5 Easy Steps to Finding a Job Online

With this state of the Internet development and our current ways of living, there's no better time than now to start searching for a job online. It doesn't matter if you are a student or graduate looking for some experience while building your way up, or if you are employed but want to make a career change, the Internet can help you a lot to find a job that best fits your skills and experiences and meets your financial and/or personal requirements for fulfillment, work/life balance or security. To start your online job search you only need Internet connection, a valid e-mail account and some time and dedication, and I believe you have all that available now, so let's start:

1. Create an online resume. The same way you need a CV and cover letter for your potential employer, you'll also need an online resume for your Internet job search. With all the available tools today you can easily draft a creative solution for your job application documents, but be careful not to go over the line and make them appear like you don't have much to offer. Keep your resume short and to the point, provide only relevant information about your educational background and previous experiences, and leave the rest to explain them during the interview. And remember, use the grammar and spell checker – it is your friend..., unless it is set to 'American' or doesn't properly function.
2. Familiarize yourself with career and job search websites and create a profile. There are many specialized websites with thousands of openings, where you can search jobs by name of position, location, level of education and other additional factors to find those that best fit your qualifications. For starters you can check Careerbuilder.com, Jobs.aol.com, Monster.com, Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com – they are some of the most popular. You can also create a profile on these websites where you can upload your resume to let prospective employers search for you. This is where you need a valid e-mail address that you regularly use.
3. Browse jobs on Craigslist. Craigslist.org is a classified advertising website where you can search available job positions from entry-level, through part-time gigs and summer jobs, to professional career openings. You can narrow down the search choosing by detailed location or city area, this way keeping the search local, and in addition you can include job related keywords or other additional criteria.
4. Use social media to boost your job search. The popular social networks like Facebook or Twitter are great fun and if you use them properly they can also make your job search a lot easier. Keep the public updates professional and the personal posts between you and your friends, and update your tweets and statuses from time to time to let your connections know you are looking for a job. You can also get proactive and build your own personal brand blogging about career related niches and professional interests. If your social profiles speak well of you, don't forget to include the links in your job applications.
5. Use LinkedIn – the recruiters and hiring managers are there. LinkedIn.com is a free career networking website where you can upload your resume, and create a complete professional profile with a job title, biography, skills, interests and other information your potential employers might find useful to assess whether you are qualified for their open positions. And the companies HR representatives are using this tool to scout for candidates, particularly for those with higher-level skills and experience behind. Connect with the companies you want to work in, look for their recruiters and hiring managers, network with the important people in your industry and look for new job opportunities. LinkedIn can provide all that, so why not use it.