Searching for a new position can be hard work! Since I have been in the market recently, myself, I have compiled a list of online sites that I have found useful in my search for a new interactive marketing position. Try employing some of these sites or tactics in addition to any offline job hunting that you may do.
The Basics
- Monster - http://www.monster.com
- Career Builder - http://www.careerbuilder.com
- Shows distance to job from location you have chosen which can be pretty helpful!
- Hot Jobs - http://www.hotjobs.com
- Posting date doesn’t always seem accurate for listings
Register for these sites and build an online profile. You’ll want to import a copy of your most recent resume and provide all of the additional profile details (location, salary requirements, etc).
Your online profile serves two main purposes:
- Provides a quick and easy way to apply to postings that you are interested in
- Enables recruitment firms to find you for positions that they are filling related to your profile
Specialized Resources
- Cyber Coders - http://www.cybercoders.com
- I consider this site to be more specialized, however they do offer a full range of job listings.
- I have had good success finding very relevant listings for the interactive space on this site
- Hard to search on (if you are feeling crafty, you can add query string variables to URL to help)
- Set a Keyword -sterm=internet
- Set Your State - state=NY
- Set Your City - city=new+york
- Set Your Search Radius - radius=40
- Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization - http://www.sempo.org
- Highly competitive listings for jobs in the Search Engine Marketing field
Extended Resources
- Craigslist - http://www.craigslist.org
- Select the craigslist location most relevant for your search. Then look for the “Jobs” section and start searching. You can view postings by job type or run more advanced searches.
- I stumbled across one of my favorite positions / jobs / companies through a posting on craigslist!
- Your State Website - http://www.nj.com/jobs
- Most state websites have a job section where you will be able to search through openings from newspapers or online postings for your area
- Your mileage may vary with how effective your state’s search options are, but it is still worth a look
Recruiters
- The Creative Group - http://www.creativegroup.com
- A recruitment firm that is focused on interactive and creative jobs.
- They offer recruitment specialists for contract, contract to hire, and full time placement.
- They have very relevant listings and the staff members I have worked with in the NJ/NY area have been very friendly and effective
- Search for Other Recruiters in Your Area
- Finding a good recruiter or recruitment firm is often a chore. If you can find the right one, however, they are a very good resource for finding your next position
- Recruiters Will Contact You
- If you make your resume and profile public on the major job boards, recruiters will search through your information for specific keywords relevant to positions they are filling and contact you
- Many of the recruiters will be trying to fill a position that isn’t really related to what you are looking for. You’ll need to weed through the good, the bad, and the ugly here
Networking
- Linked In - http://www.linkedin.com
- This is the #1 professional networking site. It is extremely easy to use and a valuable resource for keeping in contact with past and present colleagues
- Make sure you fill in all of your profile information and then start looking for your professional contacts and building your network. To build your network, you can search by past positions, names, or send invitations invitations to specific email addresses
- You can also search for open jobs that have been posted by people inside or outside your network of colleagues and contacts
New and Unproven
- Notch Up - http://www.notchup.com
- An interesting new idea that hopes to bring companies and job searches together. The twist here is that the companies pay the interviewer for a chance to interview them.
- I just stumbled upon this site on Friday, so I have not been approved for it yet. However, it seems like an interest idea and the more resources that you have to rely on, the better!
Other Tips
- Update Your Online Resume Often - The recency of date is a key search factor for recruiters doing searches
- Optimize Keywords in Your Resume - Make sure that you include keywords specific to the positions that you are looking for. If you don’t have the proper keywords, your resume may never be found by recruiters trying to fill a position that is a fit for you.
- Set up Job Alerts - You can create automated job alerts that inform you of new positions in your area for a specific set of keywords
- Research Salary Information - Use http://www.salary.com to research the market value of your current and future position so you know what to expect
- Create a Resume Website - You can also create a website that contains your resume or portfolio information. This provides an easy way to send it to someone via URL and could eventually lead to hiring personnel finding YOU and contacting you!
- For example, here’s mine - http://www.gregpicarello.com
It can be a battle, but if you take advantage of all of the resources available to you, you are definitely improving the odds of finding the right position and being in contact with the right people.
Good luck in your search!
