With the economy not doing well and a lot of folks looking for work globally I decided to write a Hub Page to give folks some quick web sites and tips to aid in their employment search.

I also wanted to give some basic tips for folsk not used to this effort to help them stay out of trouble and get scammed. It bugs me to no end that folsk will take advantage of people that are in a bit of trouble.

Anyway lets proceed:

I'll mention quite a few sites so I'll include them in a link section at the bottom of the page for people's reference.

Whether you are currently out of work, considering a move to a better opportunity or simply curious as to whats out there. There are a few things you can do to make this all easier.

I have used these tips and web sites from time to time.

• Get a resume, either create a new one of use a existing one, you will also need it in both MS Word format and a text format
• Get a Generic Cover letter, again create or reuse. You will be able to customize this for the various positions.
• Get a free email address ( I like gmail) and use that on your resume. You will get spam mail to your valid email otherwise.
• Use a telephone number carefully. I suggest you get a prepaid cell phone and use that. They come with voice mail. You can travel with it and call back from your home phone. I have used Tracfone before and it worked well. I now use a Voice Over IP number when I look for a new position or contract. If you want take a look at my other Hub Page on that subject.
• Post your resume to a web site but do not check the boxes to make it search-able. I have also seem this recommendation from career placement services that my friends have used. Recruiters can grab your resume and then submit it away sometimes without knowing it and then possibly prevent you from applying to a job at that company. The whole thing can get quite ugly. I used to use recruiters in my past roles and they all want money based on there submissions of a candidate. The ugly part can come when a person independently applies to a position and then the recruiter sends the resume over as well. This places the employer in a tough spot and could cost your the position. So unless you want a lot of junk calls, spam and useless position mails . I'd keep my resume private.

Job Searching:

My preference is to us the various web sites as places I can search and then apply to positions I see fit.you can use targeted searches and then hit the apply buttons on the various sites and utilize the the posted resumes you have online and the cover letters to make this process a bit faster. Most of the sites also track the positions for you.

The Search itself:

This is more of a art than a technical matter and I'll be honest I think 90% of all the contracts or jobs I've ever had are a result of a personal contact and not a resume to a job posting. I counter that however with I have had a fair number of interviews based on these submission contrary to the prevailing advice you hear from placement services, this can work.

Here is my approach:

Setup searches that are targeted, most site allow you to use zip codes and keywords, choose carefully. Have them emailed to you at a determined interval. I usually go weekly when on a deal and daily when I'm not. Use several site for this:

Places I Like:

• Indeed - This is a site that has positions form all the various job boards. It's not bad and generally will take you to the site that the position is listed at. I use this site quite a bit.
• Dice - This is like Indeed but you can host a resume and post directly from that. It's not bad as well.
• Monster - I know it's the old standard but it's been pretty good for me personally I'm had quite a few hits from this
• Hotjobs - Much like monster but I like it
• Careerbuilder - Again tried and true

Places I do not like:

The Ladders - the 100K site advertises like crazy , I signed up via a deal for x months and did not have 1 single call back. The resume critique service simply criticized my professionally written resumes used by numerous consulting and placement services it was comical actually. There point was to sell their $600.00 plus resume service. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Engage if you want but I canceled my subscription. Oh a word to the wise.. if you do sign up they hide a clause that says they can recurring bill you at you re-up date. so if you forget you could end up with a big bill by accident at likely a time when you do not need it.

WARNINGS:

Never pay a service up front to help you find a job:

I have used recruiters for years, both from a employment seeking standpoint and also a employer standpoint. I also have a friend who has been in the search firm business for years. ANY recruiter or search firm worth anything will not charge you personally a dime for looking for a position.

The way it usually works is the various employers contact the recruiters with the positions they want filled and either have a fixed fee they will pay the recruiter if they get them the right person for the job or another way is they will pay a percentage of the yearly salary the potential employee will make.There are a multitude of combinations but the end is "DO NOT ENGAGE THESE SEARCH FIRMS THAT WANT MONEY UP FRONT" I have yet to see one that is not what I will call a scam. They may exist but I have not seen them.

Conclusion:

A Internet Job search can work for some people, if it's targeted and well done in combination with traditional methods. If you choose to publicly post your resume you will end up endlessly SPAMMED by folks wanting to make you "insurance sales agents"for companies you have never heard of. be careful, be diligent and good luck.