Is a job search focused online a waste of time?  You decide.

Do you realize that 68% of available jobs are NEVER posted online? (Source: Statistic Brain, Online Employment Job Posting Website Statistics)

Take greater control of your job search.  It’s what you do with your time that will fast track you to that next possibility. 

The Job Search Online Struggle.

Did you know the average response rate for online job boards is 4%?  Are you willing to chance your success finding and landing a new job through the maze of online job boards? 

What does this mean?  You will need to seek out opportunity and avoid waiting for that perfect job to surface online or hoping that the “hiring fairy” will come knocking on your front door.

How do you begin a successful job search?

• Research companies of interest, visit their corporate sites and direct career portals, determine how to outreach after you acquire the mailing address and key contacts (i.e. Director of Human Resources, Hiring Manager, Department Manager) as a result of your research. 
• Investigate startups, new companies coming into your area or those that are expanding and register to attend hiring events or meetups. 
• Invest in building your online personal brand and connect with former colleagues by creating a profile on professional social sites like LinkedIn, it’s FREE (over 500 million people can’t be wrong…). 
• Target specific people, industries, companies, and events for greater success uncovering opportunity by building your net-worth (i.e. net-work).

Tip:  Get connected!  Referral to an internal champion at a company or job role of interest will leverage your impact and increase your chances for getting hired.  Who do you know?

Good companies are always looking for good people!  Get found and get hired by making yourself known to others, volunteer, or simply show up to that next networking meetup in your area.  Get out of the house!

Your next contact may lead you to that key decision-maker when one of the following may occur…

A current employee:

• Retires
• Relocates
• Exits workforce for personal reasons, i.e. pregnancy, sick parent, goes back to school, career change, health concerns, disability
  
• Starts their own business
• Quits
• Recruited
• Transfers to another Department
• Released from Company

Tell everyone and anyone you are looking for a job.  You never know who may know whom and that could translate into a potential lead.

“Someone knows someone, who knows someone, looking for someone…just like you.”-Denise Anne Taylor, Career Coach.

Looking for a job is a full-time job.  Why?  Hours can be spent managing your job search; research, job interviews, networking events, meetups, submission of online applications, more research.  So don’t make the mistake of jumping in and heading for the “help wanted” sign…seek out specific opportunities, ask for help and control your search through people you know.  See more online statistics from Statistic Brain. 

Good luck!