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Using the Web

by Peter Vogt

MonsterTRAK Career Coach

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THE WORLD WIDE WEB AS A JOB SEARCH TOOL

Expect the World Wide Web to play an increasingly important role in the job search process in years to come. You can research occupations and find out about industry growth and decline. You can reach deeper into your local area as well as take your job search far beyond your geographical boundaries. Although the amount of information on the WWW can be overwhelming, executing an effective Web job search can be very straightforward. There are many career resources available on the Web to guide you through the entire process.

GENERAL SEARCH TIPS

Instead of providing many Web site addresses (URLs) that might change before you read this, you will, for the most part, be provided with search tips on how to find helpful sites. The term "search engine" is often used generically to describe both true search engines and directories, although they are not the same. In any case, when used correctly, these tools are extremely useful in pointing you to sites of interest. Different search engines work in different ways, so for best results, stay with one or two main search engines and get to know how to use them well.

You may decide to start with Yahoo, which is a subject-based directory and is searchable. Make your search topic as descriptive as possible, for instance, type in "jobs in social work" (If you put quotation marks around your search terms, you'll get search results that only contain that exact phrasing. If you leave off the quotation marks, you'll get results that contain any of the words that you typed.). If you don't find what you're looking for in Yahoo, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Alta Vista link. This will automatically conduct the same search in Alta Vista. This might save you some time throughout your searches. For more information on search engines, such as web searching tips, search engine listings, ratings and reviews, see http://www.searchenginewatch.com/

RESEARCHING CAREER FIELDS AND INDUSTRIES

You don't want to waste time sifting through jobs that you don't want or jobs for which you're not qualified. Online career exploration tools are available at many job search sites. You can explore career and industry information, job profiles from people currently employed in your field, and company information.

Career and Industry Information

  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook ( http://www.bls.gov/ocohome.htm ) describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations. You can search by occupation or by industry.
  • America's Career InfoNet ( http://www.acinet.org/acinet/ ) will also provide you with information such as the employment outlook, wages, and the education required for occupations.

Employer Information

Many sites will allow you to search companies by industry or, if you are interested in a particular company, you can search alphabetically. WetFeet.com ( http://www.wetfeet.com/ ) and Vault.com ( http://www.vault.com/ ) will give you information on a company, including an overview, financial statistics, and contact information. To find other sites to provide you with employer information, use the keywords "employer profiles" in any search engine.

RESUMES

In today's high tech resume processing environment, it is important for all candidates to have their resumes in an electronic format that can be submitted via the Internet. Chances are, you will submit (or post) your resume in one of three ways:

  • You will submit your resume via electronic mail (e-mail)
  • You will post your resume via an electronic form (e-form)
  • You will post a Web resume

There are different resume formats you can use depending on how you're applying:

  • ASCII Text Resume
    An ASCII text resume is simply a text resume without any fancy formatting options, such as certain fonts and symbols, which might be available on a word-processor. ASCII plain text format is popular when sending your resume via e-mail because it is the most portable. It's supported by nearly every application on every machine; PC's, Macintoshes, UNIX Workstations, and mainframe terminals recognize these plain text files.

    How to Create an ASCII Resume
    Text editors like Microsoft's Notepad or Apple Macintosh's SimpleText are common programs that create plain text files. If you already have a resume created on a word-processor, such as MS Word, you can turn it into a text resume by simply editing its format. Open your resume in your word-processing program and save it as a "text only" file (or better yet, "text only with line breaks," if available). Then open this file in Notepad or in another text editor and format it using ASCII characters (any character on your keyboard). You'll notice that a bullet is not an ASCII character (it might appear as a question mark). Replace any bullets with asterisks or plus signs. For additional information on formatting an ASCII resume, go to any search engine and search using the keywords "ascii resume" or "electronic resume."


  • How to Send Your Resume Via E-mail
    The most consistent standard for sending your resume via e-mail is to embed your text resume into the body of the message. It is useful to save your text resume and a brief general cover letter that you can edit depending on the job. When applying via e-mail, copy and paste the text of the resume into the body of an e-mail message. Insert you cover letter above the resume in the e-mail message. It's good practice to send a copy of this e-mail message to yourself and to a friend who is using a different e-mail program, before transferring the text file to a recruiter for the first time. The most common mistake people make is assuming that the recipient of the resume has the same line length that is set in your text editor. Make sure text is limited to about 65 characters per line. This will avoid having lines wrap with just one or two words on every other line.

