Job Search Engines: Learning to Explore and Control the Results

Job Search Engines: Learning to Explore and Control the Results

Nelson Russom

WRT 205

Madeline Yonker

April 28, 2008

The internet has made its way into nearly every aspect of our daily lives. We can now find our daily newspapers online. We can also use the internet to shop for everything from cars to rare vases which are native to isolated parts of the world. The internet in some aspects makes the world more intimate, allowing the previously unattainable to be had by any who wish. In a matter of seconds, people around the world can play a live game of chess against one another, discuss a new movie via a blog, or apply for a job via a job site, at the click of a button.

The internet has drastically changed the way society as a whole now views the job search process. The search is no longer restricted to news papers, field specific journals, and sometimes even telephone poles. Job search engines bring all of the wanted ads to you in a personalized manner. Users can search for specific job titles and locations and have the results come to them.

The selection of which job site to utilize is a usually overlooked, however greatly important part of the job hunt. An article any job candidates choose to use a major search engine like CareerBuilder, which has recently advertised in larger forms of media, Monster which has always been synonymous with internet job search engines, and HotJobs which has been called “The Best Large Job Site” (ConsumerSearch, 2008). CareerBuilder has 1.5 million jobs posted and Monster has 1.1 million. The challenge is that users frequently complain about the quality of jobs that are posted on the three major websites and the uncertainty that comes from the large amount of redundant job posting (ConsumerSearch, 2008). Susan Joyce published an article on Job-Hunt.org that brings to light the expense that some websites charge employers to post jobs on the site and how this price tag may affect companies’ willingness to use the website.

During a conversation with Ernest Russom, an Executive Recruiter for Accounts For You, Russom commented on the internet’s affect on increasing the efficiency of job search. Russom holds a Masters of Business Administration from Temple University and is a former Director of an accounting firm, where he was responsible for business development and recruiting. He suggested that I explore the attributes of various job sites in order to get a better understanding of what they do and the way they provide their services. Russom suggested that Indeed.com is the best place to start my analysis.

Indeed.com is, as Russom put it, a “super search engine” that looks at and compiles the results of other job boards and their many posted jobs. Indeed’s webpage is simple in appearance. After the user supplies two pieces of information, the results of a basic search begin to appear. The information required to conduct a search are Job Title, Keywords, or Company Name and City, State, or Area Code. Upon providing two search qualifying characteristics, the user has the option to further refine these search results.

Graphic 1. Indeed.com main screen.

Note. . Indeed’s webpage is simple in appearance. After the user supplies two pieces of information the results of a basic search begins to appear. From Indeed. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.indeed.com/.

All search refinements are listed on the left of the page, where with the click of the mouse the results can be reorganized. The specifications of results are ordered by Position, Title, Company, Location, Job Type, and Employer or Recruiter, in any order the user wishes. Another option within Indeed, which is common to many search engines, is the ability to refine the search by distance from a particular city or zip code. With each of these refinement options it is easy to see why Indeed is popular among the job search community.

The third order of Indeed.com exceeds the physical limitations of other job sites by allowing the results to be specific for each of their users. When compared to other job search engines like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com, Indeed most resembles CareerBuilder in the amount of information needed to begin the search. However, there are some differences, Indeed is the only website that chooses to display advertisements after the user enters their information. Indeed’s “super search engine” status becomes apparent in a feature that names the source of each job listing. It is not until further examination of the “From,” feature that we recognize that Indeed also gets its information from individual company’s job listing webpages. In a recent search on Indeed for “Estimator, within 25 miles of zip code 19082,” results came “From” specific companies but also from other job search engines big and small and its competition Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs.

Graphic 2. Search results from Indeed.

Note. . In a recent search on Indeed for “Estimator, within 25 miles of zip code 19082,” results came “From” specific companies but also from other job search engines big and small and its competition Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs. From Indeed. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.indeed.com/.

According to Bob Tedeschi’s article “Online Searchers for Job Seekers,” which was published in the New York Times in 2005, some websites decide to display only advertisements specific to the region that is being searched (2005). Allowing for advertisements on their web space is a secure source of income for many websites. As a result of this, Indeed decides to advertise after the user inputs their information. By knowing the area in which the user is searching for a job, Indeed is able to target advertisements so that they are most applicable to the given user. Monster.com on the other hand, has advertisements throughout their webpage. There does not seem to be any strategic or target marketing with Monster’s placement of advertisements.

Each website does advertising differently. After a little digging on Indeed, I found that they offer two different kinds of advertising, Sponsor Your Ads and Keyword Ads. The Sponsored Ads are the actual job listings that show up during a search. This uses a pay-per-click method of payment, where the advertiser pays a specific amount every time a user clicks on the sponsored job to find out more. This provides for maximum exposure at a minimal fee to the advertiser. The online account each employer must set up in order to place a Sponsored Ad on Indeed allows the employer to track and fine-tune their campaign. Using their account employers can learn who is finding out more about their advertised job. According to ConsumerSearch.com, other websites like Monster, CareerBuilder, and HotJobs, charge a flat rate of up to $460 for 30 days of posting time for each job. Almost all of these websites offer discounts when multiple jobs are posted by the same employer.

Indeed’s other form of advertising, Keyword Ads are shown on the same page as the job search results. The payment method is the same for the Keyword Ads as with the Sponsor Ads, the pay-per-click method. Indeed offers location targeting to its advertisers, where their ad appears only when users search for jobs in an area specified by the advertiser. Indeed also allows its advertisers to choose the page where their advertisement appears. Other websites like Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs, all require either contacting the company or joining the website to retrieve any information comparable to that which Indeed gave. Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs boasted about the popularity of their website. CareerBuilder and Monster showed user demographics and user behavior, but still required membership to obtain any critical information.

The advertisements on Monster appear to assist users in accomplishing tasks that are thought to be unrelated to job hunting. But this characteristic does not make Monster less efficient than Indeed. Monster has many links at the bottom of their main page which immediately refine each search to the user’s purpose for using the website. The apparent key to the online search is mass curb appeal to new users.

Graphic 3. Advertising on Monster.com.

Note. The advertisements on Monster may assist users in accomplishing tasks thought to be unrelated to job hunting. From Monster. Retrieved April 28, 2008, from http://www.monster.com/.

The more appealing the website is in ease of use and overall appearance, the higher the chance the short time user will come back and use the website again.

However, a website’s first impression on a user is not the only factor that goes into consideration for a job seeker. The purpose of the job search engines is to help seekers effectively discover and respond to a job posting while the job is still available, whether it is while he is unemployed or still employed. Russom used the phrase “time is of the essence” countless times during our conversation. He spoke of his experience calling numerous companies about the status of various job opportunities, only to find that the company had recently made an offer or just hired someone for the position. Many websites do not fully disclose the actual time a job opportunity has been posted “That’s the great thing about Indeed.com, it shows you when each job was posted to its respective website,” Russom explained. It makes sense to consider the old adage “the early bird catches the worm,” holds his statement true. The first to see a newly posted job posting has the advantage of having the opportunity to be the first to contact the company with their interest in the position.

