How to Find a Job on the Internet

A quick search on the Internet for "job search" yields more than 47,000 sites. Still, the actual number of jobs found through the Internet alone hovers around just 20 percent. The fact is that professional networking yields more than 80 percent of all jobs. Networking means you know a person that is able to put you in direct contact with the hiring manager. But if you're searching for a job, you need to exhaust all the possibilities. But don't waste your time and energy on the wrong Internet tactics! Follow these simple suggestions for making the most of your Internet job search to gain the best possible hiring results!

step1.
Apply "by the numbers." Finding a job on the Internet is pretty much a numbers game. You'll have to send out approximately 100 resumes through search engine sites to yield just a few (1 to 5) actual interviews. Make sure your resume is up to date, and post it on job sites that offer you free access and exposure to hiring companies. Companies expect to spend money on hiring and retention for employees. If you have to pay to use a specific site it is not necessarily a reflection on the results you will most likely yield. Save your money to get through your period of unemployment!

Step2.

Keywords are more important on an Internet search than some of the traditional content you may have on your resume. Employers using sites to screen applicants submit weighted key words and tell the search engine to give them search returns for a certain percentage match to specific keywords. Often you don't get extra "points" for frequency of the words, just the number or percentage of different words that match those target percentages. Start including a "keyword" section on your resume and fill it with the skills you have in your inventory that match the many different qualifications and requirements listed on the job post.

Step3.

Answer the job postings promptly! The average Internet job posting yields thousands of applicants. As more people respond, the criteria considered can change. Search engines help screen some of the numbers out, but many employers cut off screening at 97 to 98 percent keyword match, and then only accept a limited number of those resumes for actual consideration for the job! It's simply a fact that employers don't have enough time to view and screen every single application when they get that many responses for a single job. Many set limits on the number of applications they'll review. Sometimes this number is 10; sometimes it is 100. Chances are the actual hiring manager will only see 10 to 20 actual applicants before hiring someone for the job. If you get yours in their hands first, you have a better chance of making the review. Besides, once they settle on a prime group of candidates, they usually stop reviewing incoming resumes.

Step4.

If you don't answer promptly, try answering either early the following Monday or shortly after lunch on Friday! Think about it--what's the first thing you do on Monday? Probably check your email. What do you do after lunch on Friday? Read your email, finish up what you had to accomplish for the week and make plans to organize for the next. Hiring managers are more likely to see your cover letter and resume if you make your application stick out in their inbox at key times of the day.

Step5.

Cover letters work, but make sure they are targeted and precise, not run-on explanations about why they should hire you for the job. Sometimes you'll get lucky, but most often, you won't, and you won't get points for making the hiring manager spend more time on your letter if he's trying to just get through the hiring process so he can get back to work. A simple chart that matches their keywords to your specific accomplishments on a cover letter, with a brief opening and closing paragraph, will do the job better than all the creative prose in the world. Plus, it will show them that you are concise and to the point about your job.

Step6.

Don't put all your eggs in one job reply basket! Stick to the numbers. If you send out 100 applications and only hear back on 10, you're actually yielding a great response rate on the Internet! Make sure you use as much automation in this process as possible, and send out as many resumes and cover letters as you can!

Step7.

Finally, if you're really interested in a job, but didn't get a response, try for one follow-up and then move on! Sometimes the squeaky wheel will get noticed and your daily callbacks or email inquiries will get you some attention; but, be selective about how and where you spend your time this way. You may want to explore ways to turn an Internet "no" into an opportunity to expand your professional network. If you can talk to the hiring manager and make a good case, the least they may be willing to offer is a referral to a friend or another department where they know a job opening is. Don't be surprised if your referral yields a better result than weeks spent posting your resume and answering ads on the Internet. It is still the most reliable method for landing a job.