Making the Most of Job Search Websites

1. Use as many job search web sites as you can find.
   Don’t confine your job search to the largest job search web sites. Post your resume far and wide to make sure that it’s seen by as many people as possible.


2. Keep a text-only and a MS Word version of your resume on your computer to make it easy to upload it to job search websites.
   Many job search websites allow you to upload your MS Word resume to give you a start on composing an online resume. Take advantage of the convenience.


3. Even if you upload a Word or text version of your resume, do create a resume online at job search websites that offer it.
   The employee search software at job search websites is designed to work with the fields of their online resume creator. By using it, you increase the chances of your resume popping up when an employer or recruiter does a search for possible employees.


4. Create custom job searches and sign up for automatic notification of search results on job search websites.
   Many job search websites allow you to save searches for jobs with certain keywords, which can save you lots of time. In addition, if they offer an email subscription service, you can have new jobs that fit your criteria delivered to your email inbox every day.


5. Take advantage of templates stored on job search websites to make cover letters painless.
   Writing cover letters can take up a lot of time, and strain your creativity. Many job search websites allow you to store several cover letters that you can modify for specific jobs.


6. Store as many versions of your resume on job search websites as they’ll allow.
   The ability to store more than one resume on your job search websites is a great advantage – in more ways than one. You can emphasize relevant experience to particular kinds of jobs in each, and always have one on hand ready to be forwarded to potential employers.


7. Update or change your active resume once a month or so.
   Many job recruiters and headhunters search job search websites daily for new and newly updated resumes. By changing your active resume, you’re putting it at the front of the list of new resumes every month so that it turns up in their search results often.


8. Don’t neglect the networking or discussion forums on job search websites.
   Not all jobs are posted. By becoming part of the discussion forums or networking services, you increase your visibility on the job search websites that you frequent. More than one person has found their dream job when another member checked their resume after reading a post on a discussion forum.


9. Check for new listings on all your job search websites at least twice a week.
   Even the least active job search websites will have new listings that fit your criteria weekly. By visiting frequently, you’ll get those listings more frequently.


10. Fill out the skills sections on job search websites that allow you to create skills summaries.
    Often, job recruiters use skills searches rather than resume searches to find candidates for jobs. By making sure to list all of your relevant skills, including hobbies and interests, you increase your chances of being picked out of the pile for an interview.