A College Graduate's Guide to Using Online Job Sites

Job Search Sites

Job search sites are sites that allow you to search through a database of job listings. Most sites allow you to search by career field, title, job type, employer, location, and/or keyword.

Where to Search for Jobs

There are many different job search sites to pick from. Some general sites allow you to search for any type of job, others are focused on specific fields like technology or business. The best job search sites are established, easy-to-use, and flush with recent job postings. A few of these sites include:

• SimplyHired - Simply Hired claims to have the 'biggest, smartest job search engine' on the web; the description is spot on. The database never seems to have less than 3 million jobs.
• Indeed - You can use this meta search engine when you want to save time. Indeed searches a whole bunch of other job sites so you don't have to.
• CollegeRecruiter - Like CollegeGrad, College Recruiter is aimed specifically at new college graduates. The site features hundreds of thousands of internships and entry-level jobs.
• MonsterTrak - This Monster.com site has a database with thousands of jobs suitable for new college graduates.
• Craigslist - You can find anything with Craigslist classifieds and jobs are no exception. A lot of employers advertise on the Craigslist job boards because they are considered to be the most effective job boards on the web.

Avoiding Scams

There are a lot of scammers out there who make their living by victimizing jobseekers on the Internet. Although most online job sites make an effort to verify the employers who post listings, fraudulent ads can slip through the cracks. The following tips can help you protect yourself from identity theft and other online scams:

• Never provide any non-work related personal information, such as eye color, marital status, maiden names, or passwords.
• Do not ever give a potential employer bank account information or credit card numbers.
• Do not transfer money, wire money, or hold money on behalf of an employer.
• Do not allow a new employer or a potential to have paychecks or any other types of funds direct deposited into your personal bank account.
• Watch this MSNBC.com video about online job scams to learn more about the types of ads you should avoid.

Resume Posting Services

Posting your resume online can save you a lot of time. There are two basic types of resume posting services: those that charge a fee and those that don't. Many resume posting services allow you to send your resumes to an employer with a click of a mouse. Interested employers can also search for and access your resume online.

Where to Post Resumes for Free

There are lots of different places on the web that allow you to post resumes and market yourself for free. Besides general sites, the best sites for college students include those that are directly related to a specific career field. General sites or location-based sites can yield good results as well. A few resume posting sites to try include:

• CareerBuilder - At CareerBuilder, you can upload or post a resume that you've already written. If you don't have a prepared resume, you can use CareerBuilder's resume builder.
• Monster - Monster is a great place to search for jobs and post your resume. You can upload your own resume or create one right on the site.
• Yahoo! Hot Jobs - According to Yahoo!, thousands of employers and recruiters search their site every day for resumes. You can upload your resume to Yahoo! Hot Jobs or build a resume right on the site.
• SearchEase - Keep your job search confidential by posting your resume on SearchEase. You can build a new resume or import your resume from CareerBuilder, Monster, or Yahoo! Hot Jobs.
• Razume - You can get feedback on your resume by posting it to Razume. Resume experts are standing by waiting to offer your free feedback that will improve your resume and thus your chances of getting a job.
• CareerTV - If your resume is best presented in video form, CareerTV is the place for you. You can upload your video resume and invite potential employers to watch.

Hints and Tips

• Provide as much information as you can on your resume. This will increase your chances of getting noticed by employers.
• Make sure that information on your resume is correct and spelled properly.
• Formatting may not always be preserved when you upload your resume. Be sure to preview what it will look like online.
• Many colleges offer free resume posting services to students and recent grads. Check with career services to see if your school has its own service.
• Check out the RileyGuide to Online Resume Posting for more hints and tips.