Peter Weddle. Peter is a writer of online job search and career management for CareerJournal.com from The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNNfn.com and the National Business Employment Weekly. He also writes a bi-weekly newsletter that is distributed worldwide. He’s also published an array of career books, guides and directories.
From his research, Peter notes that more than one half of employers use job boards to fill one quarter of their positions, making online job boards the number one medium used by hiring companies -- and offering a full spectrum of jobs and titles. Job boards are not just for entry level positions!
Weddle also suggests using a 5:1 strategy...use five sites to land one great job. Use two general sites (monster, career builder) and three niche sites that target your field, industry, and geography.
Peter also suggests using an application two-step. First and foremost FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. Nothing will reduce your chances of getting noticed faster than irritating the recruiter by NOT submitting your materials according to their requested process. Make sure you follow the employer's rules no matter how much you think doing it differently will help to make you stand out from the rest -- because it will but in a negative way. Second, make sure to network with your offline community to see if they know anyone at the company that can help put human eyeballs to your resume. Work your contacts to see if they can help you make deeper contact into that company.
Peter has written a book, Finding a Job on the Web. Call him at 317-598-9768 to get a copy, or subscribe to his newsletter at www.weddles.com. Of course, go to the AMA's job board for information on the latest marketing jobs as well!!
Comments
Many of the local chapters have their own job boards, would you ask Peter what advice he would give to local chapters to improve their job boards?
Posted by: John Cass | November 9, 2007 8:49 PM
The trick to managing a great chapter job board is to transform the visitor experience. Most job boards have the look and feel of a store; basically, they support a transaction between a buyer of labor (the employer) and a seller of labor (the individual). The best talent (and especially your members) want a very different experience; in essence, they seek a farm-like environment that nurtures relationships with them. To achieve that transformation, the site’s content, features and functionality must support their career advancement when they aren’t looking for a job as well as when they are.
Posted by: Peter Weddle | November 20, 2007 6:30 AM