Using the Internet to search for jobs may sound scary at first, but you'll soon find it's an amazing resource used by many people today.
The Internet can be used for just about everything from keeping in touch with friends and family to buying a book – and looking for a job. A recent AARP study revealed that 2 out of 5 adults age 50 and over consider themselves to be extremely comfortable using the Internet. If you are new to job hunting on the Internet, you may not know that there are many advantages to this approach, such as being able to research employers or job hunt at your convenience. Online job hunting sites are available 24 hours a day.
If you don’t have access to the Internet (also called the Web) at home, there are other options. Try your local library or local job center. (Note: there may be time limits, so be sure to ask.) You can also try your local community college computer labs, and ask friends and family for assistance.
Even if you do not own a computer or have limited access to one, you still need an email address. There are literally dozens of choices, so we’ve picked the top three easy and safe choices. Click the link below and follow the instructions to set up your private email account.
When you give your email address as a way for employers to contact you, it means you must check it regularly, at least once a day. The place where you’ve created an account will also give you directions on managing your account – reading, replying and deleting your email.
Think about bulletin boards you see at church, at community centers, or maybe at your previous places of employment. They are boards with postings and announcements. Creators of online job boards took that idea and turned it into something accessible on the Internet. A job board is just that – a “board” or website with many job announcements. Once you get the hang of it, it’s one of the most valuable job resources you’ll ever encounter!
While each major job board or job website works a little differently, they all have the same two important features – the ability to search for jobs and apply for them right online. Some also allow you to post your resume on to the job board for employers and recruiters to find you in their search for the right employee.
Some job boards allow you to search for jobs by interest, location, key words, or salary range. Some allow you to set up “alerts” for particular kinds of jobs in your area; this means they alert you when something becomes available. (This makes having an email address crucial, as job boards “alert” you by sending you an email.)
Some of the best job boards are: