Job Search Strategies Changing

By CityTownInfo.com Staff

Rather than utilizing online job boards, job seekers are increasingly turning to other methods to find work.

The Wall Street Journal reports that companies are cutting back on advertising on online job Web sites, and are instead focusing on their own company Web career pages to attract applicants. In turn, job seekers are beginning to search for jobs by consulting company Web sites and utilizing more social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

The move comes as online boards such as Monster and CareerBuilder are being flooded by applicants, and employers are searching for ways to better screen potential new employees. Companies are finding that people who apply through their own Web sites are generally better qualified than applicants who come through job boards.

Craig Halfman, a chef from Virginia, is one such example. He found that job boards directed him towards positions which were not at all suitable. "I'd get responses for nurses and medical stuff," he told the Journal, "and jobs that didn't apply to me whatsoever."

Halfman joined a group on LinkedIn hosted by Sodexo Inc., which provides food services to institutions. The company spotted his LinkedIn profile and suggested he apply for a position as executive chef at a university in Virginia. He was hired last month.

"You should really tailor and target your cover letter and resume to the needs of the company," advised Mark Stelzner, a principal at Inflexion Advisors LLC, a management consultant. He said that some job seekers are meeting with more success using Halfman's method--by first networking with employers through LinkedIn and then applying directly through the company.

Similarly, the Examiner notes that effective social networking can be extremely valuable in a job search, and advises job seekers to create or update profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. "Your social network can be your biggest asset in your job search," reads the article. "Getting the word out about you is a key step."

In a nod to the trend, last month software company Intuit launched a new part of its career site which allows visitors to view pop-up videos, photos, and a short virtual representation of what its offices are like.

"Part of it is letting people know who we are as a company," said Melissa Rutledge, an employment-branding manager at Intuit, who was quoted in the Journal. "We are getting away from the job boards a little bit," she noted. "We will probably never get away from it completely, but we are moving more toward viral advertising."

Career and Education News

Our News Writers and Editors

CityTownInfo Writers and Editors

Follow CityTownInfo.com

Follow Us on Facebook
Follow Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Youtube

Career and College Resources on CityTownInfo

Real-World Career Reports

Career Stories from workers: daily activities, job tips, best/worst job aspects, training, etc.
Daily Career & Education News from our staff. We're an approved Google News provider!

Career References and Original Articles

Resource Center. A starting point for all CityTownInfo career and college resources.
Career Overviews of hundreds of careers: descriptions, salaries, forecasts, schools, more.
Best Careers Not Requiring Degrees: Good pay, job growth, low need for degrees.
Helpful Articles, many in "how-to" format; e.g., "How to Become a Chef".
Infographics covering employment and educational trends.

College Directories and Lists

These lists link to thousands of detailed school profiles.

Colleges by State. Nearly every college and trade school in the country.
Colleges Listed Alphabetically. About 7,000 colleges & trade schools, including online schools.
Colleges by Major City. Browse cities with multiple college options.
Online Colleges. Colleges with online degree programs.
Graduate Schools by State. Colleges offering graduate degree programs.
Graduate Schools by Major City. Find cities with multiple graduate school options.