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Making Connections

Navigating job boards

Not long ago, job boards were little more than classified ads online. Within just a few years, niche boards and more robust technology that allows you to better manage your postings have emerged. But as job boards evolve, so, too, must your job search skills.

LINDA WHITE

[ 2006-03-22 ]

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"Before job boards, people primarily used newspapers or networking to find jobs. As the jobs posted on these boards increased and increased and increased, they spiked over into vertical job boards," says Anthony Kaul, president/CEO of Higher Bracket Online Media Inc. in Vancouver.

"They have really come of age over the past three years ... We're seeing 'niche boards' or 'vertical boards' within an industry, by geography or even by salary. No longer does one size fit all."

What does that mean to you? "Mid-level and lower-income earners should still be looking at large job boards, but if a niche board satisfies their industry, they should be on them as well," Kaul says. "Not all industries have great vertical job boards, but they're coming."

Job boards can be useful to both active and passive job seekers. "Anyone who has a job should become a passive job seeker. It allows them to see their place in the job market," Kaul says. "They should be pro-active in where they want their career to go."

CAREER ALERTS

One way to do that is by taking advantage of a feature known by names such as "career alerts" or "career detective."

"It's built into a site so it can send you jobs that suit your goals," Kaul says. "Knowing your market value is powerful when it comes to negotiating your salary or bonuses, even if you're planning on staying with the same employer."

Passive job seekers should post their resume confidentially so their employer doesn't see it and -- like active job seekers -- update it regularly. Electronic resumes are often listed by their "last modified date" so recruiters view most recently updated resumes first.

Active job seekers should access job boards almost daily. "They should still use a resume database, but have the luxury of opening up the confidentiality feature," Kaul says.

In addition to posting your resume on general job boards, active job seekers should investigate industry-specific sites, such as accounting, sales and engineering, advises David Gammon of Brainhunter Inc. in Toronto. "Are you seeing jobs posted in your field?" he asks.

When choosing a job board, find out what kind of support it offers. "Not all sites allow you to format your resume," Gammon says. "Cutting and pasting your resume doesn't always work. You want to make sure it looks pleasant. We've just launched a new tool that allows you to upload your resume."

Understanding the difference between traditional and electronic resumes is paramount to success, notes Gammon. When writing an online resume, your goal is to ensure the employer or recruiter finds you by emphasizing "key words" that highlight your skills and accomplishments.

Using a job board gives you 24-hour access to job postings, but don't get lulled into a false sense of security. Navigate boards with caution.

"One of the biggest sins is to apply to every job on the job board," Kaul says. "You look desperate. The Internet gives you the ability to focus. A shotgun approach is like HR spam."

Finally, the resume you write for a large board should be different than the one you write for a niche board. Remember, jobs posted on a large board can illicit thousands of responses. Make sure yours stands out.

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JOB BOARD QUICK TIPS

Online job boards are regarded as an "overnight success" and are increasingly popular among job seekers. David Gammon of Brainhunter Inc., a technology company that powers more than 100 job boards across North America, offers the following tips:

- Build your resume properly. Companies are still looking at cover letters and can tell if you're simply applying to a lot of jobs.

- Update your resume regularly. Especially on bigger boards, your resume won't make it to the top of the list if it hasn't been updated recently.

- Read job descriptions well and tailor your profile appropriately.

- Use key words -- nouns and action verbs such as "organized," "delivered" and "computer network design" -- that aggressively present your qualifications.

- Continue to use staffing agencies if you're actively looking for employment because not all jobs are posted.