Among Indeed’s lesser known but very important features is the last piece information given for each job shown on the list of search results. This option comes just before options to “Save Job,” “Block,” and “Email;” let’s call this feature “Time Posted.” The “Time Posted” feature shows users when this job was posted. This information gives users a better idea of the likelihood of the offer remaining. When I searched “Civil Engineer, within 25 miles of 19082” at 10:05 PM on March 31, 2008, I could see that 46 minutes ago a job was posted for a Sr. Civil/Environmental Engineer in Exton, Pennsylvania. The results page explicitly showed 5 newly posted jobs on a line by itself, and the last shown result was posted 29 days ago (Indeed, 2008). On Monster, there were no such notifications as to when the jobs were posted. CareerBuilder was not as specific as to the day, hour or minute the job was posted like Indeed, only showing that the jobs were posted today, 2 days and 3 weeks ago (CareerBuilder, 2008). Knowing when jobs were posted to generic job search engines allows users who do not use profession or location specific search engines to get a better idea of the likelihood that the job listed is still being available.

There are other websites on the web that only show results specific to certain criteria. Job Bank Information was a website that ceased operation in July of 2007. The webpage was sponsored by the US Department of Labor and now acts as a literal map for users to search for jobs based in each of the 50 states and a few provinces. Job Bank Information enables users to select the state in which they search and are connected directly to that state’s job exchange webpage (CareerOneStop, 2008).

Graphic 4. Map found on Job Bank Information

Note. It now acts as a literal map for users to search for jobs based in each of the 50 states and a few provinces. Job Bank Information enables users to select the state in which they search and are connected directly to that state’s job exchange webpage. From CareerOneStop. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.jobbankinfo.com/.

Some states require more information than others to begin the search. Pennsylvania, for example, asks users to register with the website before revealing search results. Those who are already members must login. New York, on the other hand, has no such registration requirement to view job search results. There is a membership option which is not mandatory. When searching in New York, just two clicks of the mouse after specifying type of job, users can view comprehensive job details for each place of employment. I attempted to fill out the necessary information to see the job results in my home state of Pennsylvania, but it was extremely time consuming. The amount of effort needed to fill out all of the required information for the state of Pennsylvania was incomparable to anything I have ever encountered on the internet. Other websites allow users to search for jobs without registering or submitting an email address but also have more features available to members, like Monster, Indeed and CareerBuilder.

After viewing ads promoting Monster.com for many years now and more recently for CareerBuilder.com which purported the simplicity of use of both websites, I decided to register with Monster. Upon registering I was immediately offered a resume writing service that came with my free membership. Once a member, I learned of other features that Monster offered. Monster keeps track of all applications that are created through the site. There is also a quick apply feature that allows each user to select a previously used resume and coversheet. In addition, this feature allows the user to inform the employer of a five other pieces of information about the applicant that Monster has deemed “important.” The five categories include ethnicity, gender, veteran and disability status and whether the person is a “Diversity Candidate” (Monster, 2008). The “Diversity Candidate,” is seemingly a person who is a minority, either within society or their respected field of employment. Each of these categories comes with the option to “Decline to Identify,” but this puts the submitter in a hard place. How will the employers who check the applicants to their job post interpret the fact that thirty people have included the “important” information and one has not? Who says that this information is actually important? This information is intended to assist the employers in their selection process. It also allows the employer to see statistics of who views and submits resumes to their job postings.

In addition, Monster offers financial advice to its members. There are pages dedicated to paying taxes online, managing money, retirement planning, resolving credit, insurance, and even real estate. I believe these features alone make it worthwhile to belong to Monster. Along with the capabilities of informing its users of local job fairs, and career advice, the website also enables its members to multitask and shorten previously time-consuming tasks. Monster is a great resource for new members of the job search community, especially the new members who may not have the time or know how to find the types of information available to users.

It is not advisable to jump head first into a new venture like the job market. There may be better options than to simply do what the big powers of the internet job search community say to do. According to an article by Susan Joyce on Job-Hunt.org entitled, “Strategies for Starting Your Online Job Search,” there are three stages of the job search. The first stage is preparation, where the foundation for an effective and efficient job search is formed (2002). The second is implementation, the actual searching for a job. The third and final step of the job search process is “suspension/maintenance.” In this stage of the job search your efforts are suspended but not shut down completely. This idle state makes it easier to start from where you left off rather than beginning from scratch again. Maintaining the job search is an often overlooked step in a successful job hunt. The job search process is not simply a means to an end.

Searching for a job is comparable to a refined art form. This art form while perfected by some, has also availed the opportunity to take advantage of others. Job-Hunt explicitly tells its users to use multiple job sites, to be careful of which sites they use, and to be aware of what the user puts on the internet. The leading issue facing internet job searchers is identity theft. Joyce offers another article on Job-Hunt entitled “The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes,” that describes twelve key issues facing job site users. According to the FBI, the top form of internet fraud is identity theft (Joyce, 2008). Identity theft is made easy with all of the personal information supplied on resumes, such as; Name, Address, Home Phone Number, etc.

Emails are also cited as a source of vulnerability because of the false sense of comfort they establish. There are varying levels of formality that we bounce between depending upon who we are communicating with. We are less formal with our family then we are with our co-workers and we are less formal with our co-workers then we are with our boss. It is often difficult to consistently maintain a desired level of professionalism when drafting emails, especially in the current age of chain emails and forwarding of humorous websites. I can not count the amount of emails I have received from relatives and friends which included pictures of people doing ridiculous things in the snow or videos of cats surviving near death experiences. These informal emails along with the close relationships that develop in the workplace frequently foster a sense of comfort when communicating with coworkers. It is easy for people to forget to maintain a professional image when using emails to communicate with potential employers.

The selection of email account also matters when searching for a new place of employment. Another point made by Job-Hunt is to be sure to use a personal email address during the job search. Using an address through a current employer is a sure step toward losing a job. Despite this fact, email is a great tool. Email allows for professional communication to happen within a fraction of a second, allowing for documents to be sent around the world at virtually no price at all. However there is no guarantee that it will be read or even opened once it reaches an employer. There is technology currently available to track and see the viewing status of the email. Everyday billions of people delete junk “spam” emails. In 2005, nearly 75% of all email sent that year was marked as spam (Joyce, 2008). In order to avoid having an email to a prospective employer marked spam, Job-Hunt suggests following up emails with phone calls or even calling the company beforehand to notify them of your intent so that you are not marked as spam.

“The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes,” talked about posting resumes onto job boards as being a danger in disguise. It puts large amounts of personal information on the internet for anyone to view. As stated earlier, this information can be used to take advantage of a person but it can also jeopardize their current employment. In our interview, Russom said “Having your name on a job site is a great way to get noticed by recruiters, but it also can be detrimental to your reputation. It increases the probability of your current employer seeing your name and becoming suspicious of your actions.” As a child, the only thing worse than getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar, was getting caught thinking about putting your hand in the cookie jar. Having a current employer finding your name on an active search for a new job is much like being caught thinking about those cookies in that jar. This shows the current employer an almost complete disregard for their place of employment. There will probably be differential treatment towards the person who is actively searching for a new job while still at their place of employment. Depending on the line of work, their superiors may give them less important tasks or in the most drastic of circumstances, fire the person.

