Money & Finances

Begin your online job search by visiting the top online job boards.  

Here are the Top 14 Places To Find A Job Online. The list also includes tips and tricks for using each website. 

Pros & Cons Of Online Job Sites

Of course, even the "best" job search websites have pros and cons to them.  

Some examples:

Craigslist is a very popular site for finding jobs and freelance work.  Unfortunately, you need to weed through a great deal of  garbage before you find legitimate opportunities.  Since listing a job on Craigslist is free (with the exception of a few major metropolitan areas), many people list scam opportunities on the Craigslist job boards.  In time, you will learn to differentiate which is which.

Many of the online job search websites cater to people looking for technology jobs.  Monster, Dice, and Women in Technology International all cater to this small niche.  Of course, all people are not seeking technological jobs. 

Another major issue with the online job search sites is that they are meant to screen prospective employees, therefore it is difficult to make personal contact with the people to whom you are sending your resume.

Tips For Finding A Job Online

One resume will not fit all job openings.  Therefore, once you have found a few jobs that fit your expertise (or that you are otherwise interested in), be sure to tailor your resume to fit each specific opportunity.  At the very least, you need to write a new cover letter for each job to which you are applying. 

Don't just send a blind resume.  As recently mentioned on The Today Show, you should use a technique called sandwiching.  This means to call and inform the recipient that you are sending your resume.  Then, you should send the resume.  And a day or two later, you should follow up with another phone call.  While this tactic works best if you have some sort of previous relationship with the employer, keep in mind that the squeaky wheel gets the grease (...as long as you don't get too annoying).

• 7 Tips For Finding A Job In A Tougher Market -- Covers everything from insisting on face to face meetings, to networking, and looking past the online job searches. 
   
• Tips For Finding A Job In A Recession -- Great tips including why you should try to make a lot of friends right now (because it is easier to get a job through someone you know rather than in a blind interview), and reasons to consider volunteering and freelancing (to get your foot in the door).
   
• Tips For Finding A Job After 50 -- Some of the better tips include: telling prospective employers how you can improve their bottom line, applying to companies that aren't looking for employees, and playing down your age by playing down your superior wisdom. 
   
• Cleaning Up Your Digital Identity -- How to clear up any misleading information about yourself on the Internet. You especially want to make sure that there is nothing about excessive drinking, promiscuity, or ranting about a previous employer online.  You also need to have an explanation ready for those things that you can't delete.  
   
• Using Social Media For A Job Search -- How to use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other online communities to find a job.

It is worth noting that women are losing their jobs at a faster rate than men, so it's no wonder that women especially are spending more time online looking for work. I know in my case, I often stop and search for jobs for my husband (even though he is currently employed).