Let’s face it. Finding a job in this economy is tough. And while the experts are saying that the U.S. is finally starting to show some signs of recovery, most predict that the job market won’t fully recover for five years or longer. The National Labor Department reports that 28,000 retail jobs have actually been dropped during the holiday season and there is no question that companies are being cautious about hiring, especially full time employees. But, in the face of a national unemployment rate that is hovering at about 9.5%, there are jobs out there. Finding them is just a matter of knowing where to look.
For many companies, traditional job posting methods have simply flown out the window. Newspaper classifieds, television and radio ads as well as job fairs have been replaced by cheaper and more effective methods such as online job board posting, social media advertising, and forums. And, since companies are shifting to online venues to advertise available positions, job seekers have to shift their hunting strategies to include the World Wide Web. So, if you are looking to land a job, here are a few places you should take the time to visit.
Monster.com
Okay, so you’ve probably seen the commercials, but how many of you have actually created an account and logged in to see what was available? Not only does Monster.com have thousands of job listings for every available job market in the country, but there are also relevant articles for writing your resume, how to look for jobs, job interview tips, how to plan for your future and tons more. Monster.com is one of the most comprehensive sites out there for job seekers and should be on the top of every man or woman who is actively looking for a job.
But, with all of those accolades comes the warning: not every job posted on Monster.com is legit. It’s sad to say, but fraudsters are everywhere in this day and age. Make sure you do your homework with every potential employer before you give out any personal information about yourself to prevent your identity from being stolen.
Hotjobs.com
Yahoo! does a really good job of mimicking the services offered by Monster.com. But, what really sets them apart is the fact that they have partnered with many local newspapers which allows them to post more local jobs than Monster. My local newspaper, The Knoxville News Sentinel, posts all of its Now Hiring ads on Hotjobs.com, which makes it easy to find companies in my area who are hiring.
Editor’s Note: I have found SimplyHired.com to be an excellent job aggregator. Plus it has a simple interface made to mimic the output of Google search results. Very clean and easy to use.
Work at Home Job Boards
Believe it or not (it took me awhile to believe it myself) but making a good salary in the comfort of your own home is not only possible, but for the highly motivated person, highly probable. And no, you don’t have to own your own business to accomplish this feat, though that is an option as well. There are several really good job boards out there for folks who need to work from home that offer many different work from home leads including home based customer service jobs, freelance job opportunities, direct selling opportunities and much more.
The key to finding legitimate work you can do at home is to understand that for every one legitimate company out there, there are fifty more scams. Look for well respected work at home job boards. These boards tend to scour their listings more carefully than others in an effort to protect their reputations. Also, review the listings that employees make and shy away from those that have paid to have their advertisements listed. And, last but not least, never, under any circumstances, pay a fee to become an employee or contractor for any business. Legitimate companies will pay you for your work, not charge you for the privilege of working for them.
Local Newspaper Online Classified
Odds are, your local newspaper has an online presence in addition to its print form. In many cases, these entities will offer employers the opportunity to post help wanted ads either online, in print or both, with a deep discount being offered for online advertising. In order to make sure that you are reaping all of the benefits of utilizing local newspapers to assist you in your job search, make sure that you look online.
Niche Forums
A niche forum is an online chat room dedicated to a specific topic where people with similar interests can get together and ask questions and discuss a variety of interest related topics. In some cases, employers will post jobs within these communities in an effort to draw good quality talent to their organizations. If you have a strong affiliation with a specific topic of interest, try joining a few forums. You’ll be surprised at the number of work opportunities that turn up.
Editor’s Note: I would also add that social media sites that you are active on would be a good place to get the word out initially about your need for a job. The people that care about you most are going to be the one’s connected to you on Facebook and other sites. Put the feelers out in these places.
What places do you look online to find work?
(photo: Ed Yourdon)
Hi, I'm Philip Taylor. I'm a husband, father, blogger, and entrepreneur. I love learning to do more with my money and sharing it all here with you. Join in on the conversation and start improving your financial life today.