Learn The Art Of Searching For Jobs
If you’re seeking a new job, you want to be submitting your resume and cover letter to the jobs that are relevant to your experience. However, it can be hard to know where all of these jobs are in order to effectively target them. That’s why we put together this blog post, which teaches the art of searching for jobs! We cover where to find information on the types of jobs you’re looking for, how to search for specific companies that might have openings in those fields, and how not go about searching through random websites in hopes that one may have what you need.
Not sure if you’re applying to the right jobs?
If you are applying to a specific job title that requires a certain certifications or years of experience, make sure you are applying to jobs with those qualifications. For example, a job posting that says “entry level sales” does not mean it only wants applicants who do not have any sales experience. They are looking for people who want to learn to be top notch salespeople from day one.
If you are unsure of the types of jobs that are right for you, check out our guide to finding out what type of job you want.
How to Search for a Specific Job
Now that we know what type of job we're looking for, how do we find it? We can use online job search engines and other ways to search for jobs, but there are a few better options when searching specifically for the job that you're after. Let's take a look at them!
Company Websites (Like Monster.com) – If you already have a few companies in mind, but don’t know their websites, then this could be an option. Take a look at the job posting, but note down the URL for each of the companies you're interested in. Then, check out the sites and see if they have jobs listed there. This is a good place to start, as many companies list job openings there.
Individual Company Websites – Now you know where to find specific company's websites and their job listings, so it may be worth checking out their sites directly. For example, if you saw an online job opening for a jobs site (like Monster) and wanted to apply to that job, go ahead and do that. You may get further by applying directly through the company as opposed to just searching on their website.
Company Career Websites – Some companies have specific websites that list all of the possible jobs they have open. These are typically posted in order of importance and pay grade, so you can see what level jobs are available at a given company. For example, if you are looking for a government job with the Department of Homeland Security, we would suggest going to the Department of Homeland Security's website and checking out the jobs available there first before looking at other sites.
Indeed – This is a site that pulls up all job postings from around the internet, but also allows you to search by location or title to find specific positions. You can also post an individual job through the site, which is kind of cool. Click here to learn more about Indeed!
Accuplacer – The Accuplacer is a computer based test used for determining your skills and abilities with regards to various types of tasks. Depending on your score, you will either receive a certificate or job referral. If you are not sure what you have to offer or have a different degree than what the job website demands for their specific jobs, then this may be a good option.
Craigslist – There are plenty of ads on Craigslist for various services, including jobs. You just have to learn how to search for them in order to see the ones that are relevant to your career path or skillset. However, because many of the posts there are simply people looking for work in general, it can be difficult to guess if a particular job posting is actually for what you're looking for. Take a look at our post on how to use Craigslist to find a job if you want to learn more!
Online Job Search Engines – There are many online search engines that pull up jobs related to your search criteria. These can be a great place to start if you're looking for a specific type of job, but they won't always have every company that has openings in your field. Instead, these sites will list important resources in your area such as newspapers, university career centers and etc. For example, if you're looking for work in the graphic arts field, then you might want to check out The Washington Post newspaper's jobs page or visit the University of Maryland Career Center.
Where to Search for Jobs Directly
If you are looking for jobs in a specific field, or have only a few companies in mind instead of simply searching for the best jobs that match your skillset, then these might be worth checking out.
Career Fairs – Career fairs are an excellent way to connect with employers and discover potential job opportunities that may not appear online or through other methods. You can visit the career fair page on this site to find out more about upcoming career fairs and how you can attend. You can also look through the various employers who are listed on their site to see if they have positions that may be perfect for you.
Target – Target offers an extensive list of different job postings, so it is a great place to get a general idea of what jobs are available in your area. However, we suggest not being too picky at first and simply looking for the jobs that you think would be best for you and willing to accept your offer. Then, once you have those in your inbox, you can go back through and weed out the jobs that weren't so great.
Newspapers – If you're looking for jobs in a specific industry or want to stick with your home town or city, then it might be worth checking out nearby newspapers for available job listings. Newspapers also have classified ads and employment sections as well, so be sure to check those out too!
University Career Centers – Universities are great resources for students who are looking for work in their areas of study.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has helped you narrow down your job search to something that you will love and be successful in! If you need some tips on how to get started, then check out our post on How to Find Your First Job! Have any other suggestions for finding jobs? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Creatas RF
Want to write for our blog next? Join up here! Looking for more ideas on how to find a job? Don't forget to check out our post on How to Find Your First Job! Want a better way of searching for jobs? Check out our post on Get Noticed by Employers when Searching for Jobs.