Almost all professions have specified job search engines that curtail to them alone. They represent a smaller but always important segment of the job search community online. Websites like TheLadders.com, iHireEnvironmental.com, HealthJobsUSA.com, and EngineeringDesignJobs.com, all are specified to capture a specified audience. The Ladders only advertises job listings with salaries of $100k or higher. With their clear identification as the best place to find jobs with high starting salaries, the sight will attract a certain “crowd.” The case is similar for iHireEnvironmental.com, where you can find only ads for environmentally related jobs most of which are in the consulting sector. The same is true for Health Jobs USA and Engineering Design Jobs. These websites already eliminate the unnecessary ads that would only clutter the results when searching for jobs that are specific in field or salary range.

The development of the internet job search has made its way into the college environment. Erin White had her article “Theory & Practice: Employers Are Putting New Face on Web Recruiting,” printed in a 2007 issue of The Wall Street Journal. Erin White discussed Ernst &Young LLP’s decision to use the social networking medium Facebook to recruit college students to more than 5,500 internships and entry-level jobs in North America (2007). Ernst & Young paid Facebook an undisclosed amount to build a page on the social interface that informed members of internships and enabled members to discuss the company. The Ernst & Young sponsored page was the first of its kind to be aimed at recruiting. Colleges and universities across the nation have seen the increase of the internet’s effect on the job hunt. Here at Syracuse University we have a Career Services Network website that directs students to various websites where they can find internships and job listings in addition to help with their resumes..

There are unlimited amounts of resources available on the internet to aid in the job search process. Everything from where to start, to how to accept a job offer, is available after a few keystrokes thanks to the vast knowledge that is constantly updated on the internet. Now doctors do not have to be bothered by engineering positions being shown as results because both professions now have their own search engines. Thousands of people will keep their identity safe by not submitting a resume to a fake website because they will know what to lookout for and when to be cautious.

The internet has greatly impacted how job searches are conducted. Granted there will always be a nostalgic feel of sitting at the kitchen table using the second order to circle the appealing wanted ads in the newspaper, but the day when that is a thing of the past is rapidly approaching. With the opposite side of the world is only a click away, there is no telling when we will see advertisements for jobs in other countries littering our web pages. There is one thing that has made itself clear, our ability to connect with each other has established no boundaries and with none in the foreseeable future, our world is definitely getting smaller.

References

CareerBuilder. (2008). The largest job search, employment & careers site. CareerBuilder.com. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.careerbuilder.com/

CareerOneStop. (2008). America’s job bank transition. Job Bank Information. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.jobbankinfo.org/

ConsumerSearch. (2008, January). Best job sites: reviews. ConsumerSearch. Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.consumersearch.com/www/internet/job-sites/

Indeed. (2008), Job search. Indeed. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.indeed.com/

Joyce, S. P. (2002). Strategies for starting your online job search. Job-Hunt.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008, form http://www.job-hunt.org/starting.shtml

Joyce, S. P (2008). The dirty dozen online job search mistakes. Job-Hunt.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008, form http://www.job-hunt.org/jobsearchmistakes.shtml

Monster. (2008). Find jobs. Build a better career. Find your calling. Monster.com. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.monster.com/

Tedeschi, B. (2005, March 28). Online searcher for job seekers. New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/28/technology/28ecom.html

White, E. (2007, January 8). Theory & practice: employers are putting new face on web recruiting. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from Proquest Database.

Unit 4

Annotated Bibliography:

Lester, Tom (1993, April). A womans’s place … Management Today,46.  Retrieved April 22, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 914057).

Women’s management abilities are valuable resources that no society or business can afford to ignore. Male prejudice in the corporate world will prevent implementation of women in the immediate future. There is no sign of the “glass ceiling” shattering any time soon. The first generation of female executives had to play by the men’s rules, but the second generation is making it to the top of management by using their own skills rather than copying those of the men above them in the corporate ladder.

Diversity means more than simply adding women. (2006, February 15). New Pittsburgh Courier (City Edition),  p. A6.  Retrieved April 22, 2008, from Ethnic NewsWatch (ENW) database. (Document ID: 1015729891).

Mayor Bob O’Conner of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania assembled a group of “diverse” citizens to help run the city. This group made up of seven people included white men and white women. Diversity goes beyond gender; it not only means diversity of result but also diversity of effort. Mayor O’Conner went to racially diverse areas of Pittsburgh to appoint new members to various comities. Diversity includes representing varying levels of educational, cultural, and political backgrounds. Prosperity seems to come from diversity among those who lead.

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Job Search Engines: Learning to Explore and Control the Results

Job Search Engines: Learning to Explore and Control the Results

Nelson Russom

WRT 205

Madeline Yonker

April 14, 2008

The internet has made its way, in one form or another, into every aspect of our daily lives. We can now find our daily newspapers online. We can also use the internet to shop for everything from cars to rare vases native to isolated parts of the world. The internet, in some aspects made the world more intimate; allowing the previously unattainable to be had by any who wish. In a matter of seconds, people around the world can play a live game of chess against one another, discuss a new movie, or apply for a job.

The selection of job site is a usually overlooked, however greatly important part of the job hunt. Many job candidates just use the major search engines like CareerBuilder, which has recently advertised in larger forms of media, Monster which has always been synonymous with internet job search engines, and HotJobs which has been called “The Best Large Job Site” (ConsumerSearch, 2008). CareerBuilder has 1.5 million jobs posted and Monster has 1.1 million. Users frequently complain about the quality of jobs that are posted on the three major websites and the uncertainty in the amount of redundant posting (ConsumerSearch, 2008). Job-Hunt’s article also brings light the expense that some websites charge employers to post jobs on the website and how this price tag may affect s companies’ willingness to use the website.

During a conversation with Ernest Russom, an Executive Recruiter for Accounts For You, we discussed the internet’s affect on increasing the efficiency of job search. Russom holds a Masters of Business Administration from Temple University and is a former Director of an accounting firm, where he was responsible for business development and recruiting. He suggested that I explore various job sites to get a better idea of what they do and the way they provide their services. Russom suggested that Indeed.com is the best place to start my analysis.

Indeed.com is, as Russom put it, a “super search engine” that looks at and compiles the results of other job boards and their many posted jobs. Indeed’s webpage is simple in appearance. After the user supplies two pieces of information the results of a basic search begins to appear. The information required to conduct a search are Job Title, Keywords, or Company Name and City, State, or Area Code. After these two blanks are fulfilled, the user has the option to refine these results.

All refinements are listed on the left of the page, where with the click of the mouse the results can be reorganized. The specification of results is ordered by Position, Title, Company, Location, Job Type, and Employer and Recruiter, in any order the user wishes. Another option within Indeed, which is common to many search engines, is the ability to refine the search by distance from a particular city or zip code. With each of these refinement options it is easy to see why Indeed is popular among the job search community.

