Finding the right qualified employee can be tough. Employers are no longer limited to placing expensive print ads in local newspapers. Many small businesses and large corporations have turned to the Internet to attract candidates from around the globe.

Monster.com (http://hiring.monster.com/indexProspect.aspx?)

• Delivers more active job seekers than any other career site.
• Job seekers post over 27,000 new resumes and conduct 4.1 million job searches every day on Monster.com.
• Free for job seekers so it gets a lot of traffic.
• Discounts available when posting multiple positions

CareerBuilder.com (http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobposter/?sc_cmp2=JS_HP_Nav_PostJobNow)

• Offers hiring packages customized to fit your business.
• Over 23 million job searchers.
• Free for job seekers so it gets a lot of traffic.

HireFire.org (http://www.hirefire.org/)

• Free job posting for employers.
• Limited to certain cities.

Craigslist.org (http://www.craigslist.org/about/factsheet.html)

• The site receives over two million new job listings each month, making it one of the top job boards in the world.
• Job postings are relatively inexpensive in major metropolitan cities, and free for many other locations.
• Craigslist is the leading classifieds service in any medium around the world.

As unemployment continues to rise, job hunters are finding a highly competitive job market. These online reference tools will help you power to the top of any job applicant pool.

Job Search Planning

Think smarter: It helps to know the most efficient ways to find a job. While people spend most of their time searching jobs online or reading the papers, it is not the most efficient. Sources for jobs that have higher success rates include:

• Word-of-mouth referrals
• Direct contact with companies
• Employment agencies and recruiters

* Other includes referrals from schools, unions, trade journals, and government services.

Knowing this, your weekly job search model should include:

• Contact at least 10 people or resources per day; 5 days per week. You should try and make a total of 18 networking contacts per week, and contact at least 15 companies directly per week.
• Get 2 referrals from each contact. (At the end of each conversation, ask if they know anyone that may be hiring or is a good contact to reference).
• Try and setup at least two face-to-face meetings or interviews each day.

Making contacts online:

1) Facebook – not a direct business tool, but you can ask your friends or post updates on your job search (“I just got back from a Job interview”).
2) MySpace – again, not a direct business tool, but you can ask your friends for referrals.
3) LinkedIn – HOT – Many people reporting a lot of success with LinkedIn. It trumps the online competition for business networking. Join the site and import your contacts. In addition, their online job search is particularly unique and helpful. Tip: use the ‘answer’ section to broadcast a question to your entire network.

4) Sample Networking Letter – use this format to send to your friends on forums, social networks, or via email.
4) APsense.com – for home based businesses.
5) Plaxo – organize your online address book.
6) Vault.com – career discussions.
7) Jobster.com – Post your resume, join networks and get advice.
8) What Employers Can Find Out About You – if you use any social networking sites for job hunting, make sure you read this checklist so you can maintain a professional profile.
9) How to Use Social Networks for Job Hunting – in depth guide to using social networks for job hunting.

Preparing to Present Your Skills: Tools for Resumes and Other Interactions

10) Resume Power Words – Build a resume using the precise words to describe your accomplishments. Remember, hiring managers have 30-seconds to look over a resume, and if you add more detailed they will think you have more experience. However, do not just fluff your resume with words, be concise, simple and direct.
11) More Power Words – additional words to consider.
12) 10 Resume Mistakes – avoid these at all costs.
13) Resume Generator – website resume wizard.
14) How to Write a Masterpiece Resume – these two simple tips can really make you shine.
15) ResumeEdge – Resume writing service.
16) Thesaurus – A must when trying to find the perfect work.
17) Google Docs – Online word processor loaded with free templates for crafting your resume.
18) Free Resume Templates – a starting point to see how others’ present themselves.
19) Free Resume Review – get advice on your resume.
20) Cover Letter Basics – learn what to say to make a good impression.
21) Sample Cover Letter – just a sample.
22) Resume 101 – basic tips.
23) Thank you letter basics – put one off.
24) Six Tips for Following Up on Your Resume – Business Week gives great advice.

Networking

25) Join a Professional Association or Other Groups – how to go about joining a professional organization.
26) Yahoo’s Directory of Professional Associations – good old Yahoo has a comprehensive list.
27) Prominent organizations – check here for more groups to join.
28) Weddle’s Directory – Large database of organizations and societies you can join for networking.

Job Sites

29) BookALesson Online – job hunting for music instructors.
30) Care.com – babysitting, nanny, child care, tutoring, senior care.
31) Craigslist Jobs – browse jobs in any city.
32) Careerbuilder – large job search site.
33) Indeed.com – search jobs across multiple sites.

34) Simply Hired – millions of jobs from a variety of sources.
35) Hotjobs – Yahoo’s job board.
36) Monster.com – jobs, career advice and social network.
37) Government Jobs – USAJOBs

Job Fairs

38) Find a Job Fair – events near you.
39) Monster’s Job Fair Guide – what to bring, how to dress, what to expect.

Interviews

40) Job Interview Guide – make the best of your job interview.

Finding a job used to be a job in itself. The resources on the Internet make finding a job less like work, and more like child’s play. Millions of jobs are posted on these job search sites. It’s just a matter of spending some quality click time to find the job of your dreams.

There are many ways to search: by job title, by location, by keyword, by company. The job postings provide lengthy job descriptions, wage and benefits information, skill requirements and other details that help you decide if that’s the job for you. Once you have zeroed in on some possibilities, you can apply right online.

Also included are helpful hints and tips for everything from preparing a first-class resume to dazzling them at the interview. (The last site below is full of valuable job tips.)

You will also find other information, such as salary calculators and job trends. Whether you want to get a job down the street, or build a career on the other side of the globe, the opportunities are endless when you search online.

1. Job.com (http://www.job.com)
2. Indeed.com (http://www.indeed.com)
3. Monster.com (http://www.monster.com)
4. HotJob.Yahoo.com (http://www.hotjob.yahoo.com)
5. CareerBuilders.com (http://www.CareerBuilders.com)
6. Usajobs.gov/ (http://www.usajobs.gov/)
7. JobTips (http://hr.dop.wa.gov/jobtips)

Tips:

1. When you secure that interview, make sure you are prepared. Be ready to answers such questions as what are your major strengths, weaknesses, and where you see yourself in five years.
2. Dress appropriately for the interview. First impressions are crucial.
3. When you’re in the job searching mood, apply for more than one job at a time. The more people who know about you, the better your chances of getting hired.