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Harnessing the Power of the Internet to Find a New Job

Thanks to the Internet, job searching is easy, right? You post your resume on a few major sites, or maybe you send in your resume directly to some company sites in response to a job posting. Then you sit back and wait for the phone calls and emails to come rolling in with offers of interviews.

Well, if you haven’t noticed already, it doesn’t work that way. Just like any other tool, the Internet is only powerful if you know how to use it correctly. Here are five ways to get maximum impact from your Internet job search:

1. The Internet is a great way to “meet” people who make hiring decisions.

Between social networks, blogs and professional forums, people on the job hunt can get directly in front of people who make hiring decisions at companies in virtually every industry. Engage with people via sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and sometimes Facebook. Just be sure to engage professionally and carefully. Need a starting point? A simple tweet or post to say you admire their work and would love to hear more about what’s going on at the company might do it.

2. Social networks and blogs can give you leverage.

Savvy people can use their own websites, blogs or memberships on social networks to elevate their presence and promote their work for real gain and opportunity.

3. Doing your homework has never been easier.
Use the Internet to read up on company news, announcements, etc, in your industry. Companies that are recently funded usually end up hiring new talent, while new departments and branch offices often result in new work. Make a list of the companies you’d like to work for and check into what they’ve been up to. When you get an interview, you’ll look good by being up on industry news.

4. Smaller can be better when it comes to job boards.
Forget the big players. Seek out niche sites and job listings from blogs and specialty social networks like Gotcast and Mashable. A lot of hiring managers now use Twitter and Facebook as well to announce job openings and needs. Find the companies you want to work for and follow them.

5. Punch up your email skills.

Cover letters are now often sent by email, and in the world of email, you have to make it quick and easy. Write two concise paragraphs about what you can do for them and how much you’d like to do it. Attach your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to avoid your formatting getting messed up in transition.

One more quick tip? Set your personal social network pages private, and create separate ones for work only. A lot of companies Google prospective employees to check them out, so it will pay to have a focused, professional online image.

The best thing you can do for your career is to call the staffing professionals at Synerfac. We’ll work closely with you to find just the right position for your skills, experience and personality.

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