The third order of Indeed.com allows the results to be specific for each of their users. When compared to other job search engines like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com, Indeed most resembles CareerBuilder in the amount of information needed to begin the search. However there are some differences, Indeed is the only website that chooses to display advertisements after the user enters their information. Indeed’s “super search engine” status becomes apparent in a feature that names the source of each job listing. It is not until examination of the “From,” feature that we recognize that Indeed not only gets its information from individual company’s job listing webpages. In a recent search on Indeed for “Estimator, within 25 miles of zip code 19082,” results came “From” specific companies but also from other job search engines big and small and its competition Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs.

According to Bob Tedeschi’s article “Online Searchers for Job Seekers,” which was published in the New York Times in 2005, some websites decide to display only advertisements specific to the region that is being searched (Tedeschi, 2005). Allowing for advertisements on their web space is a secure source of income for many websites. Indeed decides to advertise after the user inputs their information. By knowing the area in which the user is searching for a job, Indeed is able to refine their advertisements so that they are most applicable to the individual user. Monster.com on the other hand, has advertisements throughout their webpage. There do not seem to be any rhyme or reason behind Monster’s placement of advertisements like Indeed.

The advertisements on Monster may assist users in accomplishing tasks thought to be unrelated to job hunting, but this does not make Monster less efficient than Indeed. Monster has many links at the bottom of their main page that refine their searches immediately depending upon the person’s purpose for using the website. The apparent key to the online search is mass curb appeal to new users. The more appealing the website is in ease of use and overall appearance, the higher the chance the short time user will come back and use the website again.

A website’s first impression on a user is not the only factor that goes into consideration. The purpose of the job search engines is to effectively discover and respond to a job posting while the job is still available, whether it is while unemployed or still employed. Russom used the phrase “time is of the essence” countless times during our conversation; he spoke of his experience in calling companies about the status of job opportunities, only to find that the company had recently made an offer or just hired someone for the position. Many websites are vague about disclosing the actual time a job opportunity had been, “That’s the great thing about Indeed.com, it shows you when each job was posted to their respected website,” Russom explained. It makes sense to consider the old adage “the early bird catches the worm,” holds his statement true. The first to see a newly posted job offer` obviously has the advantage of having the opportunity to be the first to get in touch with the company if he or she is interested in the position.

Among Indeed’s lesser known but very important feature is the last piece information given for each job shown on the list of search results. This option comes just before options to “Save Job,” “Block,” and “Email,” lets call this feature “Time Posted.” The “Time Posted” feature shows users when this job was posted. This information gives users a better idea of the likelihood of the offer remaining. When I searched “Civil Engineer, within 25 miles of 19082” at 10:05 PM on March 31, 2008, I could see that 46 minutes ago a job was posted for a Sr. Civil/Environmental Engineer in Exton, Pennsylvania. The results page explicitly showed 5 newly posted jobs on a line by itself, and the last shown result was posted 29 days ago (Indeed, 2008). In Monster, there was no notification as to when the jobs were posted. CareerBuilder was not as specific as to the day, hour or minute the job was posted like Indeed, only showing that the jobs were posted today, 2 days and 3 weeks ago (CareerBuilder, 2008).

There are other websites on the web that only show results that are specific to certain criteria. Job Bank Information is actually a website that ceased opperation in July of 2007. The webpage is sponsored by the US Department of Labor and now acts as a literal map for users to search for jobs based in each of the 50 states and a few provinces.

Job Bank Information enables users to select the state in which they search and are connected directly to that state’s job exchange webpage (CareerOneStop, 2008). Some states require more information than others to begin the search. Pennsylvania, for example, asks users to register with the website before revealing search results. Those who are already members must login. New York, on the other hand, has no such registration requirement to view job search results. There is a membership option but it is not mandatory. When searching in New York, just two clicks of the mouse after specifying type of job, users can view comprehensive job details for each place of employment. I attempted to fill out the necessary information to see the job results in my home state of Pennsylvania, but it was extremely time consuming. The amount of effort needed to fill out all of the required information for the state of Pennsylvania was incomparable to anything I have ever encountered on the internet. Other websites allow users to search for jobs without registering or submitting an email address but also have more features available to members.

After viewing ads for years for Monster.com and more recently for CareerBuilder.com which purported the simplicity of use of both websites, I decided to register with Monster. Upon registering I was immediately offered a resume writing service that came with my free membership. Once a member, I learned of other features Monster offers. Monster keeps track of all applications that are created through the site. There is also a quick apply feature that allows the user to select a previously used resume and coversheet. In addition, this feature allows the user to inform the employer of a five other pieces of information about the applicant that Monster has deemed “important.” The five categories include ethnicity, gender, veteran and disability status and whether the person is a “Diversity Candidate” (Monster, 2008). The “Diversity Candidate,” is seemingly a person who is a minority, either within society or their respected field of employment. Each of these categories comes with the option to “Decline to Identify,” but this puts the submitter in a hard place. How will the employers who check the applicants to their job post interpret the fact that thirty people have included the “important” information and one has not? Who says that this information is actually important?

Monster also offers financial advice to its members. There are pages dedicated to paying taxes online, managing money, retirement, credit, insurance, and even real estate. I would say these features alone make it worthwhile to belong to Monster. Along with the capabilities of informing its users of local job fairs, career advice, the website enables its members to multitask and shorten previously time-consuming tasks. Monster is a great resource for new members of the job search community, especially the new members who may not have the time or know how to find the types of information available to users.

It is not always good to jump head first into a new venture like the job market. There may be better options than to simply do what the big powers of the internet job search community say. According to an article on Job-Hunt.org entitled, “Strategies for Starting Your Online Job Search,” there are three stages of the job search. The first stage is preparation, where the foundation for an effective and efficient job search is formed (Joyce, 2002). The second is implementation, the actual searching for a job. The third and final step of the job search process is “suspension/maintenance.” In this stage of the job search your efforts are suspended but not shut down completely. This idle state makes it easier to start from where you left off rather than beginning from scratch again. Maintaining the job search is an often overlooked step in a successful job hunt. The job search process is not simply a means to an end.

Searching for a job is almost a refined art form. This art form while perfected by some, has also availed the opportunity to take advantage of others. Job-Hunt explicitly tells its users to use multiple job sites, to be careful of which sites they use, and to be aware of what the user puts on the internet. The number one issue facing internet job searchers is identity theft. Job-Hunt offers an article entitled “The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes,” that describes twelve key issues facing job site users. According to the FBI, the top form of internet fraud is identity theft (Joyce, 2001). Identity theft is made easy with all of the personal information supplied on resumes, such as; Name, Address, and Home Phone Number, the list goes on. Emails are also cited as a source of vulnerability because of the false sense of comfort they establish. It is frequently difficult to consistently maintain a desired level of professionalism when drafting emails, especially in the current age of chain emails and forwarding of humorous websites. I can not count the amount of emails I have received from relatives and friends which included pictures of people doing ridiculous things in the snow or videos of cats surviving near death experiences. These informal emails along with the close relationships that develop in the workplace frequently foster a sense of comfort when communicating with coworkers. It is easy for people to forget to maintain a professional image when using emails to communicate with potential employers.

