subject: Beyond The Newspaper And Major Job Boards [print this page] The major job boards online have thousands of jobs in dozens of industries for which you can apply. They have almost any job title you can imagine as well. When youve read through every job listing in your field on these sites, explore niche job sites that may post jobs that you have not seen on the major job boards.
Think Local
Visit job sites that are tailored to your specific area. Some job sites post only jobs within a certain metropolitan area or region of a state.
State Job Board
Your states department of labor or employment keeps a list of jobs on its website from employers across the state. This site is likely updated daily, and you can typically receive emails daily about new jobs that meet your search criteria.
Niche Job Boards
Job boards for specific industries or job titles are another place to find jobs. They cater to employers in your industry, so you can easily find open positions with employers in your field.
Colleges
Visit the departmental webpages of colleges to find job postings. Some colleges list jobs they hear about on their departmental websites for their students and graduates. Also contact your college to see if it offers an alumni job search website.
Professional Associations
Check with professional associations at the local, state, and international levels to find jobs in your field. These jobs are posted so that people with a specific interest in that field of work will see and apply for them. Many times, major job boards attract less than qualified applicants. Employers would rather spend their job advertising budget in places that will draw educated and experienced job seekers.
Networking
Many upper-level jobs are not advertised to the general public. Word of mouth is the preferred method of advertising for these postings. Other positions have not been advertised yet, but you can be one of the first to apply when it is advertised openly.
When you stand in lines at job fairs, talk to people around you. They may know of a position that would suit you. Go to conferences and seminars in your field, too, to find out about available positions that are not advertised. Also spread the word among your friends and colleagues that you are looking for a new position.
Direct Contact
Another way to get a job is to directly contact the hiring manager for a particular department or company. Find out who handles applications in the field for which you want to apply. Then write a well-crafted cover letter and resume that clearly and concisely demonstrate how you can benefit the company. Ask to be considered for future openings if none are currently available.
When you feel like youve exhausted all of your job search options, take a look at a few more websites, and talk to a few more people. The job you want could be advertised quietly and to a very specific audience you.
