Where to Find Your Next Job

Finding your next job is like prospecting for gold. If "Gold Rush" on Discovery Channel taught me anything, and I like to think hours of viewing did, it is that you need to have an idea of where to look to find gold. You can't just dig and dig with no indication that gold might be there. Job seekers need to take a similar approach. I will provide a basic guideline on where you are more likely to "strike gold" on your job search.

Job Boards and Job Aggregators

This is the most obvious choice. There are hundreds of postings with filtering options and easy apply capabilities for most of the job board sites. Not only are you able to limit the results by keywords and position titles, you can limit the results by level of experience, salary, distance, and the type of role (contract, part-time, full-time, etc.). If you have specific requirements or want to truly target your search, this functionality truly makes your life easier.

If you goal is pushing out as many applications as possible, some of these sites also have the functionality to help you in that respect. Some organizations choose to make it possible to apply with your "job board profile", which is set up when you register with the job sites. It essentially becomes a one-click application.

A couple of things to keep in mind: These job boards and job aggregators don't have all of the openings in your area. Make sure to expand your search to other methodologies. Also remember how convenient it was for you to apply, it was as convenient for hundreds of other applicants. Competition is much higher and much more congested for job boards and job aggregators.

Some of these sites include:

CareerBuilder.com

Indeed.com

Ziprecruiter.com

Monster.com

SimplyHired.com

Glassdoor.com

Google For Jobs

Social Media

Since I began my career in recruitment there has been a major push to move recruitment efforts toward social media and to take the job posts to where the people are. Many organizations are still making that transition to this day. One thing is clear, social media will continue to be critical for organizations to attract talent.

The top two social media outlets I will focus on are the ones that being used most effectively today. These will change as new sites emerge and as companies learn to effectively leverage the rest of the social media landscape.

First is the most directly related platform, LinkedIn.com. To begin with, there are job posts on the platform. As a candidate you can view and apply to job postings directly with your LinkedIn profile. If you have an upgraded membership, you can also view additional information like how many people have applied, how you stack up against other members that have applied, and how the company has grown.

The other major benefit on LinkedIn is your network. As you connect with professionals in your industry, with recruiters, and with people you have met through your networking, you gain your exposure to opportunities you may not have come across otherwise. Your connections post about opportunities their company is looking to fill, they are recruiting for, or their connection may be looking for. Make sure to engage with your network to increase your visibility and likelihood for a referral.

Feel free and encouraged to connect with me on LinkedIn.

The other social media platform I will discuss is Facebook. Facebook has three aspects that are beneficial to job seekers. Facebook integrated a Jobs on Facebook functionality mid-2017. This acts much like a job board where you can find jobs and apply with your Facebook profile. Please note that you should probably adjust your privacy settings and clean up your profile prior to applying. Some organizations also post openings on their company's Facebook page. Facebook Groups are also a viable option to find potential opportunities. There are specific groups that focus on job seekers in specific geographies and in specific industries. Members post and share job openings in these groups. Your friends are the other obvious benefit of job seeking on this platform. Their employer or their contacts may be looking for someone just like you for their job opening. Also, having that friend as a referral definitely helps to get your resume viewed by the decision-maker.

While you are at it, don't forget to like us on Facebook.

Your Network

Reach out to your colleagues, friends and family. They may know of opportunity that hasn't been posted yet or that you are not aware of. They may also work for an organization that you would like to join. Best of all, you can ask them to refer you.

Specialized Job Boards

Most industries have specialized networking groups or may even have a specialized job board. Recruiters and companies have a difficult time finding specialized professionals from time to time due to required certifications, language preferences, specialized experience or education. At times, they will turn to these websites to help find that talent. Some examples are:

HealtheCareers.com - Job search engine for healthcare jobs

FinancialJobBank.com - Jobs in Finance

Dice.com - Job Search Engine for Technology Professionals

RecruitMilitary.com - Connect employers with high quality Veteran Talent

Latpro.com - Job board for Hispanic, Latino and other Spanish and Portuguese bilinguals

DiversityJobs.com - Job search engine for diversity-friendly companies

Company Websites

If you have a specific company in mind feel encouraged to check out their company website. Not all companies make there postings available on job search engines for a variety of reasons. So don't miss out on an opportunity because you didn't check for your dream job at a specific company page.

Traditional Outlets

These are more traditional methods that are often overlooked for a variety of reasons, but if you are having no luck with other methodologies you should absolutely give them a chance:

Job Fairs - Many organizations will attend these events and may even give you a job interview on the spot.

Newspapers - It's true, some companies will still post their job openings on local newspapers.

Career Service Centers - Most counties have a local job center or workforce development center that offer job training, job fairs, and often a career posting site for local companies.

Never feel discouraged on your job search. Where there is a will there is a way. In today's job market there are a variety of options on where to find your next position. Use this basic roadmap and you'll "strike gold" in no time.

Where did you find your last job? Did any of these job search techniques surprise you? Do you have any questions about your job search, interviewing, or your resume? Please comment below or on our Facebook page. You may see your questions featured on one of our posts!

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If you would like one-on-one coaching, I do offer my services, check the out here: https://www.happyhourmanny.com/shop

#JobSearching #CareerBuilder #Glassdoor #LinkedIn #Indeed