The selection of email account also matters when searching for a new place of employment. Another point made by Job-Hunt is to be sure to use a personal email address during the job search. Using an address through a current employer is a sure step toward losing a job. Email is a great tool. Email allows for professional communication to happen within a fraction of a second, allowing for documents to be sent around the world at virtually no price at all. However there is no guarantee that it will be read or even opened once it reaches an employer. Everyday billions of people delete junk “spam” emails. In 2005, nearly 75% of all email sent that year was marked as spam (Joyce, 2001). In order to avoid having an email to a prospective employer marked spam, Job-Hunt suggests following up emails with phone calls or even calling the company beforehand to notify them of your intent so that you are not marked as spam.

“The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes,” also talked about posting resumes onto job boards as being a danger in disguise. It puts large amounts of personal information on the internet for anyone to view. As satiated earlier, this information can be used to take advantage of a person but it can also jeopardize their current employment. In our interview, Russom said “Having your name on a job site is a great way to get noticed by recruiters, but it also can be bad news. It increases the chance of the employer seeing your name and becoming suspicious of your actions.” As a child, the only thing worse than getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar, was getting caught thinking about putting your hand in the cookie jar. As they say, “Perception is someone’s reality.” Having a current employer find your name on an active search for a new job is much like being caught thinking about those cookies in that jar. This shows the current employer an almost complete disregard for their place of employment. There will probably be differential treatment towards the person who is actively searching for a new job while still at their place of employment. Depending on the line of work, their superiors may give them less important tasks or in the most drastic of circumstances, fire the person.

Almost all professions have specified job search engines that curtail to them alone. They represent a smaller but always important segment of the job search community online. Websites like TheLadders.com, iHireEnvironmental.com, HealthJobsUSA.com, and EngineeringDesignJobs.com, all are specified to capture a specified audience. The Ladders only advertises job listings with salaries of $100k or higher. With their clear identification as the best place to find jobs with high starting salaries, the sight will attract a certain “crowd.” The case is similar for iHireEnvironmental.com, where you can find only ads for environmentally related jobs most of which are in the consulting sector. The same is true for Health Jobs USA and Engineering Design Jobs. These websites already eliminate the unnecessary ads that would only clutter the results when searching for jobs that are specific in field or salary range.

There are unlimited amounts of resources available on the internet to aid in the job search process. Everything from; where to start, how to put together a cover sheet, to when to accept a job offer, is within our grasp now that the world is at our fingertips. Now doctors do not have to be bothered by engineering positions being shown as results because both professions now have their own search engines. Thousands of people will keep their identity safe by not submitting a resume to a fake website because they will know what to lookout for and when to be cautious.

The internet has greatly impacted how job searches are conducted. Granted there will always be a nostalgic feel of sitting at the kitchen table circling the wanted ads in the newspaper, but the day when that is a thing of the past is rapidly approaching. With the opposite side of the world is only a click away, there is no telling when we will see advertisements for jobs in other countries littering our web pages. There is one thing that has made itself clear, our ability to connect with each other has found no boundaries and with none in the foreseeable future, our world is definitely getting smaller.

References

ConsumerSearch. (2008, January). Best Job Sites: Reviews. ConsumerSearch. Retrieved March 15, 2008 from http://www.consumersearch.com/www/internet/job-sites/

CareerBuilder. (2008). The Largest Job Search, Employment & Careers Site. CareerBuilder.com. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.careerbuilder.com/

CareerOneStop. (2008). America’s Job Bank Transition. Job Bank Information. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.jobbankinfo.org/

Indeed. (2008), Job Search. Indeed. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.indeed.com/

Joyce, S. (2001). The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes. Job-Hunt.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008, form http://www.job-hunt.org/jobsearchmistakes.shtml

Joyce, S. (2002). Strategies for Starting Your Online Job Search. Job-Hunt.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008, form http://www.job-hunt.org/starting.shtml

Monster. (2008). Find Jobs. Build a Better Career. Find Your Calling. Monster.com. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from http://www.monster.com/

Tedeschi, B. (2005, March 28). Online Searcher for Job Seekers. New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2008 from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/28/technology/28ecom.html

2 Page class edit

can view comprehensive job details for each place of employment.  I attempted to fill out the necessary information to see the job results in my home state of Pennsylvania, but it was extremely time consuming.  It takes less effort to wake up for an 8 am class on a Monday morning than to fill out all of the required information.  Other websites allow for their use without registering or submitting an email address but also have more features available to members.

            I registered with Monster.com, upon registering I immediately was offered a resume writing service that came with my free membership.  Once a member, Monster keeps track of all applications that are made through the site and has a quick apply feature that allows the user to select a previously used resume and coversheet and to inform the employer of a five other pieces of information about the applicant that Monster has deemed “important.”  The five include ethnicity, gender, veteran and disability status and whether the person is a diversity candidate, each comes with the option of “decline to identify,” but how will that look when the employer is checking to see if anyone has applied to their job post and see that thirty people have included the five pieces of information and one did not.  Monster also offers financial advice to its members, pages dedicated to paying taxes online, managing money, retirement, credit, insurance, and even real estate.  I would say these features alone make it worth while to belong to Monster, and with the capabilities of informing its users of local job fairs and career advice.  Monster is a great resource to new members of the job search community, who may not the time or know how to find the types of information available to its new users.

            According to an article found on Job-Hunt.org entitled, “Starting Your Online Job Search,” there are three stages of job search.  The first stage is preparation, where the foundation for an effective and efficient job search is formed (Job-Hunt).  The second is implementation, the actual searching for a job.  The third and final piece of the job search puzzle is “suspension/maintenance.”  In this stage of the job search your efforts are suspended but not shut down completely, it will be easier to start from where you left off rather than from scratch again.  Maintaining the job search is an often overlooked step in a successful job hunt, the process is not simply a means to an end. 

            Job-Hunt explicitly tells its users to use multiple job sites, and to be careful of what job sites they use and what gets posted on the internet.  In addition, Job-Hunt also offered an article entitled “The ‘Dirty Dozen’” that describes twelve key issues facing job site users.  The number one issue facing internet job searchers is identity theft.  According to the FBI, the top form of internet fraud is identity theft (Job-Hunt).  Theft is made easy with all of the personal information supplied on resumes: name, address, and home phone number.  Emails are also a source of vulnerability because of the false sense of comfort they establish.  It is sometimes hard to remember to maintain a certain level of professionalism in emails, especially in the age of chain emails and forwarding of websites found to be humorous.  I can not count the amount emails I’ve received from relatives and friends who emailed me pictures of people doing ridiculous things in the snow or videos of cats surviving near death experiences.

