Ten Tip for Using the Net in Your Job Search

A round-up of handy, free timesavers to help you find a job

 By Alexia Robinson

Looking for a job can be difficult for students, recent graduates and seasoned professionals. But whether you’re looking for an entry-level job or your first internship, there are numerous career tools just a click away. We’ve perused dozens of career sites in search of valuable online career tools, aside from the standard job listings. From salary calculators to resume builders, the Internet has a wealth of resources for novice job seekers. In our quest, we looked for tools that were easy to use, weren’t too time-consuming and, what’s most important, they’re FREE!

1. Ask the Expert

This tool is available at Campuscareercenter.com. This section of the website offers advice on all sorts of job-related topics such as “Get a Grip: Handshaking 101”, “Do You Talk Too Much in Interviews?” and “How Do I Get Experience?” Although some of the articles are lengthy, they are very informative and will prove helpful. Although you can’t actually ask a question, the “virtual” experts have addressed almost every question one can think of. Other sections of interest include Diversity Center and Intern Zone.

2. Self-Assessment Center

Not sure about what career is best for you? Or maybe you need to figure out your strengths and weaknesses. This feature on www.monster.com is a great place to start. It has dozens of quizzes, like the JASPER test, that help you determine what type of work environment is best for you and your leadership style, among other insightful items. While quizzes are available on other sites, Monster’s quizzes are more intriguing.

3. Salary Calculator

The Salary Wizard, powered by Salary.com for sites like IMDiversity.com and Black-Collegian.com, is a no-brainer. Salary negotiations are always tricky, but this tool will give you an idea of how much people living in your area and working in your field are being paid. All you have to do is type in your current or desired job title and select your city from a list or enter your Zip code. You’ll then receive a listing of jobs in that field with brief descriptions. Pick the job that best fits what you’re looking for, then click on “View Basic Range.” Free report results show average salary ranges, plus additional tabs for viewing supplemental information such as average total compensation packages, adding in valuable benefits such as bonuses, insurance, pensions, paid vacation time, and other items.

4. Resume Builders

Are you tired of having to re-type your resume every time you apply for your job? IMDiversity.com and Black- Collegian.com have a FLASHPost tool that allows you to post your resume completely without having to type it over. The form also parses parts of the resume into formats optimized for easy searching by employers. The only key is that your resume must be in common formats such as Microsoft Word, Rich- Text Format, or plain text.

5. Discussion Forums

It’s a good idea to get some “man-onthe- street” opinions about issues in the workplace. There are dozens of blog sites that allow you to network with other professionals. But beware, websites like MySpace.com, Facebook.com and Blackplanet.com are more personal than professional. The temptation to socialize versus seriously network is ever present, and changing your privacy settings may not be enough when you get bored at work. While they all offer professional networking capabilities, they chiefly cater to people looking for love and old friends. A safer route may be joining professional listserv groups at groups.yahoo.com or groups.google.com. Simply type in your profession in the search field and join the group that most interests you. Or, you can start a group. Either way, listservs connect you with people in your field who post job openings, career tips and news about the profession.

6. Job Notifications

CareerBuilder.com emails you periodically with job alerts that match or are similar to jobs you applied for using that site. They email you alerts even if you never upload your resume. But to achieve results that are more accurate, you should set up a profile. Job sites including Black-Collegian.com often also provide “Job Agent” tools allowing you to have your own custom job searches run automatically and send you job alerts when there’s a match.

7. Cover Letter Help

HotJobs.com, powered by Yahoo!, offers brief cover letter tips. Its step-by-step guide should help you write a stellar but to-the-point cover letter in no time.

8. Interviewing Tips

Interviewing tips can be found on basically all of the career sites. But they can only be valuable if you put them into practice. For new job seekers, like undergrads, Black-Collegian.com offers lots of tips for the less experienced. You can find tips on topics ranging from what to wear to the interview to questions you should ask recruiters.

9. Cost of Living Wizard

So you’ve gotten a job offer in another state and now it’s time to negotiate your salary. Now you need to figure out the cost of living in the area to help you determine how much you need to make. A number of sites including Aftercollege.com and IMDiversity.com publish a Cost of Living Wizard, also powered by Salary.com, to help determine how much you need to make in comparison to the city you currently reside in. It’s quick and easy to use.

10. Relocation Guides

There’s more to evaluating job offers outside your area than just knowing local salary ranges. Other personal aspects of a decision to relocate for work might also include moving costs, local demographics, and the kinds of neighborhoods you want to live in – especially if you have a family or plan to start one soon. “Power Tools for Relocation” at the Homefair.com site can help inform you about these decisions with a series of free tools and reports analyzing your new target home. These includes a Moving Costs calculator, a tool for comparing crime rates in various cities, and comparative city reports listing demographic information, living costs, and more.

Yes, the Internet has made it easier to find a job. However, it doesn’t compensate for having real-world experience. These tools, used in tandem with your campus career center, will help you with your search, but it’s up to you to put them to good use.

For more tools and tips, visit us online at Black-collegian.com/career.

A recent graduate of Florida A&M University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Alexia R. Robinson is the 2006 Black College Wire Editorial Intern for THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine.