In response to one of the articles I did in July on the advantages of recruiting on the Internet, I have received requests for recommended Internet sites for job seekers.
There are some good ones, but first let me say that while the Internet does provide an enormous reservoir of job opportunities, it's important to note that advertised vacancies represent a small percentage of the job openings that exist.
One estimate is that just 20 per cent of actual job openings are advertised, and not all of these are on the Net. The hidden job market is still very much a fixture in the economy.
And though the Internet is a very useful tool, it can seem overwhelming at first. There are so many sites to choose from. Save time by taking the time to read the preliminary information usually found on the first page of any site. It is tempting to just charge forward to the ``jobs" section, but understanding the mandate of the site will ensure you are using the most appropriate sites for your particular situation.
For instance, you could waste a lot of time searching on a large general site, when there is a specialized site offering the specific job or geographic area you are seeking.
The searching and matching mechanisms available on most sites today are particularly useful. Being able to post your résumé and job preferences, and even be notified via e-mail when jobs open up, can be a boon.
And on the Internet, the computer can match you to jobs 24 hours a day.
Many sites offer self-help sections on résumé writing and personal assessment tools. These functions help a job-seeker to stay informed about current practices and employers' expectations.
Here are some sites I have used:
Like many World Wide Web sites, workopolis.com is adding new features regularly. Dedication to continuous improvement is incentive return to sites to check for kinds of help that may not have been available the last time you visited.
Other good all-inclusive general sites include the following:
http://www.email.com/snap/ext_link.jhtml?goto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joboptions.com
http://www.canada.plusjobs.com
Student sites include:
One of the best sites available for job openings in the nonprofit sector is run by Charity Village. According to President Doug Jamieson, ``both recruiters and job seekers often write to enthuse about the process of recruitment through this site. Since its inception in 1995,over 7,000 positions have been posted by registered charities and other nonprofits, and the momentum has really accelerated in the last 12 months."
Charity Village is found at http://www.charityvillage.com
A listing of listings would not be complete without reference to high tech jobs but since there are too many Web sites to list go into your search engine and type ``IT jobs" and you'll be amazed at the number that come up. I used Alta Vista for my search.
The two sites I have used include:
On the Internet there are also specialty sites for many occupational groups. Often these sites are provided by associations that represent them. This is a great way to find work in a specific area. So if you know of a professional association representing the industry or occupation of interest to you, always check their web site for job listings. The Canadian HR Reporter, a journal for human resource professionals in Canada, listed the following specialty sites in the February 14, 2000 edition, 9under these headings:
www.jobsineducation.com
http://www.physicaltherapist.com
Finally, there is even a World Wide Web site for people wanting seasonal work in Canada, www.seasonalemployment.com.
Another good thing the Internet has produced, which makes finding job listings easier than it used to be, are Web addresses incorporate real words like ``seasonal employment." As a result, you can guess at sites' names when you are searching.
The Internet is never static. It constantly changes, so it's important to continue to search for new sites and new features that may be more useful to you. So use the Net. But remember to continue to use all the other methods of job-seeking too. Networking, cold calls, agencies and of course the newspapers continue to be important tools for finding jobs.