Web sites connect employers, job seekers

Web sites like CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com provide students with helpful tools to aid… Web sites like CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com provide students with helpful tools to aid in their post-graduation job searches. However, they don’t replace traditional methods of getting hired.

Allison Nawoj, a career adviser at CareerBuilder.com, said that online job search sites give both employers and job seekers more access to each other.’

‘Going online allows you to really spread your net wide,’ said Nawoj. She added that for employers, ‘One major benefit is that they can get a lot of resumes very quickly.’

To some, this may seem to put job seekers, especially inexperienced, recent graduates, at a disadvantage. Nawoj countered that no matter where you look for jobs, the market is competitive, and the key is to make yourself stand out.’

Brian Heddleston, the employment development manager of Pitt’s Career Services, said, ‘As a candidate, you’re just one of many. Being creative is the best way to apply.’

Heddleston said Career Services doesn’t encourage people to use job search Web sites because companies usually post job opportunities on their individual Web sites as well. His advice is to go directly to the source. Research the company and contact it instead of working through a third-party Web site, he said.

Still, job search sites can be useful when used correctly.

The impersonal nature of applying for jobs online makes interpersonal communication a challenge, Nawoj said. She advised students to follow up their online applications by calling or e-mailing the company.

‘Make sure you’re not forgetting to do the follow-up,’ she said.

Many Web sites like CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com allow users to create profiles and upload resumes. They also post tips that tell applicants how to make their resumes stand out.

Nawoj cautioned that generic resumes are not likely to make a student attractive to companies. Applicants, she said, should tailor their applications for the job they want.

Heddleston agrees. He said that writing a more personalized cover letter addressed to the proper person is better than simply addressing the letter ‘To whom it may concern.’

Because online job postings get so many responses, some employers look for specific buzzwords in their applicants’ resumes and cover letters, Nawoj said. They scan the documents for those words, and if they don’t find them, they often move on to the next applicant.

‘Sometimes it’s just a matter of selecting proper keywords and putting buzzwords in your resume,’ said Nawoj.

In addition, Nawoj advised students to use more than one job search site and to use all the resources available to them, not just the Internet. The key to success is doing a ‘combination of everything you can handle, while still handling a student workload.’

Many students agree that job search sites are convenient. Pitt sophomore Phil DiCicco said he used Monster.com to look for internships.’

‘The application process was complicated, and the results were mediocre,’ said DiCicco. ‘I rate Monster a C-.’

Another sophomore, Nick Kelly, said, ‘Nothing beats personal contact.’ Despite low grades, Kelly said he was able to get a lab job because the employer liked his personality.

At the same time, he said that he agreed that searching for jobs online could open up doors.’

‘I’d be down to seeing what is available,’ he said.

Although job search Web sites provide a valuable service, students shouldn’t forget the basics of applying for jobs: Make your resume stands out, tailor it to the position, and always follow up with the company after submitting an application.

‘I think [job search sites] are definitely a benefit to all people applying,’ said Nawoj. ‘It’s a matter of finding the right mix for you.’