Tips for Effectively Using Job Boards
I can almost guarantee that everyone, at some point, has used a job board to find their next career opportunity. They’ve become the easy, go-to method for finding thousands of available job listings, all from the comfort of your couch.
The bad news is, 60% of job seekers use job boards, but only 19% of new hires come from job boards. According to the Indeed website—the number one job board site in the world—they currently have 250 million unique monthly visitors and 175 million resumes uploaded to their database.
What does this mean for you?
Well, it means that it is imperative you know how to stand out when using a job board.
With that in mind, I’ve compiled some quick tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your job board search.
- Pick the Right Job Board
Giant job board sites like Indeed, CareerBuilder, and Monster are great, but they can be overwhelming. If you know which field you’d like to work in, try using more specialized, specific job boards. You’ll waste less time searching and you’ll find more relevant job postings. SmartRecruiters and The Balance Careers both have great articles that list some of these niche sites.
- Use Filters
Job boards have filters on their searches for a reason—use them! It will help narrow your search, allowing you to spend less time trudging through thousands of postings. For instance, if you’re living in Houston and are committed to staying nearby, make sure you only see postings in Houston. There are also filters for salary, job type, and even experience level on many job boards.
*Pro-tip: Make sure you read the whole job description before applying to confirm it’s a job you’re actually interested in. You’ll not only feel more invested, but you’ll be a better candidate.
- Optimize Your CV/Resume
I’ve previously discussed various ways to optimize your resume for online job postings (check out How to Format Your Resume, Resume Builder: A Guide to Using Key Words, and How to Write a Resume). It’s crucial that you modify your resume to reflect the job description. Employers (or their software) are scanning for those keywords, so make sure you add them in.
- Use Your Contacts
Lastly, if you find a job you really like, try and find someone at the company to make contact with. Your application is more likely to be noticed if they know your name. This can be done by browsing LinkedIn for a connection and reaching out. I promise the extra effort will pay off.
When all is said and done, job search is an exhausting endeavor. Nowadays, it’s common to send out 100 or more job applications before you receive one offer. This can be discouraging. I hope these tips help you optimize your job search, but if you find yourself needing extra help, we offer a comprehensive job search program to help you utilize your time wisely and get the job you want. Contact us via our website or call us at 800.680.7768 if you have any questions.