    Use the advertised job title as the subject of your e-mail message, citing any relevant job numbers as noted in the ad. This makes it easy to route your resume to the appropriate person.


  • Sending Your Resume as an Attachment
    If employers request that you send a resume as an e-mail attachment, they will probably specify which formats are acceptable. For instance, they might request that you attach an MS Word resume or an ASCII text resume. Many job-seekers are accustomed to creating their resumes in a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect, which provide the fancy formatting options that plain ASCII text cannot offer. If an employer specifies that you can attach a word-processed resume, simply attach the file to your e-mail. If the employer does not specify how to send a resume, there are some issues involved in sending attachments that require consideration.

    Some companies have their mail servers set up so that attachments don't travel through firewalls. They become encoded files (10 pages of garble). Chances are, the person who has received your message will not know how to decode it, and it will be deleted. Viruses are a concern to employers who receive attached resumes because a macro virus can infect other documents on the employer's computer. Macro viruses can infect both PC and Macintosh files. Even if you are sure your document is not infected, opening an e-mail attachment is a risk that some employers won't take. For these reasons, you may want to embed you text resume into the body of the e-mail and also attach a resume.


  • Posting Resumes Via Electronic Forms
    A resume posted on the Web is stored into a database where thousands of employers and recruiters can retrieve it and view your qualifications. If an employer is interested, she will contact you directly. Some sites allow you to post a resume via e-form by inputting text into specified fields manually and then submitting the information. Once submitted, it is posted on that site for employers to search. In addition to posting, some sites will also allow you to send this posted resume to any job posting on the site.

    Other sites allow you to post your existing text resume to their site by copying and pasting it into an online form, which is then submitted into their resume database. In this case you might have to register with the site.

    Which ever way you post you resume, base your selection of Web-based resume databases on criteria such as overall reputation, how much it costs (most are free), and ability to update and delete your resume at will. Also note how long your resume will be stored on the site before it is automatically deleted.

    Many companies now have a full-time employee (or many of them) whose job is to search the Internet for good job candidates. Increasing numbers of employers view the Web as a vital source of new employees.


  • Posting a Web Resume
    The Web resume is a form of electronic resume that gives you flexibility with regard to graphics and overall presentation format. Web page authoring tools can be found on the popular Web browsers. For example, FrontPage Express comes with Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, and Composer comes with the Netscape Communicator browser.

    Unlike Web-based resume databases that attract the attention of employers and recruiters by promoting their large databases, job seekers using Web resumes must attract the attention of employers and recruiters on their own. Sometimes recruiters will go to a search engine and type in keywords. You can add all your keywords in the tag so your resume is found without having to overdo keywords within the resume or include a KEYWORD section. Use what are known as META tags. These enable you to put a brief description in your resume that will only show up to search engines and will not be visible in the actual resume.

    Again, the key to posting your HTML resume online is to make certain that it will be found. Perhaps the quickest way to publicize your page is through The PostMaster submission service, located at: www.netcreations.com/postmaster. After you register, PostMaster will distribute the information to some of the top search engines, including Yahoo, Alta Vista, and Webcrawler. Choose their free demos, which will submit your site to two dozen search engines.


    • Since web resumes can be more than one page, you can display work samples and have links to other pages. Here are some guidelines:
    • Use restraint with multimedia, like downloadable sound samples, video or big graphics.
    • Link to former employers' sites.
    • Include an online portfolio.
    • Make sure your "mailto:" link works with your e-mail address.
    • If any of your site is inappropriate for viewing by potential employers, be sure you can't get to it via your resume.
    • Publicize your web resume via your print resume.
    • Keep text as concise as you would in print.


  • Keyword Resume
    For any resume that will be searched by employers in a resume database, you will want to use keywords and phrases. This includes resumes that you post on Job Listing Sites and resumes that are sent to an employer who is using its own database.

    Searching a database for resumes is similar to searching a directory or using a search engine. You enter keywords or phrases and a list of links is automatically generated. The more keywords found in your resume, the stronger it's weighted, meaning the closer it will be to the top of the search results. When applying for an advertised position, the keywords are the "wants" in the position description. You should include job titles, departments, key functions, computer hardware and software, programming languages, academic degrees, fields of study, foreign languages, all relevant to the target job. Use jargon and acronyms specific to your industry (spell out the acronyms for human readers). Your focus should be on nouns. While computers do not search for action verbs, still include them for the human reader.

