Using the Web to Enhance Your
Career
The Internet has fast become a part
of daily life for most Americans. From e-mail to
message boards, the Web allows us to communicate
as never before. And millions are using it to
find new careers as well. You can research
occupations and find out about industry growth
and decline. You can reach deep into your local
area as well as take your job search far beyond
your geographical boundaries. Although the amount
of information on the Web can be overwhelming,
executing an effective Web-based job search can
be easy and straightforward. Pamela Piliero, a
coordinator in the Career Services Department at
the University of Tennessee, gives the following
suggestions to best use the Web in a job search.
General Search Tips
The term "search engine"
is often used generically to describe both true
search engines and directories. When used
correctly, these tools are extremely useful in
pointing you to helpful sites. Different search
engines work in different ways, so for best
results stay with one or two main search engines
and learn how they work.
There is no doubt the Internet has
caused a fundamental change in the employment
process, as well as the skills required to wage a
successful job search. You should have a clear
idea of what type of jobs you want and what you
are qualified to do. Before you begin, make a
list of keywords you can use in your search
criteria. Identify general occupations, not just
job titles. When you begin looking through job
descriptions, note the skills and kinds of
experience employers are seeking and use these
words in your search.
Researching Career Fields
You don't want to waste time sifting
through jobs you don't want or jobs for which you
are not qualified. On many job search sites, you
can explore career and industry information, job
profiles from people currently employed in your
field and company information. Many sites allow
you to search companies by industry, or if you
are interested in a particular company, you can
search alphabetically. WetFeet.com and Vault.com
will give you information on a company, including
an overview, financial statistics and contact
information.
Resumes
In today's high-tech resume
processing environment it is important all
candidates have resumes in an electronic format
that can be submitted via the Internet. Be
prepared for anything an employer requests. For
instance, some employers might ask for a resume
created in a Word document, while others will
have you fill out an online application.
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