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Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts

searching : job sites you can use to find the perfect position

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There are countless sites online where you can search for jobs, but which ones are effective? Maybe you don't know where to start or what keywords to use. Maybe you aren't using as many job sites as you should. In today's post, I'm going to review several job sites that are easy to use and have produced results for me.

read me first....
I suggest that you use every resource available to you in your job search. Majority of these sites are free and allow you to list your resume for potential employers to review. In fact, you can then later use your profile and uploaded resume to quickly submit job applications when you find a position of interest. In today's digital world, your online presence is almost as important as your physical presence. When receiving your application, its not unusual for your potential employer to search Google for personal information, check your Facebook, or review your LinkedIn profile. Consequently, maintaining an up-to-date and positive online presence is extremely important. Review your online profiles often and be sure to post an updates or inquiries you have. Furthermore, use the internet to your advantage. Google search companies you're interested in! Add a recruiter or headhunter on LinkedIn and express your interest!

Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs: Sites that produce results 


1. Indeed 

Rating: A-
Pros: 
Combines a variety of job posting sites into one simple view 
Opens job postings in a separate window so you don't lose your results 
Provides a review of the company right under the job posting 
Sponsored jobs are revelvant to your search and usual a good fit (in my experience) 
Allows you to save your resume and in some cases offers quick apply option 
Cons: 
Sometimes lists inaccurate locations for companies 
Filters could be improved 
Sometimes lists jobs from paid membership sites that can not be viewed in full 

Overall - I really like Indeed. It was one of the first job sites I used in my job search and allowed me to find many available positions I'd be interested in. I like the simplicity of the format. The site is easy to use and allows you to save positions, keep a record of jobs you selected, and gives you the option of whether to get emails on listings or not. I do not like the filters for this site. It can be really difficult to get a large search down to more specific results with these filters. Watch out for sites like Doostang in results if you're not a member of Doostang. The posting may interest you, but you will be unable to view it without a membership. 




2. Monster 

Rating: B+
Pros: 
Like a Facebook profile for the professional world 
Widely used by employers 
Easy to apply with quick application option 
Variety of job listings 
Email Notifications 
Cons:
Email Notifications (lol)
Inaccurate locations for companies 
Incomplete job listings
Very limited filters 

Overall- Monster is "an oldy, but a goody".  Its been around for quite some time and has built an excellent reputation. Consequently, many employers use and trust this site to post their openings on. I do find a good amount of poor postings on this site though. This isn't necessarily Monster's fault, but the poor employers who decide to list jobs on the site. I love the online profile portion and I do find that potential employers review my monster profile. The biggest con for me is the email notifications. They can be really annoying! Especially since sometimes its not anything new, but just old search results. Sometimes I receive 3-5 emails a day from monster with just search results. In addition to these emails, I receive 'personalized' emails with jobs that a Monster recruiter feels I would be perfect for. These jobs are usually positions I already applied for. I do find that Monster postings often pop up on other sites such as Indeed in search results. 


3. JobFox 


Rating: C-

Pros:
A lot of entry level positions 
Apply to jobs in one click 
Specializes in job alerts via email

Cons: 
Must create an account to receive email job alerts 
Excessive emails 
A lot of sponsored jobs from Vector and another scam-like companies 
I personally haven't had a lot of luck with postings here 

Overall- JobFox kind of comes off as a site where sales companies can pay to have their job listings posted multiple times. 75% or more of almost every email I receive from job fox consists of sales, commission jobs despite what my search asked for. Not my favorite site. 



4. Bright 

Rating: C (updated 7/14) 

Pros: 
Collective search job site (brings all different job sites and postings into one) 
A lot of listings 
Great and reputable companies listed
Extremely easy to use 

Cons: (Updated 7/14)
Filters aren't specific enough, maybe 6,000+ results in one search 
Lots of repeats 
Opens jobs in same tab as search results 
Can't see full job posting sometimes on mobile devices such as iPhone/iPad 

Overall- So far, so good with Bright. I love the layout. Its refreshing because it lists the site on which the jobs were found then the job listings. The listings tend to be spot on to my keywords and they literally search EVERYWHERE. I get Yahoo! results right along with Monster results and company's websites. I definitely will be using Bright in the future. It's a great site along I wish it was more specific with its filters at times. UPDATE (7/14) - used bright more and decided I'm not a fan. If your search is broad, it maybe helpful. It's similar to a search engine in the sense that it pulls all results: relevant or irrelevant, repeat or new. 


5. LinkedIn 


Rating: C+ (Based on its job search only)

Pros: 
Everyone has one, every company has one 
Large exposure 
Great social networking element
Direct contact with recruiters and potential employers 
Networking 

Cons: 
Not a lot of job selection for entry level job seekers 
Not a fan of the search set up 

Overall- I like LinkedIn, but I don't find that it has a lot for those new to the professional world. It's a great tool for networking and connecting with others on a professional levels however, its job search capabilities are limited.  I will say that your LinkedIn profile is still extremely important. You may not find a job with LinkedIn, but you will have your profile reviewed by an employer you may have found someone else. As a result, it is still a crucial step in your job search. Keep your profile up-to-date, you never know who is watching! 
 

6. SimplyHired 


Rating: A

Pros:
All the pros of Indeed :] 
Excellent filters 
Fabulous Results 

Cons: 
I have none so far! 

Overall - SimplyHired is a God send! This is where most of my applications come from. I find that the variety of jobs is excellent. I love the filters which allow me to get straight to jobs that fit my needs. They have unique filters like "New Graduate", "GLBT Friendly", and "Socially Responsible". How cool is that? Sorry, I get excited. I love the set up and options. You can decide whether you want emails or not for the day with one click. You can connect with your LinkedIn profile with one click. You can even get salaries with ease. Awesome site! 

That's all for now :] I've heard things about FlipDog so I will be trying that. If you're looking for hourly wage jobs, check out SnagAJob. It was very helpful to me my pre-graduate job search. In closing, remember to pay attention to everything on the job sites. 

Quick Tips -->>>
  1. Read the requirements over for every posting that you're interested in. 
  2. Cross reference the company's location with Google maps. I find that they're often listed improperly. 
  3.  Make sure the resume you uploaded is the resume you want to use for that particular application
  4. Customize cover letters for every posting 
  5. Pay attention to how you should apply: via email, via the company's website, or via the site the job is posted on 
  6. Make a profile on every site! [Yes, every site] Record all the passwords and usernames in one locations 
  7. Use your professional email 

Happy Job Searching to all my readers! I know you'll be successful with confidence, proper preparation, and faith :] 

-amb




Midday Encouragement 2 : The Purpose of Rest

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 This is an excerpt from a daily devotion from biblegateway.com called Girlfriends In God. This particular posting is from June 26, 2013 and written by Mary Southerland. I highly recommend this devotion for women of all ages who are seeking Christian spiritual guidance. 

However, I believe this excerpt is a important lesson for everyone. I'm not going to lie, lately I've been feeling discouraged in this job search. Although I seem to be finding better job postings everyday and my cover letter writing skills are wonderful, I'm not getting the response I want. I've went on several interviews, yet the right position hasn't came my way. I recognize that I want the right job not just any job. By that I mean, I truly believe that there's a position that God has chosen for me. That position will lead me to my future career, provide me with the finances I need, and develop me. Everyone has a position that is the perfect fit for them. Now perfect doesn't necessarily mean comfortable. It may not be excellent money or glamorous, but its right for you right now. 

As the bills come rolling in for my enriching, yet highly expensive liberal arts education, it's easy to lose hope. I began to lose confidence in my skills and lost faith that a position that will provide would appear. I began to stress as my anxiety about the future built. What I was failing to see was the beauty in waiting or as referred to above: rest. 

If you haven't read the excerpt in the photo already, READ NOW! :) 

The writer uses a story from her childhood about learning to play the piano. Long story short, she wanted to jump to playing and skip all the preparation. Her piano teacher was trying to instill the basics in her: the notes. She was completely uninterested until her piano teacher came to the most important concept in music, a rest. This was so profound to me. The most important step is rest. 

Without rest, we won't be prepared for what God has for us in the future. Rest means preparation, growth, restoration, and dependence. You must prepare for everything you do in life. We can't skip to being CEOs and millionaires without networking and hard work. This is what this time is for. It's important to have a pause where you grow and evaluate. When I get a full time position, I won't be able to sleep all day or paint my nails fun colors or wholeheartedly pursue getting my license. Recognize that just because you haven't found your dream job, doesn't mean that there's not work to be done. What should you be doing today that you haven't done? Do you need to simply rest and take a minute away from your busy schedule? What can you achieve now that cannot be done later? 

Secondly, there's the dependency portion. My mom always used to tell me to pray before the test the following prayer: 
Lord, I did my part by studying now do your part. 
If you prepare, God will do the rest. It's one part preparation, one part dependence. You have to be confident in not only your abilities and work, but also in God's faithfulness. Know that it can and will work out. Your loan bills will be paid. You will get to six figures one day. We spend too much time stressing instead of truly resting. By resting I mean having peace by doing own part then handing it over to God.

This portion of your life right now, let's call it  PRE-EMPLOYMENT is exactly that. It's the PRELUDE for the best portion of your life. It's the calm before the storm, the preparation before the prize. It is not in vain, for it has a purpose. You cannot play piano without learning how to read sheet music. You have to learn every note and practice reading before you actually get to sit down and play. When you start playing, you won't be a star piano player, but the preparation and practice will help you. The more you prepare and learn, the better you will be at playing piano. 

Don't lose hope for God has a plan and it's perfect. The bible says its better that what we've dreamed and imagined. Rest in that today. 


-amb 

allow me to introduce myself...

