DWS News
Netting a Job on the
Internet
By Lecia Parks Langston,
Economist
Finding a job requires a
multi-pronged attack. Just one of the tools in your job-search
arsenal is the internet. But, perhaps you’re not a web surfer
and don’t know “ftp”
from “html.”
Why even bother with the
internet?
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It’s there 24/7. It’s available anytime: weekends,
holidays, the dead of
night (when the kids are finally in
bed)—anytime.
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No Limits. You can search for jobs in your own
hometown or in
Cameroon.
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Demonstrate Your Leading-Edge
Skills. Finding an
opportunity on-line or researching on the internet before an interview
demonstrates you have
some technical
skills.
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Explore Alternatives
You Haven’t
Considered. Not
quite sure what you
really want to be “when you grow up?” Self-assessment
tools, occupational
exploration, training-program information are all
online.
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It’s Where the Jobs Are.
Many companies
require electronic
resumés and find applicants exclusively online.
Getting
Started
The biggest problem with the internet
is the vast quantity of
information. It may seem like too much information. Keep in mind that the internet is a
tool, and like all tools, it is only as good as the skill of
the user. Learning to
use the internet productively (like most things) takes time and effort. Don’t
be overwhelmed! Ask a
friend or librarian (or your kid) for help, if you need it. Before you start your internet job
search, you might want
to ask yourself a few questions that will help you narrow your employment
search.
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What kind of work do you want to
do? Come
up with general
occupations that interest you—not specific job titles. Often you will
need to search for job
duties rather than job titles—many businesses use their own unique job
titles.
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Who do you want to work for?
Are you
interested only in
certain industries? Do you want to work for a large employer? Do
you have a specific employer in
mind?
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Where do you want to work?
Will you move
anywhere for the right
job or do you want to work in Enterprise,
Utah?
Finding the Right
Sites
The right site for you will depend on
how you answered the
questions listed above. For example, large international sites are probably not
your choice if you’re looking for a job in rural Utah. Here
are some other things to
consider about each site:
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Is it easy to
use?
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Do they keep your identity
confidential?
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Can you search with
precision?
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Are the job listings dated so you
know when they were
added?
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How often is it
updated?
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Who runs the
service?
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Do you know someone who uses this
service?
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If they charge a fee, is it worth
it?
Of course, we think the best place to
start is the no-charge Utah Department of Workforce Services
web site: jobs.utah.gov.
Just go to the web site and click on “Find a Job.” You can also use our online
directory of Utah businesses to find employers in an
industry/area that typically employs your particular
occupation: jobs.utah.gov/jsp/firmfind.
Here are just a few links to get you
started on that internet job search:
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Utah Dept. of Workforce Services -
jobs.utah.gov
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Federal Government Jobs -
jobs.utah.gov/jobs/fedjobs.asp
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State Government Jobs -
statejobs.utah.gov
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Career Builder - www.careerbuilder.com
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Hot Jobs (Yahoo) - hotjobs.yahoo.com
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Monster - monster.com
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Southern Utah Help Wanted -
southernutahhelpwanted.com/home/15.htm
