Tips for Reducing Frustration and Saving Time While
Surfing the Net - Beginners Only!
Use GOOGLE to search. Type in what you want, not what you think
the search engine can handle. Excellent results and fast. http://www.google.com.
Go straight to the site map on a Web site. They are very useful
and save time.
If you are not interested in the graphics of a site, set your browser
so it does not display the graphics. This saves you time when searching
for content. Or, if the welcome page offers it, click on text only.
Watch out for monetary charges to submit résumés.
There are plenty of free sites.
Web sites change faster than you can count to three. For example,
you've typed in the URL <address> (Web address) and have been
told the address no longer exists. Don't give up. Remove all of the
address except for the basic home page <www.animals.com>. When
you get to the home page, see if there is a search function and try
to find your page topic or look at the site map and try to see where
the Web master has moved the page. If you can't find the information
and you are desperate for it, use the "contact us" or "e-mail
us" button and ask the Web master for the information you need.
This applies to url addresses in this book too!
Often, the search functions in job banks are based on known professional
titles and not entry-level positions. Can be frustrating. If you are
looking for entry-level positions or hard-to-describe research or
assistant positions, use a job listing site where you can look at
a complete listing of jobs (not search a database).
Another way to find work that might fit your needs is to check out
company profiles. Almost every company has a careers, or human resources
or job opportunities section. Find companies through a search engine,
the yellow pages on a search engine or business directories for a
region. Sector council Web sites sometimes have companies and work
opportunities listed.
You can then contact the company directly and ask about work opportunities
in your field.
If you are looking for some specific information, stay focussed
and follow that trail. If you see something you want to go back to,
print that page. You will then have the address and site name on the
printed page when you want to return to it.
If you don't want to take the time to write out the URLs, print
the page. The address is always at the top or the bottom.
Bookmark (sometimes called Favourites) your most important, useful
sites. Bookmark directories that contain several of your favourite
sites. Bookmark a specific page on a site so you don't have to drill
down to it every time.
You do not have to necessarily click on a search button or a go
button or a submit button. Just hit enter on your keyboard and it
will happen.
If privacy concerns you, then think twice about WHERE YOU POST your
résumé. There are two types of posting.
TYPE ONE Some sites have a privacy policy. You submit your
résumé with contact information to them and only the
résumé body is available to the employer with no contact
information. You are informed of a job match and then must give
your permission for site administrators to release your contact
information. For example, JOBSHARK http://www.jobshark.com
gives you the option of a public or private résumé
listing.
TYPE TWO One example is the WorkopolisCampus (CACEE and
the National Graduate Registry) http://www.workopoliscampus.com.
It warns users: "By entering your résumé you
are authorizing the release of your personal information to interested
employers and authorizing your educational institution to verify
all academic claims made." Note: Campus WorkLink screens
all employers. It uses your profile information for employment/training
matching purposes ONLY. Your information is private and will not
be used for other purposes.
Another example is CareerMosaic WHICH GIVES THE FOLLOWING WARNING:
"Before you post your résumé, remember that
it will be searchable by anyone with Internet access. CareerMosaic
does not provide any security or confidentiality of the information
contained in your résumé."
Surfing for Work in British Columbiahttp://workinfonet.bc.ca/jobsearch.cfm?id=183 is an example of a comprehensive tutorial on using the Internet for
work search purposes. This tutorial includes researching potential
employers, electronic résumés and job applications,
and on-line job search strategies.