            Another point made by Job-Hunt is to be sure to use a personal email address during the job hunt, using an address through a current employer is a sure step toward losing a job.  Email is a great tool, however there is no guarantee that it will be read or even opened.  In 2005, nearly 75% of all email was marked as spam (Job-Hunt).  In order to avoid being marked spam Job-Hunt suggests following up emails with phone calls or

Body Paragraphs

The Order of Ordering Results

 

            During a conversation with an accountant recruiter in which we discussed the internet’s affect on the job community, he suggested that I explore some of the sites to get a better idea of what they do and the way they provide their services.  When asked, he named Indeed.com as the best place to start.

            Indeed’s webpage is simple in appearance, and with only two pieces of information the results begin to appear.  The necessary items are job title, keywords, or company name and city, state, or area code.  After these two blanks are fulfilled, the user has the option to refine these results.  All refinements are listed on the left of the page where with the click of the mouse the results can be reorganized to be specified by title, company, location, job type, and employer and recruiter.  Another option supplied by Indeed, which is supplied by many search engines is refinement by distance from the original location entered by the seeker.  With all of these refinement options it is easy to see why Indeed is popular among the job search community.

            The third order of Indeed’s results are specific for each of their users.  Compared to other job search engines like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com, Indeed most resembles CareerBuilder in the amount of information needed to begin the search.  However there are some differences, Indeed is the only website that chooses to display advertisements after the user enters their information.  According to Bob Tedeschi’s article Online Searchers for Job Seekers which was published in the New York Times in 2005, some websites decide to display only advertisements specific to the region that is being searched.  Monster has many links at the bottom of their main page that refine their searches immediately depending upon the person’s purpose for using the website.  The apparent key to the online search is mass curb appeal to new users.  The more appealing the website is in ease of use and overall appearance, the higher the chance the passer bys will come back and use the website again.

            There are a wide variety of types of databases that one can search when looking for a job.  At America’s Job Bank, users select the state in which they search and are connected directly to the states job exchange webpage.  Some states require more information than others to begin the search.  Pennsylvania for example asks users to register with the website before revealing search results, and those who are already members must login.  New York on the other hand has no such registration requirement to view job search results, there is a membership option but it is not mandatory.  When searching in New York, just two clicks of the mouse after specifying type of job, users can view comprehensive job details for each place of employment.  I attempted to fill out the necessary information to see the job results in my home state of Pennsylvania, but it was extremely time consuming.  It takes less effort to wake up for an 8 am class on a Monday morning than to fill all of the required information. 

Proposal

Unit 3 Proposal

 

            I will continue to explore the topic from my Unit 2 essay topic.  This essay will hopefully explore the structure of which the “employment networking” websites are built around.  I am hoping to explore the different strategies the websites employ to ensure ease to users, how users are able to find information on other users and job opportunities.  Pondering who decided on the criteria of searches along with how and why these came to those conclusions.

            Hopefully there will be a large amount of information on the methodology of selecting which criteria for searches.  Answering questions like what makes the first listing come up first, why are they ordered in that manner, and how are these manners chosen.  I fell there will be a fair amount of academic writings on this subject.  Many colleges within universities have career services offices and one can only assume they have some knowledge on the subject.

            This subject just begins to question who has the final authority on the order in which the information we are searching for is presented to us.  There is an assignment of the second order of order happening here, but wouldn’t websites be more effective if they provided the user with the option to rank which criteria are most important.  Could this be the direction websites are heading?  There would still be a second order of order feel to the results, but the user would be able to customize a few options that could possibly increase the likelihood of finding the best result.

Conceptual Connection

            The user classification of Flickr is similar to the user modification of the employment networking websites.  The employment networking sites allow users to interact and inform other users of new happenings in their industry and of possible job openings.  The Flickr user tags are comparable to the contacts on employment networking websites.  By viewing others users contacts, it is simple to find lists of people who are connected to a mutual contact.  If employment networking websites were to adapt Flickr’s method of categorization, each user’s page was primarily searchable by their contacts.  This would be an interesting approach but it is extremely unlikely this would be the most effective method of categorization.

Content Analysis Final Draft

            The days of reading the classifieds over breakfast and circling those ads which draw your interest are now a thing in the past.  The ability to now digitally submit resumes and connect with the company without stepping outside the home eliminates the time that would have previously been spent researching companies and scheduling interviews.  Since social networks have joined in the job search process, job seekers have seen substantial growth and only look to move ahead in the future.  Social networks on the internet have enabled old friends to catch up on the times that have passed and new friendships are being formed over common interests.  These intimate relationships are exactly what the job networking websites express as are the way to network.

            There are four major themes throughout the articles.  The first is the use of social networking on the internet.  Websites like MySpace and Facebook connect friends around the world, allowing sharing of information.  The second theme is using these websites to make job contacts for potential opportunities.  This is one of the main purposes of the websites, because of the speed and ease in which connections can be made with networking.  The third is the advantage of sharing information: the ability to inform other users of possible job opportunities for which they may be best suited.  Finally, the fourth theme is the obvious potential for future growth of networking websites whose purpose is to gain employment, with unlimited access, fresh ideas, and the desire to be on the cutting edge of technology.  These sites will be constantly updating adding new features to their pages, offering current new job listings to potential seekers.

            Social networking is one of the most primitive behaviors human beings possess.  It is found every time you meet a person through a mutual friend or find that you and another person have many friends in common.  Social networking sites on the internet allow their members to see everyone who uses the same website, and some even show “friends in common,” like Facebook.

            The term “Employment Networking,” introduced by Peter Weddle, is a revised form of social networking.  Weddle gives three major differences between social and employment networking; purpose, manner, and location.  The purpose of the employment networking sites is to get a job.  These websites provide ample amounts of interaction and opportunities to build relationships, but Weddle emphasizes that its users should not get distracted from their goal.  It may be fun meeting new people with common interests but it is unlikely you will get hired.  Employment networking on the internet in considered extremely professional because coworkers, colleagues, current and former bosses and even recruiters can be found on these websites.  Weddle also points out, “Employment networking requires active participation, and the quality of your effort determines the return you get from your investment online” (Weddle, 2007).  The person who is actually interviewing at multiple places of employment has a greater chance at landing a job than the person who sits at home watching television.  The more actively you pursue a job or to make the connections and grow relationships, the better chances you have to receive an offer.  Finally the location is obviously different, as the atmosphere and tone are very professional on employment networking websites.

            Websites such as LinkedIn, connect people from all fields and aspects of business.  The website’s cofounder Konstantin Guericke says “Some people might not mention that they’re open to other opportunities, but that doesn’t keep them from making professional contacts” (Lehoczky, 2004).  Making these contacts is required for success on these types of websites.  Like many social networking websites, on employment networking sites users can do the same, selecting what information can be viewed by strangers, and protecting their lists of contacts.  As in the physical world, it takes time to build relationships online.  Making contacts with the right people can open doors that would have previously been hidden.  Though online networking provides capabilities of connecting with business people around the world, it has yet to replace the old fashioned shaking hands and chatting form of networking.

