California State University, Fullerton

An Effective Internet Job Search

Every day, you can find jobs posted on the Internet that match your requirements. CareerXroads reported in its 2009 annual Source of Hire Report that the internet has become the primary means to apply and communicate about jobs. A steady growth of sourcing tactics especially social networks and search engine marketing is also evident in the market.

Titan Connection

The Titan Connection is your #1 job source database. We are an example of a members-only job listing site because only Cal State Fullerton students have access to it. Employers post jobs on this site because they want to hire college-educated students or graduates directly from CSUF. The Career Center also has several corporate partners that fill more than 50% of their openings with CSUF hires. You can access the Titan Connection jobs database from the Career Center link through your CSUF student or alumni portal.

Large Job Sites

There are many popular job listing sites that provide broad access to job listings. Many of these sites are free to job seekers, including the "Big Two" job boards: CareerBuilder and Monster, which account for half of job board hires (CareerXroads, SOH, 2009). Use keywords to search for jobs in your chosen field or industry. Search these sites on a regular basis, whether you are in an active job search or not. Over time, you will gain a clearer picture of the market for your skills, trends in job openings, and salary ranges. This information will help you position yourself successfully in your active job search.

Pie Chart

Smaller Niche Job Sites:

Check smaller, more niche job boards, including professional organizations dedicated to your field or industry. There are over 40,000 niche job boards. Several major categories include:

Talk to others to find out about sites they use, or consult with an Industry Specialist in the Career Center for recommendations. Links to professional and industry sites are available on each of the Career Center Industry Specialist web pages.

Company Websites

Most employers post jobs directly on their company website. Some of these job postings may not be viewable on other public or small job boards, and may take between 24 hours to 2 weeks before they do appear listed on another job board. If there is a specific company you want to work for, you should go directly to their website to search for jobs, rather than relying on external job boards. It is estimated that one out of every five external hires can be attributed to company websites.

MetaSearch Sites

MetaSearch sites are a recent entrant to the market. MetaSearch sites pull job postings from up to 500 different job sites in one location. Sites such as Indeed.com, USA.gov, CraigsList and the Google desktop job search plug-in, offer MetaSearch engines. Some sites will also allow candidates to use RSS readers.

Job Search Agents

You can set up job search agents on all the top job boards, many company websites, and on the Titan Connection jobs database. Depending on the site you are using, you can opt to receive new job postings by email or even by text message to your cell phone or instant message account. When a job is posted matching your preferences, the Job Search Agent will send you an automatic notification. You will be notified of opportunities you might otherwise miss, and you will be made aware of the demand for employees in your interest area.

Social Networking Tools

More people are hired by referrals than all Internet sources combined. Social networking tools allow you to make new contacts without the time expenditure incurred attending mixers or scheduling lunches. Based upon the six degrees of separation theory, whereby you and anyone you would want to meet are separated by a maximum of six people/connections, social networks have become an extremely helpful resource tool for job hunters and employers alike.

Finally, shut off the computer and spend some time with your family, friends, and yourself. Referrals are the #1 Source of Hire!

Referrals (employee, alumni, vendor, etc.) make up 27.3% of all external hires and is arguably the number one external source of hires. In survey after survey, 90% of companies, large and small, say they use referrals. The Internet brings hundreds of potential jobs to your fingertips at any time of day or night and at your convenience. But remember, not all jobs are found on the Internet. Some of your best opportunities will be the result of networking, word-of-mouth referrals, and meeting with recruiters.