We're on to Part 3 of our series. This month we are looking at making the most of online job searches.
There are 6 things you can do to maximise your chances of finding a job online.
1. Upload your CV to job boards/sites
Sites such as Total Jobs and 1Job have a facility to allow you to upload your CV. This is a great idea because recruiters pay to search these sites' CV databases and you could be picked out just from this alone.
2. Think about keywords
Keywords are the words Google and other search engines use to index websites. You need a rate of about 2% keywords on a webpage to make Google find it easily. The same can be true of your CV. If you are looking for a job in finance but don't mention the word 'finance' in your CV (but use purchase ledger, acountancy, bookkeeping, etc., instead) then your CV won't appear in the results list of recruiters looking for people with finance skills.
Think about the sort of jobs you are looking for and which words you would use to search for them if you were looking online. Then use those words in your CV - a number of times.
3. Set up Google Alerts (http://www.google.com/alerts)
You can set up a search on Google so that you will receive emails whenever something is posted. So if you are looking for work as an Administrative Assistant in Dublin, you could set up a Google Alert search for that phrase and be one of the first to find out when something is posted anywhere on Google using those keywords.
This can also be a useful tool if there are particular companies you would like to work in. Monitoring them through Google Alerts could give you some early information about vacancies.
4. Have an online CV
There are companies who will do this for you, or you could set up a simple Wordpress (free) site.
5. Use LinkedIn
The founders of LinkedIn set it up as a recruitment tool. If you have a good profile and state on it that you are looking for work it could reap benefits. Recruiters often search LinkedIn for suitable candidates and, if you have a good circle of acquaintances on LinkedIn, you may even find that someone in your circle knows someone who is hiring - and they can give you a personal recommendation.
6. Make the most of job sites
Many of job sites have a facility for allowing you to search for certain types of jobs and receive alerts when new vacancies come online. This is great if you are looking for an unusual or niche job and get depressed at not finding many of them. Receiving alerts is much more pleasant!
The Internet gives us a world of opportunities for finding job vacancies and you stand the most chance of finding a job quickly if you:
- Update your skills
- Keep a CPD record - and commit to life-long learning and development
- Have job and Google alerts set up so that you receive notice of vacancies as soon as they come online
Dt: 05/05/2011
Author: Pitman Training Swords
www.pitmantrainingswords.ie
SWORDS
