Finding Jobs Online
Do you want to build your career and make extra money while doing something you love? With the current trend of information technology jobs, there are 1.75 million US jobs available as of March 2014. Competition for these positions is fierce, so if you want a job that will put food on the table, then you need to search for opportunities that offer a higher pay rate without being too overwhelming. The career community is filled with advice on how to find the perfect job - but did it work?
This article offers a first-hand account from its author who found their dream position 33 days into searching for employment online. They cover tips and lessons learned about finding employments online on the internet.
The author of this article is currently employed as a Web Designer at a small company. It was March 2011 when the author first ventured into the online workforce. The position search began with many job boards, including Monster and Careerbuilder. They covered most industries but eventually found their perfect fit on Indeed.com. How did the author get hired?
The job application process went smoothly from start to finish, but it began with an e-mail sent from Indeed to the local branch of their employer (they subcontract with a large corporation) . Through this email, Indeed contacted the local branch for more information about them, including an updated resume, cover letter and portfolio links.
This was the starting point because the local branch asked them to create a cover letter that applied to their position instead of using a template. This is where they showed they were not just "filling out an application", but that they were truly interested in the job. Within three days, Indeed contacted the author and set up an interview with one of their recruiters. The interview went well, but it wasn't until two weeks later when the author was contacted by their future employer and told he landed the job.
With lessons learned about online employment, this article covers a number of points you should take into consideration when searching for your dream job online:
1. Job boards can vary depending on your industry and location.
The author searched for jobs online in a specific area and didn't waste time with job boards that didn't match their skill set. While job boards like Monster.com offer an exhaustive list of jobs, they don't always provide the best opportunities for your skill level. Make sure to search by industry when looking for jobs online, since some job searches may offer better employment options than another.
2. Find the right company to get noticed by them.
When you are in a situation where you need to find employment online quickly, having one of the largest companies contact you without directly applying is a great place to start from . While the author didn't take advantage of Indeed to build an employer list, this article does provide insight about how you can use indeed.com for something other than searching for jobs online.
3. Interact with your new employer from the beginning.
Creating a developer network from the ground up is just as important as trying to find employment online in general. When they first received their interview request, they were so excited that they immediately contacted their future employer and made sure they were on their mind when the time came to hire someone. Interacting with your potential employers right off the bat will help you land a job easier, since you'll already be on their radar when an opening comes up .
4. Be innovative and use your skills for something other than just web design.
Using your expertise within the field to create something that directly benefits the company is better than doing any one of a million job searches online . The author did a great job at making good use of their education by finding a way to work with their new company, which is better than simply purchasing time on their servers for web design. Instead of spending hours back hacking websites, these web developers are building applications with their employer's equipment and knowledge. Not only were they able to land the perfect job, but they've also been able to help develop some amazing new technology that has benefited all parties involved.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help from your employer.
Before the author even found their perfect job, they had already made a number of inquiries about the position to their future employer. These inquiries were about how things worked at their location, what projects they were working on and how long they expected someone to stay with them. These small inquiries got their foot in the door and helped with the initial interviewing process. It's important to have an open line of communication with your future employer so that you can make your transition into their company easier, since they'll already have familiarity with you when it comes time to hire someone new.
6. Be creative when searching for online employment opportunities .
When you are searching for a job online, it's important to find the perfect opportunity that is suited to your skillset. This can be hard if you don't know where to start, or if you're coming from another country and want to work inside the United States . Being creative with your search terms can help find more jobs that are suited for your skillset. Searching for "web development" will net a lot of results, but searching for "web application development" will give you better results. Be innovative with your searches and try out different combinations of keywords until you find something that matches your interests and needs.
7. Keep track of the companies and positions you applied for online .
The author posted on a developer's forum to keep track of each job they applied for. By tracking their searches, the author was able to see what made each employer contact them, how quickly they responded and if there were any leads that came from the situation. This way, if a company did not respond and wanted no more part in the process instead of sending one "no" response, the author could use this information to build a relationship with another company much more easily .
8. Build your personal website as an online portfolio .
Building your own website has many benefits for both you and potential employers online. Having a website allows you to showcase your work in a easily accessible manner . This includes everything from images of your work to video clips as well. The author even used their videos in their initial job search, and showed them off to potential employers as well. A website allows you to focus on displaying your creativity and knowledge about various fields. It shows how creative you are and can open up doors for other employment opportunities online that the author took advantage of due to their own website. If you are trying to find jobs online, having a portfolio website available for employers is one of the best things you can do when looking for web developers .
9. Don't be afraid to jump into new industries at first.
The author left their job with a large company to start their own business and apply for new positions online. They found an opening with another company and took the opportunity to explore the other company's interests, which led to the offer of employment. When you are applying online, making sure you do a little research will help you land better jobs and opportunities online . There are plenty of opportunities online that are not related to web development and don't necessarily pay well. Making yourself available for smaller projects and fast-track opportunities will allow you to always be looking for something new, even when there aren't any available positions that fit your specific schedule or skillset .
10. Don't apply for every job that treats hiring like a priority .
Conclusion
The author's story is truly remarkable, and makes for a great read. There are so many great lessons to learn from this story that it would be a shame not to take advantage of them , especially in the field of web development. Making sure you do your research about potential employers and their needs is crucial for making a successful transition into the company . By doing this, you can make yourself more valuable than simply applying online for any job you see without care. The author was very efficient with their time, and they worked hard on their own time to ensure they had nothing stopping them when an opening came up.
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Finding Jobs Online