            MySpace, a website usually know for its social networking capabilities, has also opened doors for artists into the music industry.  Sean Kingston is a rapper born in Miami Florida, but raised in Kingston, Jamaica.  Born Kisean Anderson, after moving to Jamaica at the age of six, Anderson made his stage name Sean Kingston in honor of his Jamaican home.  Kingston used MySpace to expose his music to the world.  MySpace’s networking capabilities allowed Kingston to message the pages of well known producers, Dr. Dre, Swizz Beats, Polow Da Don, and J.R. Rotem (Rodriguez, 2007).  Knowing these producers likely receive thousands of messages a day, Kingston sent multiple messages a day to each, but only Rotem responded.  Over the span of a few months, Kingston made his way to Rotem’s studio where he signed to Rotem’s label (Rodriguez, 2007).  Kingston’s musical success can directly be linked to the social networking of MySpace.

            Making job contacts is a vital part of developing and furthering an individual’s career.  Many connections are easily made and sometimes made without recognition.  Making connects is only half of the battle.  The other half is being able to successfully use these connections to effectively earn a better job offer.

            Peter Weddle urged that the purpose of employment networking is to connect with contacts that help further careers.  The best e-networking happens when connecting with people who have the largest likelihood of allowing access to employment opportunities.  One cannot forget professional associations, college alumni organizations and even some third party organizations that may have connections with employers.  The key to making connections is reaching out to those who you may not have before, pushing the boundaries which will lead to new achievements.

            Joe Whyte blogged on the phenomenon of social networking sites opening doors to new job acquisition.  Websites like LinkedIn create new avenues to network with higher levels business around the world.  This message of connecting with those who will hire has caught on.  Membership to LinkedIn grew an astonishing 1,824.0%, between 2003 and 2004.  In 2006 LinkedIn grew to over 8.3 million users (Whyte, 2007).  This growth of the online job search market was not existent just a few years ago.  The fact that there is a new avenue to hunt for a job cannot be ignored.  Even basic social networking websites now have ads promoting employment opportunities.  Surprisingly though, LinkedIn is one of the more well know employment networking sites despite others having more users. Spoke which offers a similar service boasts 30,000,000 members from 900,000 companies (Whyte, 2007).

            LinkedIn allows for easy access to others connections on the website according to Etelka Lehoczky of The Boston Globe.  It uses software similar to purely social networking sites that make it easy to view connections others have made without effort.  Another networking program, Ryze offers similar results, “Imagine pulling up a list of contacts and seeing everyone they’re connected to and their connections, in an ever-expanding web” (Lehoczky, 2004).  “It’s a fantastic way to network with the movers and the shakers within high technology around the country” says Tom Wadlington in Lehoczky’s article.  Wadlington is a recruiting consultant who has used LinkedIn to connect with those in the technology field.  Employment networking websites rely on pyramid structures which are most beneficial to users when they network with those who are well connected, opening themselves to all of their new contact’s connections.

            Bruce comments on the impassable opportunity to contact recruiters in The Internet: The Indispensable Tool for Job Hunting.  There are also many job opportunities on the internet that are displayed for all to see and if you are not actively aware of these types of messages, then you are not making effective use of your time online.  Bruce expresses the importance of connecting with professional organizations, job coaches, and other helpful sites that are willing to assist in the search for a new place of employment (Bruce, 2004).  The fact of the matter is, the people who run job coaching sites know what companies are looking for and how to present yourself in the best manner to seem most appealing.

            Information sharing is also a key to expanding the base of which some build their connections.  There are many types of sharing on employment networking websites, contacts, information about companies’ as well as individual’s pasts just to name a few.

            The active participation Weddle talked about earlier is echoed here.  He believes information sharing should be done regularly.  Due to the lack of face to face contact created by use of the internet, trust can only be built by proving oneself through the information the supply.  The more information sharing that occurs, the more familiarity and trust builds between those who share (Weddle, 2007).  This sharing of information shows the solidarity among the job hunting community, the atmosphere is more laid back and enables users to achieve more in this relaxed environment.  The trust built in relationships, gives hope that people will not be taken by any number of scams who may attempt to take personal information.  Jeopardizing current employment and damaging reputations both can happen when putting potential employers with former business contacts (Weddle, 2007).  This is risky because the former contact has the power in that situation and in the job market; the only person who controls your destiny is you.

            Employment networking sites allow their members control who can view specific aspects of their information, according to Lehoczky.  Ryze offers its users three varying levels of accessibility, which allow for even the most well connected individuals to maintain privacy and prevent them from receiving large amount of “contact requests.”  Privacy is always a concern no matter the profession or situation.

            Bruce warns internet users to be cautious of what information is placed on the internet.  It is a public place where people from around the world can access everything that is place on websites.  Sometimes even the information on your computer and not on the internet can be accessed by experienced hackers.  Bruce also reminds his readers to be aware of whom they are forwarding emails to; one would not wish to send a carbon copy about a job opportunity to someone else who could potentially apply for the same position (Bruce, 2004).  Thoroughly read conditions when posting resumes on the internet, be sure that the locations to which the resume is posted is closed to the general public.  No matter what website one uses on the internet, there are “electronic footprints” left behind and though you may delete the account, there is a chance that your name may remain on the website long after you are gone.

            There is unlimited potential for growth in the employment networking field, especially on the internet.  Whyte told us that this culture rose to popularity within the past few years, but does not seem to be stopping any time soon (Whyte, 2007).  All generations have access to these websites and will find them more beneficial than any other type of job search engine.  Whyte goes as far as to say that the employment networking websites could destroy the standard job search.

            The internet has been continually growing since its creation.  Employment networking around the world reached 13 billion dollars in 2005, (Lehoczky, 2004).  Lehoczky also sites other sources who say there is plenty of room to grow for these services.  Constantly being on the cutting edge of technology, the internet will only offer better and faster ways to connect its users in the future and the users will demand the implementation of the new technology.  The internet itself is nothing short of revolutionary (Lehoczky, 2004).

            Bruce also emphasizes the capabilities for future growth on employment networking websites.  These websites are popular amongst recruiters and the ability to leave new job postings online for long periods of time will prove to be more logically and financially effective (Bruce, 2004).  It is more cost effective to place an ad on a website where the amount of potential viewers is limitless, compared to placing an ad in a news paper that only services a particular demographic and geographic area.  The convenience of the internet will continue to be utilized as time progresses.

            There are many paths future employment networking can take.  There is the potential for companies making partnerships with employment websites, possibly making the websites extensions of the companies’ human resources departments.  It is also becoming more likely that the user profiles will become more of an extension of the physical user.  Enabling the users to personalize the settings and possibly include videos on the pages.  There is also the idea that social networking websites will potentially move into the employment networking market, however the movement towards this has been slow and does not appear to be at the top of the list for those who operate social networking websites.

            As long as there is a need for jobs, there will be employment networking and the internet has brought a sense of ease to the job search process.  Employment networking websites have changed the atmosphere from a cutthroat, an every man for themselves environment, into a comfortable location where its users feel safe sharing information that they have learned and assisting others in the job hunt. 

