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Online job search do's and don'ts

For many people, job seeking is a full time job within its own right. But it doesn’t have to be. With so many job opportunities now available online, you can speed up your job search, expand your opportunities, and gain a competitive edge without even leaving your chair.

Do: Be prepared
Before searching job websites, consider what you’re looking for, where you’re likely to find it, and how you’re going to get it. Generally, it’s best to have a clear goal in mind, more than one version of your resume to hand, and a willingness to tailor each cover letter to each prospective employer.

Do: Think like an employer
Make sure you include relevant words and phrases in your resume to increase your chances of being a match in the employer’s applicant database. Standardising industry-specific terminology and tweaking your skills to include those repeatedly mentioned in the job ad can potentially double your chances of success.

Don’t: Be a gasbag
Reading online is 25 per cent slower than reading from paper, so make things easy for prospective employers by resisting the urge to waffle. Instead, keep your cover letter to three short paragraphs, and provide key information only: an introduction, summary of your skills/background, and closing statement is ideal.

Do: Let jobs find you
Searching job websites needn’t be time consuming. Make sure you sign up to have new jobs emailed to you on a regular basis, and if your job’s advertised under non-standard titles, create a new job alert to reflect this so you never miss out again.

Don’t: Neglect your homework
It pays to view a prospective employer’s website before you apply for a job with them. But remember there’s also a wealth of information available about company products, movements, competitors and clients on personal blogs too, so it's worth typing the company name into a niche search engine such as Google Blog Search.

Don’t: Ignore the small print
When responding to an online job ad that’s caught your eye, instructions are your best friend. Show prospective employers that you can follow their requirements by including everything they’ve asked for in your application, whether it’s a specific reference number or examples of your best work.

Do: Get organised
Don't submit your online job applications and then forget about them – print them out and save them in a safe place. It's advisable to print details of the jobs you apply for too - that way, if you ever need to review selection criteria before an interview, you won't have to remember it off the top of your head.

Do: Be web savvy
In the event that a prospective employer types your name into a search engine like Google or Yahoo, having a positive online presence can work wonders. Take control of what they see by joining an online network of professionals like LinkedIn, which lets you summarise your career achievements and maintain a list of business contacts.

Do: Protect your privacy
For peace of mind, post your resume to job search websites so potential employers can find you, but limit public access to your personal information. This could mean removing all personal contact details, or setting up a free email address specifically for your online job search.

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