Top effective job search tools
Looking for work, especially in a tight labour market, can be disheartening. Whether you are new to the job market, or are having to start your search well into an existing career, there are tools online to help make finding a job much less stressful and easier-to-navigate.
There are many different avenues available to those looking for a new job, and some are better than others. Below are the top effective job search tools,
Always consider recruitment services
Of the many tools available to you, recruitment services are time-tested and have helped millions of people find meaningful work. Recruiters have direct access to the employers you would like to work for, and HR and management contacts at many organizations that can get you quick access to those responsible for hiring.
Recruitment services are paid and offer different services, but in order to really benefit from the advantages of having a recruiter working for you, your resume has to be impeccable. One element of a superior resume is the correct use of resume action words. This is the language that helps you stand out and really sell your skills and competencies.
LinkedIn has become a household name over the last several years and is by far the largest and most important professional networking site. There are over 700 million users around the world, and people find jobs and further their careers through LinkedIn all the time.
LinkedIn is essentially a big search engine and job market, but you have direct access to potential employers. They also have access to you. With that in mind, it is important to recognize that you are only able to take advantage of LinkedIn if your profile is attractive and well-thought-out. Successfully landing a job using LinkedIn is also, as it tends to be anywhere, a question of volume. You need to be actively contacting people in relevant industries and companies.
Facebook groups
Facebook may no longer be the cutting-edge social and cultural phenomenon it was 10 years ago, but it continues to be an important niche interest and professional meeting spot for a wide range of industries and professionals.
Many creative and remote working opportunities continue to be advertised through Facebook, and joining and following these groups can notify you of new positions sometimes before they even hit the major job search engines.
Searching for and applying for jobs via Facebook can also be a good way to humanize yourself, above and beyond what a more formal job application process offers. It is always a good idea to make sure your profile is clean before relying on Facebook to find employment. There are a variety of strategies you can use to land jobs via Facebook.
Indeed
Indeed is another great worldwide job search tool that lets you upload your resume, search listings, sort using a variety of filters, and create job alert emails to notify you of new postings. Job offerings on Indeed usually allow you to apply directly through the company’s website or using the Indeed platform itself.
Indeed is customizable by country as well, which makes it great for isolating opportunities based on where you want to or can work. This makes it an excellent tool for finding work overseas.
SimplyHired
SimplyHired is probably the job aggregator of all job aggregators. It works by taking postings from thousands of websites and job boards and gathering them all in one place. It is probably safe to say that SimplyHired is the most exhaustive job search engine out there.
Some of the services provided by SimplyHired include the standard job search function, the ability to upload and tailor resumes, profile customization, email notifications, a large company directory, and a list of trending companies from its “Employer Brand Index.”
Silk Road
SilkRoad bills itself as a talent management software company. It is a job search tool and so much more, offering cloud-based human resource solutions designed to be used during the hiring, on-boarding, training and talent-management phases of employment.
It is one of the most applicant tracking systems out there, with some of the biggest employers around the world using it for hiring across the board. Employers find it easy to use, so this is where they tend to concentrate much of their efforts.
A note on diversification
One of the most fundamental rules of job searching in the digital era is to diversify your efforts. While job search engines like Indeed, Job.com, SimplyHired and others should form an important part of your strategy, making use of a hybrid strategy that includes less formal places (such as Facebook), LinkedIn and potentially even a recruitment agency will optimize your chances of being noticed.
Conclusion
Looking for a job is often a stressful experience. You should take advantage of every opportunity to make your life easier, which includes the job search tools mentioned above. Make sure your resume is polished and designed to impress, don’t let yourself be easily discouraged, and go after the jobs you want.
