Job Finding Tips

by Rick Derris

Finding a job is hard. It takes persistence, confidence and preparation. That being said, there are things one can do to make the transition from unemployed to office superstar faster and less frustrating. The number one thing that alleviates job-finding anxiety is preparation. It cannot be stressed enough. Proper preparation includes researching the best job sites for one's industry, having an updated resume always available, and even knowing what to wear.

Job Sites

Whether we like it or not, job search sites are a major part of finding a job. Find the best job site for your industry. Below are some of the best job sites around, but there are a ton of job sites out there. Find one you like and visit it often. However, be sure not to limit yourself. It is a good idea to sign up for email alerts from multiple sites, that way you can be first to respond to jobs that are right for you.

Multiple Industry Job Sites

Free Agents Jobs A great new site. It's like a "visual" craigslist - a simple, intuitive search solution. Free Agents Jobs offers free email job alerts to keep you in the loop if your perfect job pops up.

Indeed.com Indeed is a very powerful job search engine. It's like Google, for jobs. When you click on a job at Indeed.com you will be taken directly to the site where the job is posted.

Craigslist Find your city and start lookin'! Craigslist has tons of jobs in every industry and provides a nice local touch. However, conversion rates are pretty low, so don't count on an interview.

Specialty Job Sites

Krop For creative and tech professionals. Krop is a fast growing site with great design and interface.

Joel on Software Jobs from a specialty software and programming blog. If you're on top of your game, this is the place to look!

37 Signals Job board from 37 Signals, internet web application programmers. These guys produce great web apps! Another great job resource If you're on top of your game!

Creative Hotlist Great resource for creative positions (designers and such)!

Resume Format: Don't Get Cute!

Use a style similar to business letter formatting. Avoid using elaborate headers or multi-column layouts. These kinds of flare DO NOT make you look unique, they make you look unprofessional. If you want to show a bit of your personality, let it peek through in your cover letter. Your resume should serve to provide a structured outline of your qualifications, nothing more.