Surf and Search: How to Find a Job on the Web

So you’re ready to search for a job and target your next career step. There are a number of resources available to you on the Internet, and by using them strategically you can be successful.Keep in mind, however, that the ease of applying for a job via a submit button has also made it easier for your peers as well, and has made it more difficult for you to differentiate yourself from the competition.Then how do you effectively use the Internet as a resource for a job search? First, let’s discuss several of the resources available to you.Job BoardsGenerally the niche job boards such as hireRx.com and hireBio.com are more targeted to your industry than the general job boards such as Monster or HotJobs. They allow you to highlight important industry experience and skills.In addition, recruiters in very specialized fields such as biotech, pharmaceuticals, chemistry and biology may be more likely to search these resume databases than those on the larger, more general boards.When posting your resume on a job board, read the privacy policy to ensure your email address doesn’t end up being sold to third parties. Speaking of email addresses, you should have an email dedicated solely to your job search. It’ll look better to potential employers and it will allow you to organize your job search without distractions.Also, be sure to make your resume keyword rich. If you have experience in validation and/or have worked in regulatory environment, mention oft-used words somewhere in your online resume.Networking SitesResources such as LinkedIn or Tribe.net allow you to network with peers, friends and distant colleagues. Essentially they’re an electronic form of six-degrees of separation, where each person is only separated by six degrees from any other person on Earth.While the jury may still be out as to whether you’re within two degrees of Donald Trump, no one can argue the best jobs are often obtained through networking. This is even more prevalent in relatively close-knit fields such as biotech and pharmaceuticals. By using electronic networking, you can ask a friend or colleague to make that introduction to the CEO of your local biotech. Once the online introduction is made, use your interpersonal and networking skills to close the deal and get a job at the company.Straight to the SourceThough niche and general job boards have many job opportunities, quite a few firms receive enough visits on their corporate career areas they don’t feel the need to advertise. This is often the case with the larger biotech and pharmaceutical companies who have name recognition.So do your research, think about 25 companies you’d love to work for, and be sure to visit their corporate career site. You may just find your ideal job waiting for you.Keeping TrackDuring your search, you may end up visiting over 100 corporate, niche or general job sites – each with their own username and password.As a result, it’s important to stay organized. Keep an Excel spreadsheet with information about every resource you used, including the web address, username and password. Keep a log for each on the companies you applied to. No matter what anyone tells you, applying for the same job on each job board won’t help your chances of getting the job; it will only annoy the recruiting manager.In addition, once you’ve found the job, you don’t want to your employer to find your resume online two years later. By keeping track of the username and password, you’ll save yourself some effort. And be able to contact each online resource to deactivate your account.About the AuthorRich Kneece is CEO & Founder of the hireCentral Career & Talent Network (www.hirecentral.com), which includes industry-specific sites such as hireBio.com, hireRx.com, hireMedical and hireNursing.com. He has been a featured expert on CNN, The San Francisco Business Times, NurseWeek, The Scientist and The Boston Business Journal in areas such as talent strategy, Internet recruiting, training and career development.