| | Using the Internet to Assist Family Members with a Local Employment SearchThe variety of information available on the Internet today is making international job searching faster and easier. There is no single list, network, or resource that will contain everything you need for a fully effective online job search.
A job search has four main parts regardless of the job location being sought. First, job leads must be found and reviewed. Then employer research must be conducted and contacts made within the organization to determine opportunities. This involves networking with everyone you meet. Finally, you must be prepared with an excellent accomplishment-focused resume to present when opportunities present themselves. The successful job search will involve using both the World Wide Web and the traditional job search resources.
Major reasons for using the Internet in the job search:
- Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Free access to information and resources.
- Research deeper into local area as well as search far beyond regular boundaries.
- Using the Internet demonstrates leading-edge skills.
- Through the Internet your network will be much broader geographically and professionally.
- Widens the career alternatives and options available to explore.
- Free resume posting.
Step One
Determine answers to the following questions:
- What skills do you possess that you want to use?
- Who do you want to work for, an organization, U.S. company, multi-national company, large firm, small firm?
- Where do you want to work, geographic location as well as environmental?
- Develop a keyword list.
Step Two
Research
Visit Virtual Libraries and Internet Directories
Read Online Resource Guides
Top Search Engines
Research employers, opportunities, occupations, & industries
- Employer's web site
- Business directories for profiles
- Search Engines
- Occupational web sites
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America's Learning Exchange
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CareerInfoNet - http://www.acinet.org/acinet/default.asp
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The Wall Street Journal Interactive - http://www.careerjournal.com/
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Find Your Career: US News - http://www.usnews.com/sections/business/careers
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JobSmart/JobStar - http://jobstar.org/tools/career/spec-car.php
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Occupational Outlook Handbook - http://www.bls.gov/oco/
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Peterson's Online - http://www.petersons.com/
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Princeton Review Online's Career Find-O-Rama - http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/articleIndex.asp
Additional Research
- Wage & Salary Information
- Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc provides salary and benefits survey reports for information technology, marketing, accounting, engineering, human resources, manufacturing, legal work, nonprofit work, consulting and a few other fields - http://www.abbott-langer.com
- CareerBuilder.com - http://www.cbsalary.com
- CareerJournal.com (Wall Street Journal) - Salary Tables
- Comparative Salaries - http://www.ne.ch/promeco/pages/e/eco_data_sal_e.asp
- Economic Research Institute offers almost 100 international salary surveys - http://www.erieri.com
- Jack Chapman's web site - http://www.salarynegotiations.com
- JobSmart: Profession-Specific Salary Surveys - http://jobstar.org/tools/salary/sal-prof.cfm
- Move.com - The International Salary Calculatorhttp://www1.move.com/Move/Tools/SalaryCalcInt.asp?poe=move
- The Office of Personnel Management lists the pay scales and wage systems of the federal government - http://www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.htm
- The Riley Guide hosts a compilation for all sites that review salary information - http://www.rileyguide.com/salary.html#colls
- Salary.com - http://Salary.com
- SalaryExpert.com - http://www.salaryexpert.com
- Teacher salaries - http://www.aft.org/salary/index.htm
- Vault Company - http://www.vault.com/salaries.jsp
Step Three
Networking - Usenet Newsgroups and Mailing Lists
80% of available positions are never advertised - to know about them you must network.
Learn the etiquette rules
- Read FAQs first !
- Listen patiently
Make contacts
- Look for those who are knowledgeable on topic discussed
- Note name, position, and signature info
- Prepare careful first email message - only make a first impression once
- Contact directly not through the list or newsgroup
- Be concise, identify yourself, state why you are contacting this person, and list some of your interests and where you noticed some correlation with the individual's postings.
- Request a follow-up to this email, via phone or email.
Step Four
Find job listings and recruiter sites
- Start with large guides
- Major Job Banks
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FLO's Popular International Job Search and Expat Web Sites at http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/rsrcs/pubs/4510.htm
- Job Listings
- FLO's The Network - http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/39711.htm
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Livelines of the AAFSW has occasional postings - http://www.aafsw.org
- Job Resource Guides
- Electronic Classified
- Targeted Services
- Employer Web Sites
Step Five
Post your resume (before posting, answer the following questions).
- Do you want your resume public?
- How confidential is the database or service where you are placing your resume?
- Once your resume is listed, can it be updated at not cost?
- Will your resume be deleted from the databank if you don't update it, and if so, when?
Time Management for Internet Job Search
- Start someplace new every time you connect.
- Visit the large information databases first.
- Move on to smaller, more exclusive resources and services.
- Use search engines to locate new and hidden resources specific to your occupation and field.
- Don't overdo the use of the Internet. Remember to maintain some balance in your life.
Information provided by the Family Liaison Office. Contact the Family Liaison Office | |