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NAME: Alysha B 
AGE: 22
LOCATION: New Jersey 
EDUCATION: Graduated from Albright College Class of 2013 
INTERESTS: Fashion, Makeup, Cooking, and Music 
CAREER GOALS: Work in marketing and advertising specifically doing brand/account management in the Tri-state area 
FUN FACT: I've been to New Zealand and Australia! Held a koala and hung out with baby kangaroos 
PET PEEVE: People who think the rules don't apply to them 
PURPOSE OF THE BLOG: To speak on all things post grad life. To be both a resource and a means of connecting people 

Coming soon....
Job Features
Resume Workshop
Salaries 
Midday Encouragement
Mock Interview 
Building References  


Recent Grad Features 
Wanted to post these and give all of you out there the opportunity to be featured on this site. 
I want to give people the chance to network with others who may have the same interest as them or be going into the same industry. I would like to feature a different recent graduate every week and share graduation pictures, career goals, and basic information. Then, readers can take that information and connect with others. For example, maybe someone else in the Tri-state area is also looking to work in marketing. I could connect with them and share resources. We could email each other job postings and review each other's resumes. I'm also looking for fashion bloggers and motivational speakers to be featured. You can be a recent college graduate or future graduate. If you're interested in being a feature on class to corporate, email me at truthbehindbell@gmail.com. 

-amb 

unemployment: making the most of your time.

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"things to do after graduating college" 


i typed this phrase into google several times. there are many lists of things to do after you graduate college. 
you can travel. you can work. you can apply to graduate school. you can start doing yoga. 
there were many suggestions. the lists, in my personal opinion, were either too real (THERE'S NO JOBS OUT HERE SO GET USED TO BEING BROKE) or too soft (become a hippie until you figure something out). 

i'll save you the trouble of sorting through the good, the bad, and the ugly. here's my very short list of things to do after college that i believe kill two birds with one stone. everything on this list will benefit you in your future career while giving you something to do for the moment. don't you love accomplishing multiple things at once? 

things to do after graduating college
  1. volunteer
benefits: 
  • valuable experience that i can now list on my resume.
  • keeps you busy and out of the house
  • a variety of experiences keeps you well rounded and thinking
  • may produce things you can use in your portfolio
i volunteer weekly at my mother's job. she works for a busy church office that can always use help. in total, i've accumulated three years of  office/administrative experience that i can now list on my resume. you can list skills and experience that you've gained from hobbies and/or volunteering. find a place where you can volunteer that is relevant to your future or that will help you acquire favorable skills. if you can't find anything relevant, volunteering is an excellent answer to the question "what have you been doing since graduating college?". 

2. network 

benefits: 
  • builds your social network 
  • collecting leads for potential employment 
  • building bonds in your local community 
approximately eighty percent of jobs aren't advertised consequently, you have to get out and learn about opportunities. networking is key to accomplish this. ask around to your peers, neighbors, family, and friends about opportunities or people they know that can lead you to opportunities. many sororities and fraternities have message boards where members exchange information. alumni associations for college also have forums. check out linkedin to connect with these organizations. keep your profile up-to-date. i've had several potential employers check my linkedin profile. join a club for professionals in your industry and attend events. be sure to bring business cards and copies of your resume! 

3. exercise or any personal improvement activity

this one may sound ridiculous to some, but it's important to take care of yourself and your health. number three is really any activity that will lead to your personal improvement. do things that will allow you to grow as a person whether that's fitness, learning to cook, taking a trip, or being social. 

when you do get a full-time position you won't have as much free time to do things that truly make you happy. identify those things now and pursue them so that when you do step fully into adult life, you are developed. personally, exercising and cooking relieve stress and place me in a positive mindset. i feel that when i get a full-time job i'll do these activities as my break from office life. 


overall:
 i think all post graduates should be realistic, yet positive. don't be discouraged if you don't get any bites at first. i received fourteen rejection letters before my first interview. as the days go by, stay positive. the job search is a process that requires you to put work in. you have to do your part. someone once told me that searching for a job is a job. it's all about the hours and effort you put in. hard work pays off.

 number four is try, try, and try again. keep reaching for your goal whether it be employment or graduate school. opportunities are on the horizon for those who are hungry. 

this is post grad life. 

-amb

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so you've graduated, congratulations!
now what?

three weeks ago, i asked myself the same exact question. in the weeks leading up to graduation i wasn't excited like my classmates. i was nervous. i was scared. what would i do now that my schedule wasn't made for me? i would no longer have the responsibilities of a college student, but rather the duties of working girl.

what does that even mean?

a lot of my friends were annoyed with my sometimes ridiculous desire to have my whole life mapped out before graduation. they called it unrealistic and said it was okay not to have everything figured out. funny thing is...they now are feeling the anxiety and uncertainty that i was feeling about the future. everyone wants a plan, something that they know is going to work out.

so, being the intellectual that i am, i decided let me research post graduate life. i kept thinking there has to be a resource for recent graduates. i didn't really find one. i found clothing blogs about what to wear to interviews. there were articles here and there listing advice for recent graduates however, there was not a single source that i found for the total package. after seeing dozens of hopeless, depressing statuses and tweets i decided to create a blog where i can share tips and tricks i have found. i'm going to document my journey while passing along any helpful information i find.

this is "from class to corporate: #postgradlife"

-amb