    In addition, it's a good idea to add a "Keywords" section that identifies skills and other qualifications that you couldn't easily fit into the readable text. This way, your resume still reads nicely and gets maximum hits. Also, you can easily change the words in this section depending on the qualifications of the individual jobs you apply for. Use synonyms or variations of words in your descriptions in the Keyword section. Describe your interpersonal traits and attitude. Keywords could include skilled in time management, dependable, high energy, leadership, and sense of responsibility.


  • Scannable Resume
    Today, applicant-tracking systems can take resumes submitted via e-mail and automatically transfer them directly into a database without scanning. But there are many companies that still print and scan resumes they receive, or require applicants to send a scannable resume via mail. A scannable resume is a paper resume that will be scanned onto a computer database using Optical Character Recognition software. A major limitation of scanning is data lost due to the quality of text, formatting, and condition of the paper on which a resume arrives. Several factors can cause the scanner or Optical Character Recognition software to confuse similar characters. For instance, computer scanner software programs must be able to distinguish between the capital letter "I" (as in Invite), the letter "l" (as in letter), and the number "1". You must observe certain rules to ensure that you are producing text that the OCR can easily recognize. To find resources available on the Web, go to a search engine and search with the keywords "scannable resume."

Additional Points to Remember

The key is to be prepared for anything the employer requests. Some employers might request that you send a resume created in a word-processor as an attachment. In this case, you might want to attach a resume and send your text resume embedded within the body of the e-mail. Make a note in your e-mail what program and version you used to create your attached resume, and that you embedded your text resume for easy viewing.

If the employer doesn't specify which resume to forward, use your best judgement. If you are applying for a position with an elementary school in Antioch, Tennessee, you'll probably want to mail your traditional resume and cover letter. If you're applying for an IT job in Silicon Valley, you would want to use some form of an electronic resume. Make your decision depending on the industry and the size of the company. You may want to inquire with the company directly to find out which resume to send.

Posting your resume puts it within reach of "spidering" software that searches innumerable sites for certain credentials that recruiters are seeking. Be aware, once your resume is posted, there's no telling who will read it, when they will read it, or where it will end up.

Many sites offer different levels of confidentiality from which you can choose. You might choose to post your resume without your contact information available to the viewer. Employers will search your "blinded" resume on that site, and if interested, can contact you through that site. You would do this if you were concerned that your current employer could see your resume and take actions against you.

ONLINE JOB SEARCH

There is no doubt that the Internet has caused a fundamental change in the employment process, as well as the skills required to wage a successful job search.

As mentioned earlier, you should have a clear idea of what type of jobs you want and are qualified to work. Before you begin, make a list of keywords that you can use in your job search criteria. Identify general occupations; not just job titles. When you begin looking through job descriptions, note the skills and kinds of experience employers are seeking and use these words in your search.

General Job Listing sites can be used to uncover all types of jobs. JobTrak.com is a good site for undergrads or grad students seeking their first job or internship. The site allows companies to target student resumes from specific universities or academic programs. In addition, employers can submit job postings to any of the nearly 1,000 partner schools. You must obtain your school's password before searching. JobTrak, like most sites, will allow you to search by job type and region.

In addition to searching posted jobs, general job sites usually offer additional features to those who register. You will have to check on each site to find which features are offered.

Some sites might offer all or some of the following features to registered job seekers:

  • You can post your resume on the site for employers to search
  • You can build multiple resumes and cover letters that you send directly to the employer from the job description that you're interested in
  • Each resume posted can have its own level of confidentiality
  • You can create "search agents" that will e-mail you when a job is posted that meets your parameters
  • Online application tracking may be offered which will record which posted resume you send to each employer

To get a listing of many General Job Listing Sites, check out the Riley Guide (http://www.rileyguide.com/), and follow the link to Job Listings.

Specialty Job Listing sites provide more targeted information and content regarding specific job categories. These sites often provide better results for job seekers in specific fields ¼ disciplines such as engineering, health care, teaching, accounting, human resources, etc. Many of these sites are small in comparison to some of the large posting sites, but they can contain information and links that are valuable additions to your search campaign. Sites that relate to your field should be located, examined, and incorporated in your search program.

To find specialty job sites, search on occupations, disciplines, industries, and on skills. For example, from a search engine, type "jobs in finance" or "counseling jobs."

