A Few Good Job Sites
What do you do when you're new to the unemployment line, as one job seeker put it? Where do you start your job search and what are the best job sites to use? It's a good question, because there are more job sites than I can count.
There are actually more job sites you don't need, than there are sites you do. If you use the job search engines, (Indeed.com, SimplyHired.com, LinkUp.com), you can get at most of the jobs listed online from just one job web site. They search for all the job boards, company web sites, association sites, and other job posting sites. You can search by keyword, location, and other advanced options, to get job postings that match your interests and qualifications.
The other job sites that you should consider using are the niche sites that focus on a specific location or on a specific industry. Niche job sites are especially helpful resources when jobs are scarce, because you will find job listings that may not be posted elsewhere. That will get you to the rest of the job listings that are posted online.
Despite the buzz about social media you don't need to use Twitter or Facebook to job search. In fact, if you're just starting out job searching online, they can be a big drain on your time. Spending time making friends and getting followers (and vice versa) isn't really that effective if you're in a job search crunch.
What is effective, when it comes to online networking is LinkedIn. That's because it's focused on professional networking and you can find job listings, contacts at companies you're interested in, groups of people with something in common with you - college, companies, and professional interests, for example.
In a nutshell, less is more when you're starting a job search and your time will be more productive if your job search is targeted and focused.
Related: Job Search Engines | Job Listings
Image Copyright Copyright Marcela Barsse
Well written article! I’m glad you took a moment to point out niche geographic sites as well. In fact, for job seekers in New England the geo niche sites actually have more jobs than any of the “big three” national boards (HotMonsterBuilder).
http://jobsinme.com
http://jobsinnh.com
http://jobsinvt.com
http://jobsinri.com
Alison, interesting article however you left something out, the MAJOR PROBLEM with these AGGREGATORS, which is they will ruin a Personal Brand and are one of the biggest reasons that candidates are complaining that they don’t hear back from companies while companies are beginning to get frustrated at the amount of resumes they are receiving long after a job is filled.
The biggest reasons for this because in their haste to populate other Job Boards they cannot distinguish what was already posted on other Job Boards. So while an Employer will go to ABC Job Board to post a job once that is complete sometime in the next few hours, days etc. the above Aggregators blast it to 1000 other boards those job boards bundle the job to look like theirs. The Aggregator now picks that up as a new job from those boards and now you have duplicate postings all over.
Next problem: Companies once they have filled the position go to the Job Board where they originally posted it and remove the job however the other job boards that bundled it to look like theirs which the Aggregator blasted hasn’t removed it, so the Company is receiving resumes long after a position is filled and candidates are getting mad that they are wasting their time on jobs that may not exist.
Here is an article written about this in June on ERE.net blog http://tinyurl.com/nbgwqq
Employers are having issue with these aggregators because of trying to be Compliant and Candidates because they are wasting their time and are being given false hope.
These Companies you list are not Job Boards they are Aggregators. Simply Hired in its own admission under FAQ on its website says and I quote:
“Q: How do I remove expired job listings from your site?”
“A: As Simply Hired only aggregates job listings from other sites and is not a job board, we would need to direct you back to the site(s) where you posted the listing for removal or modification of the job listing. A listing will only appear in our search engine if it is still active with the site where we pulled the information from.”
These companies should not be categorized as Job Boards because the industry is starting to suffer because of their lack of concern for Employers or Candidates.
Thats cool if you want a job but if you want a flexible career or to work for yourself then you need a different approach. x
Just to clarify, job search engines aren’t job boards. Rather, they pull listings from job boards and company sites. In the case of LinkUp all the listings are direct from company sites so job seekers won’t get duplicates and companies won’t get applications for jobs that aren’t available.
In addition, in most cases, job seekers are directed to the original job posting to apply, so if the job is no longer open they won’t be able to apply.
I do think that there we are starting to see a trend towards more targeted hiring with sites like AllianceQ and OneWire, for example, to better match candidates and companies.
I’m just glad you didn’t list the “big 3″ of CareerBuilder, Monster, and HotJobs, who never ever have any listings and in the case of HotJobs, have nothing but spam.
I like that in the niche site section, under the “specific industry” link, you include OneWire (http://www.onewire.com). You’re right that it’s a great way to be considered for opportunities in Financial Services. Great find!
Alison, first you are correct and I apologize they are search engines not job boards however you just made my point. Candidates are directed back to a Job Board but because every job board repackages the feed to look like an original post to their job board is where the problem starts. The Employer removes it from the job board they originally posted it on. The job however remains on all those job boards that it has been repackaged on. So 2 months later candidates are wondering why they are not getting a call back if the job is still available. Employers are wondering why they are still receiving resumes and their competitors are saying hey look why you want to work for them they can’t even fill their jobs with the economy the way it is. All these aggregators are doing is making it simple for anyone to start a job board and ruining an Employers “Personal Brand”. I have spoken with many Employers who refuse to post on any Job Board that uses these search engines.
Niche Job Boards and Aggregator Free job Boards are the way to go.
“In a nutshell, less is more when you’re starting a job search and your time will be more productive if your job search is targeted and focused. ”
Alison, to quote you, Quiet Agent, couldn’t agree with you more. That is why it offers a different kind of online job search and matching database that is free, anonymous, targeted, and productive! All that the big search engines aren’t!
If you haven’t heard of us, please check us out. Thanks for your valuable insight and for helping those reach their employment goals.
Respectfully,
Quiet Agent
First and foremost you need a decent resume when applying. I used one I’d done myself unsuccessfully and as soon as I had a professional resume written, I had multiple job offers. I was stunned at the difference it actually made. But, I will say that sorting through the resume scams almost made me give up! I finally found an actual person! She was really great.
You are absolutely correct about the niche job sites. Many times you can find just the job you are looking for, and that job is not listed on the bigger sites. I write a blog about employment in Louisiana called My Louisiana Jobs and I use a job board powered by Simply Hired to help my readers search for jobs in Louisiana. Keep the great information coming. Thanks for sharing.
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If you’re interested in more information on job searching on niche and local job boards, I have an article I wrote recently on job searching where companies are hiring:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/findajob/a/jobsearchcomp.htm
Thank you for putting the emphasis also on focusing a job search. So many applicants refuse to focus on a job search because they are locked into a panicked state of “I just need a job.” Often they start applying for absolutely everything on these job boards (much of it spam or worthless…) but often spinning in frustration and overwhelm they get no closer to a job. Focusing on what you are really qualified and motivated to do. Researching the field and your place in it. Taking the time to get to know people in the field and utilizing professional networks, alumni, and resources to position for success. An effective job search takes time, strategy, and focused positive actions. Thanks for underscoring how important the focus element is.
My problem with the job sites is like most but now I have a new problem. I received an email stating that my resume had been reviewed and I was being offered a position. Oh Thank God…finally a hit…No such luck! Once I clicked the link for the position and attached my resume, the site would not let me submit my resume until I completed a survey regarding Online schooling. I started to complete the survey but then realized that it was bogus so I didn’t complete it. But I had already attached my resume (Name, Phone#, email address). Now I’m being flooded via phone, email and postal junk mail. It’s a shame that now it’s not just employers who are using these sites but scammers, and everyone else that needs a data base. Has anyone else had this issue??
i need a job in miami as i am a student(south african) for our christmas break from november 09 to feb 2010
I have a question. Is a job seeker more productive visiting job sites in there niche like medical jobs or would they be better off using some of the job aggregator type job sites?