In the past few years, searching for jobs online has become increasingly popular. In terms of efficiency, it’s nearly unbeatable. You can search and browse through hundreds of ads in a day, upload your resume and cover letters, and skip the delay of snail mail. All in all, I would place it second only to having an inside contact (such as a friend or family member) within a company.

That said, it’s still a game. And to succeed at the game, you have to know the rules. Here are the most important things to remember when searching and applying to jobs online.

Only search reputable sites

There will always be imitators and wannabes. I remember searching for MBA jobs (since I’m an MBA), and I tried to find MBA-specific job sites. There are some, but I remember a couple of them that had something like 10 jobs available nationwide—not exactly a career smorgasbord.

Even worse than lame or not-ready-for-prime-time job search sites are scams and give-us-your-money sites. The rule of thumb is this: You should NEVER have to pay someone to help you find work (keeping this in mind can also help you avoid 99% of work-at-home scams). There are tons of free and effective operations such as monster.com, careerbuilder.com, et al.

Narrow your focus

If you are too vague in your search, you’re going to end up needlessly scanning through hundreds of jobs that are not what you really want. If you’re an RN, for example, you could do a search for nursing. Problem is, you would likely end up with many LPN postings (and maybe some CNA listings as well). Your search will produce better results if you include RN in the search terms.

Have current and relevant information

Must-haves include a targeted resume geared to the job you want to get; a new cover letter tailored to each different job; an up-to-date account of your skill set; and of course current contact information. You should also be prepared to provide work samples and references if needed.

So, by all means, search for jobs online—just remember to follow the rules.

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As a rule, most people don’t care much for part-time jobs. The attractions of full-time work—higher paychecks (due to more hours being worked), healthcare benefits, and a greater sense of belonging to one’s place of work—are notably missing from part-time jobs. But is that all there is to consider?

First, note that taking part-time jobs at a given time does not necessarily constitute a career path. In other words, such employment could be looked at as a stepping stone (or series of them) towards what most people really want: a full-time, salaried position, with a reasonable amount of job security. (more…)

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Looking through the classifieds doesn’t just mean looking through them to see which job interests you and then sending your resume. Oh, sure, it does mean that. But there’s so much more to it…

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Before you go frantically posting your resume to every job website on the Internet, you might want to look a little closer to home. As the expression goes, it’s not what you know, but who you know. While this has long been a cliche, its truthfulness is well recognized by most.

But wait a minute, you might say—I don’t know anybody. Well, you may not think you know anyone, but is that really the case? Unless you’ve been hanging out in opium dens (conducting research for a class project, of course), you are probably acquainted with dozens of people. (more…)

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It used to be that a “part-time” job was a job that allowed teenagers to earn spending money; gave housewives the chance to earn financial independence; and kept retirees from going crazy with boredom. Those definitions still hold true, but in the 21st century, a new twist on the concept has become more than an option–it’s become an economic necessity for many families.

Somewhere between the rise in gas price and out-of-control housing costs, middle-class budgets have imploded. Families and individuals are living paycheck to paycheck and not because they’re sporting a lavish lifestyles or supporting extravagant habits. There are only two solutions to such a situation–spend less money or make more money. (more…)

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