Mastering the Job Search Engine

Is your job search going as planned? Whether the pressure is on because you’re unemployed or that you can’t take one more day of your boss, we know it’s not going fast enough.

Job searching can be hard and very time consuming. This post will give insight into the strategies the CareerLaunch Career Search Specialists use when we help people like you with their job search.

Have you tried using Indeed.com to find jobs? This is the job search engine we use most, as it is the most widely used by employers. It also makes it easy to apply for many jobs since you can upload your resume and cover letter and apply with them directly. Not all jobs listed can be applied for in this way, but there are a great deal that can be.

There are many other sites that are similar that should also be used such as Monster, Ziprecruiter, Glassdoor, Careerbuilder, and Snagajob (stay tuned for a separate article on using LinkedIn). All of these should be consulted daily for new positions. When CareerLaunch is doing the search for you, we will save any jobs that look like a good match for you to review. Once you approve, we will begin the application process.

For each application, a personalized cover letter will be used to show the potential employer genuine interest and to make you stand out from those that are just mass applying. We design our cover letters with this step in mind by using fill in the blank statements and/or alternative paragraphs if applying for a wide range of jobs.

A few general tips for using job search engines:

1. Prioritize newer job listings over those that are over 30 days old – employers are not required to take down postings after they are filled. Because of this, many of the older job listings are no longer available. They should still be applied for, just in case, but newer listings should be given priority.
2. The harder it is to apply, the more likely your application will be read – while it is advantageous to apply for as many jobs as possible, it is wise to prioritize the listings that require extra steps. There are less people applying for these listings and your application is more likely to see serious review. Using job search engines is a fine balance between the “easily apply” and the external, “7 step” applications.
3. Set aside time each day for using job search engines. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and burnt out in a job search. By setting goals and time limits, the search can go a little more easily. However, a Career Search Specialist can drastically increase the amount of jobs you are applying for, shortening your job search process and decreasing the stress of it.
4. Don’t get discouraged – it is very common to only hear back from 20% or less from the applications you submit. This is due to a variety of reasons such as positions already being filled or only being posted externally as a formality. Also, it can sometimes take weeks for a potential employer to view and respond to your application. This is why it is important to apply for as many jobs as possible so that you have better odds of your applications being viewed seriously.

If you would like assistance in creating your job search or with any other step of the job search process please contact us.