MetaSites for job listings allow you to quickly search multiple job boards through one interface. Hoover's, for instance, allows you to search more than 35 career sites with each query and returns a single results list of the best jobs available. Some feel these sites allow for more time to be spent on more effective job-search strategies, such as networking or contacting employers directly. Some disadvantages are not being able to post a resume or not receiving features you might get when registering with a specific site.

Job Listings by region are available if location is the most important factor in your job search. Although most job sites allow you to search by region, you may want to take a different approach.

Online classifieds are useful because they post a huge variety of jobs in one place, and many positions are filled from responses to these ads. To find online classified ads, go to www.newsdirectory.com. Here you can narrow down your search by country, state and city. Also, www.myjobsearch.com offers a wide variety of classifieds by state and city. In addition, CareerPath.com is organized by many of the nation's leading newspapers to pull together their classified advertising strength. It's great if you want to target one city's classifieds.

Use a search engine to find regional job listings. Type in "jobs in knoxville" or "jobs in chicago."

You can also research salary and relocation information for specific locations.

Wage and Salary Information

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics (http://stats.bls.gov/oeshome.htm<) lists wage and salary information for over 700 occupations in 339 metropolitan areas.
  • The Career Journal from Wall Street Journal (http://www.careerjournal.com/) offers salaries by industry. Within an industry, you'll find articles and salary tables by job category.

Relocation Information

  • Monstermoving.com (http://www.monstermoving.com/) lists links to relocation services and related informational pages. It can be a great resource for someone moving around the world or just across town.
  • Homefair.com (http://www.homefair.com/) gives you a free side-by-side comparison of two cities' cost of living, climate, demographics, and other vital information, from a database that is kept current with quarterly updates.

Job Listings by Company

  • You can also use online resources to do research on employers. In many cases you can send your resume directly to those with job postings that appeal to you. Most companies these days have a web site that includes a link to current employment opportunities. Finding the company on the web is very easy. If you are trying to find a company's Web site, go to a search engine and type in the company name.
  • FlipDog.com (http://www.flipdog.com/) delivers job listings, all direct from the source ¼ employer Web sites. Some of these are postings you won't see on any other job site ¼ jobs from big and small companies, public and private organizations or anywhere at all. FlipDog.com uses technology that crawls the Web and links to job openings found on employer Web sites. Jobfactory.com searches the Internet for employment sites, then categorizes them so that you can go directly to the appropriate Internet location. JobFactory sends robots to many employment sites once a week to collect jobs. Just enter a job title and geographical area into JobSpider, and it will create a list of links to employers that are currently recruiting for your desired job titles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Consider subscribing to a UseNet newsgroup or one of the many listservs related to the field you're interested in. A newsgroup or listserv is a group of people who maintain an ongoing discussion through e-mail about something in common. When you write to the group address, your message goes to everyone in the group. When they write back, the reply also goes to everyone in the group. This is a good way to pick up valuable insider information or make indirect contacts. Also, recruiters read and participate in discussions on bulletin boards and newsgroups. Many keep up with developments in hopes that they can sign employees with skills that are in demand.

As an example, if your field is international marketing, do a search for international marketing on a directory of newsgroups and mailing lists, such as deja.com, www.eScribe.com and www.liszt.com. These sites detail mailing lists and newsgroups that hold discussions about an industry or profession. Another way to find a group or list is with Yahoo, which has every employment or professional classification, plus jobs and careers associated with it. The Internet Public Library List of Associations (http://www.ipl.org/ref/AON/) and Associations and Societies (http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/ctng/assoc.htm) is a good way of finding professional associations online and can help to facilitate the networking process.

Although most netiquette is common sense, it requires some mention. Proper netiquette frowns on such practices as insulting others, writing intense messages in capital letters (the online equivalent of shouting), and using e-mails to complain about others. Remember that e-mails and message board posts can float around the Web and be retrieved for years to come.

EXECUTING YOUR SEARCH PROGRAM

Plan your online job a limited number of sites in a variety of categories ¼ large job banks, location-specific resources, industry-specific resources, occupation/discipline-specific resources. Those that do not produce good results on a regular basis within a week or two of your first visit should be dropped and replaced with other sites.

Even if your strategy is sound and your technique thorough, the Web won't do the work by itself. By using the Web adeptly, you can make you work go much further and dramatically increasing your chances for success.

Pamela Piliero
Computer Services Administrator
Department of Career Services
University of Tennessee

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The purpose of this article is to both provide information and facilitate general dialogue about various employment-related topics. No legal advice is being given and no attorney-client relationship created. Please see the disclaimer for further limitations and conditions.