Online Job Searches:Do They Work?
Like most scientists, the questions that I enjoy the most have simple answers. Black or white is much easier to deal with than shades of gray (although shades of gray can be titillating from a research perpective). With this in mind, the answer to my question about online job searches is a shade of gray rather than black or white.
It goes without saying, that applying for jobs online is simple, facile, and extremely gratifying. On a given day, you can apply for thousands of jobs and feel like you have done something positive for your future. However, after you come out of your computer-induced blissful state,I want you to remember that tens of thousands of people have also done the same thing that you just did! Just think of those billions of bytes of information being transmitted to all of those websites. It is a wonder that the job boards never crash from traffic overload. Doyou ever wonder why you rarely hear back from employer regarding the poistions that you applied for? Have you ever thought about who reviews all of the resumes and cover letters that you and your colleagues send to job board and corporate websites? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is straightforward and obvious....data management/recruiting software. In other words, humans rarely look at any of the stuff that you send to their sites. Typically, resumes are reviewed by computers and if your resume does not contain the appropriate "key words" your chances for that job are remote. Consequently, I do not recommend that you use the internet exclusively to look for that new job. Nothing beats the tried and true method of networking and hitting the pavement to meet as many people as you can who you think can help you find a job.
However, there is a light at the end of the job tunnel...at least for the more mature and experienced job seekers out there. As I like to remind my younger colleagues, "What we old guys lack in stamina we make up for with expertise"! All kidding aside, many of the jobs posted on the major job boards are placed there by professional recruiters. These recruiters are "trolling" for individuals with prior job experience (and a few gray hairs) because today's employers want job candidates with "previous industrial experience". Also, the longer you have been around, the more skills that you acquire which gives you more flexibility with regard to the different types of jobs that you can apply for.
So, in a nutshell, if you have a few years of "real life" job experience under your belt, I highly recommend that you take advantage of any online job opportunities that are consistent with your skills and areas of expertise. If you do not have any prior job experience, I recommend that you spend more time on "My Space" rather than wasting your time on Monster!
Good job hunting!!!!!
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