Avoid these common online errors.
Before searching for jobs online, you should be aware of five common mistakes that people make. These are very similar to the errors of unskilled searchers when they look for general information on the Web. Many people believe that the rules that apply offline are relevant to the electronic landscape--and that's simply not the case.
1. You're Not Searching Multiple Sites
You check one job board and think your search is complete. No way. You should check out as many different sites as possible. Industry-specific job sites cover work specifics, and they might have more jobs available in your sector. According to Kevin Elliott, an about.com guide to Web searching: "Employers assume that the candidates they want are savvy enough to go to industry insider sites, so they don't bother with the general sites."
At Careerbuilder.com, of course, one job search covers both general and industry-specific job sites, so your quest is particularly efficient. If you're focused on a particular domestic location, simply go to a region-specific site. But if you are looking for work outside the United States, go on a country-by-country basis.
Some resume databases may be restrictive, of course, but brevity is not the soul of jobseeker success.
2. You Ignore Advanced Features
Certain advanced features at search sites are woefully underused. Automated search agents and e-mail notifications are easy to understand and put to use. You can filter your search by location, industry category, job title, and keyword. Such features are beneficial and should be used, Elliott believes, but job hunters may be resistant because it takes a little time to set up a good search agent. Some people may also be worried about personal information privacy. Another important feature: automatic notification. It's much easier to have relevant info delivered directly to you than checking repeatedly for new listings.
3. Your Resume Gets Lost
An effective Internet job search requires certain skills--so, customize your resume. Many companies simply will not look at a resume that is sent blindly. Figure out exactly where you'd like to work, whom to contact, check out their Web site, and then send a targeted resume. A properly formatted resume, says Elliott, is a "good-looking e-mail text file, not an attached Word document."
4. Your Resume Looks Bad
Some jobseekers employ formatting that doesn't translate well to electronic resumes. Your e-resume should be simple, clear, and easily scannable. Mark Oldman, co-founder of career site vault.com, finds that jobseekers incorporate fancy formatting into their resumes--and are dismayed when it doesn't translate across the Web. If you stick to basic formatting--no bullets, no bold faces, no indenting, no underlining--prospective employers can read all about you.
Oldman remembers that someone italicized the word cum laude in a recent resume; when formatted, a scanner translated the phrase into corn dude. Common sense goes a long way when designing an effective e-resume. Instead of indenting, use an asterisk or a plus. Instead of putting text in bold, consider using capital letters.
5. You Leave Things Out
The one-page resume rule doesn't always apply anymore. Incorporate key search terms into a concise document--and don't sweat it if the resume runs to two pages. Some resume databases may be restrictive, of course, but brevity is not the soul of jobseeker success.
"I've known some people to have success with actual resumes that go on for two pages," Oldman confesses. "Many companies have resume scanning systems that are looking for keywords--the more opportunity you have to incorporate keywords into your resume--the more likely your resume or profile will come up on the search."
Erin Flynn is a freelance writer and managing editor of Stephan Schiffman's Executive Sales Briefing, a newsletter for sales professionals in every industry. She has interviewed successful authors, business consultants, and sales experts.