References

Bruce, C. (2004). The Internet: the indispensable tool for job hunting. The Black Collegian Online.  Retrieved January 28, 2008, from

http://www.black-collegian.com/career/indispensable2004-2nd.shtml

 

Lehoczky, E. (2004, January 18). Business networking gets a boost from the Internet. The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from http://www.boston.com/jobs/globe/articles/011804_network.html

 

Rodriguez, J. (2007, July 25). Sean Kingston is glad he got dissed by Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz on MySpace. MTV News. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1565520/20070725/kingston_sean.jhtml

 

Weddle, P. D. Will social networking get you a job? Yahoo! HotJobs. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/networking/Will_Social_Networking_Get_You_a_Job__20060911-082016.html?subtopic=Networking+Tips

 

Whyte, J. (2007, May 1). Rapid growth in social networking sites means new jobs acquisition avenues [Msg 1]. Message posted to http://www.searchmarketingstandard.com/blog/2007/05/rapid-growth-in-social-networking-sites-means-new-job-acquisition-avenues.html

Content Analysis Draft

Exploring the Internet Job Hunt

 

            The days of reading the classifieds over breakfast and circling those ads which draw your interest are now in the past.  What would have previously taken weeks to research companies and schedule interviews, one can now digitally submit his/her resume and begin to create a connection with the company.  Since social networks have joined in the job search process, they have seen substantial growth and only look to move ahead in the future.  Social networks on the internet have enabled old friends to catch up on the times that have passed and new friendships to be formed over common interests.  These intimate relationships are exactly what the job networking websites express as are the way to network.

            Social networking is one of the most primitive behaviors human beings possess.  It is found every time you meet a person through a mutual friend or find that you and another person have many friends in common.  Social networking sites on the internet allow their members to see everyone who use the same website, and some even show “friends in common,” like Facebook.

            The term “Employment networking,” introduced by Peter Weddle, is a revised form of social networking.  Weddle gives three major differences between social and employment networking; purpose, manner, and location.  The purpose of the employment networking sites is to get a job, pure and simple.  These websites provide ample amounts of interaction and opportunities to build relationships, but Weddle emphasizes that its users not get distracted from their goal.  It may be fun meeting new people with common interests but it is unlikely you will get hired.  Employment networking on the internet is still extremely professional because coworkers, colleagues, current and former bosses and even recruiters can be found on these websites.  Weddle also points out, “Employment networking requires active participation, and the quality of your effort determines the return you get from your investment online.”  The person who sits at home watching television has far less of a chance at landing a job than the person who is actually interviewing at multiple places of employment.  The more actively you pursue a job or to make the connections and grow relationships, the better chances you have to receive an offer.  Finally the location is obviously different, the atmosphere and tone are very professional on employment networking websites.

            Websites like LinkedIn, connect people from all fields and aspects of business.  The website’s cofounder Konstantin Guericke says “Some people might not mention that they’re open to other opportunities, but that doesn’t keep them from making professional contacts.”  Making these contacts is required for success on these types of websites.  Like many social networking websites, on employment networking sites users can do the same, selecting what information can be viewed by strangers, and protecting their lists of contacts.  As in the physical world, it takes time to build relationships online.  Making contacts with the right people can open doors that would have previously been hidden.  Though online networking provides capabilities of connecting with business people around the world, it has yet to replace the old fashioned shaking hands form of networking.

            MySpace, a website usually know for its social networking capabilities, has also opened doors for artists into the music industry.  Sean Kingston, a rapper born in Miami Florida, but raised in Kingston, Jamaica.  Born Kisean Anderson, after moving to Jamaica at the age of six, Anderson made his stage name Sean Kingston in honor of his Jamaican home.  Kingston used MySpace to expose his music to the world.  MySpace’s networking capabilities allowed Kingston to message the pages of well known producers, Dr. Dre, Swizz Beats, Polow Da Don, and J.R. Rotem.  Knowing these producers likely receive thousands of messages a day, Kingston sent multiple messages a day to each, but only Rotem responded.  Over the span of a few months, Kingston made his way to Rotem’s studio where he signed to Rotem’s label.  Kingston’s musical success can directly be linked to the social networking of MySpace.

            Making job contacts is a vital part of developing and furthering ones career.  Many connections are easily made and sometimes made without recognition.  Making connects is only half of the battle, the other half is being able to successfully use these connections to effectively earn a better job offer.

            Peter Weddle urged that the purpose of employment networking is to connect with contacts that help further careers.  The best e-networking happens when connecting with people who have the largest likely hood of allowing access to employment opportunities.  One cannot forget professional associations, college alumni organizations and even some third party organizations that may have connections with employers.  The key to making connections is reaching out to those who you may not have before, pushing the boundaries which will lead to new achievements.

            Joe Whyte blogged on the phenomenon of social networking sites opening doors to new job acquisition.  Websites like LinkedIn create new avenues to network with higher levels business around the world.  This message of connecting with those who will hire has caught on.  Membership to LinkedIn grew an astonishing 1,824.0%, between 2003 and 2004.  In 2006 LinkedIn grew to over 8.3 million users (Whyte).  This growth of the online job search market was not existent just a few years ago.  The fact that there is a new avenue to hunt for a job cannot be ignored.  Even basic social networking websites now have ads promoting employment opportunities.  Surprising though LinkedIn is one of the more well know employment networking sites, Spoke which offers a similar service boasts 30,000,000 members from 900,000 companies (Whyte).

            LinkedIn allows for easy access to others connections on the website according to Etelka Lehoczky of The Boston Globe.  It uses software similar to purely social networking sites that make it easy to view connections others have made without effort.  Another networking program, Ryze offers similar results, “Imagine pulling up a list of contacts and seeing everyone they’re connected to and their connections, in an ever-expanding web”(Lehoczky).  Tom Wadlington, a recruiting consultant has used LinkedIn to connect with those in the technology field, “It’s a fantastic way to network with the movers and the shakers within high technology around the country.”  Employment networking websites rely on pyramid structures which are most beneficial to users when they network with those who are well connected, opening themselves to all of their new contact’s connections.

            Calvin Bruce comments on the impassable opportunity to contact recruiters in The Internet: The Indispensable Tool for Job Hunting.  There are also many job opportunities on the internet that are displayed for al to see and if you are not actively aware of these types of messages, then you are not making effective use of your time online.  Bruce expresses the importance of connecting with professional organizations, job coaches, and other helpful sites that are willing to assist in the search for a new place of employment.  The fact of the matter is, the people who run job coaching sites know what companies are looking for and how to present yourself in the best manner to seem most appealing.

            Information sharing is also a key to expanding the base of which some build their connections.  There are many types of sharing on employment networking websites, contacts, information about companies’ pasts and individual’s pasts just to name a few.  The active participation Waddle talked about earlier is echoed here, he believes information sharing should be done regularly.  Due to the lack of face to face contact created by use of the internet, trust can only be built by proving oneself through the information the supply.  The more information sharing that occurs, the more familiarity and trust builds between those who share.  Without this trust, people could be taken by any number of scams who may attempt to take personal information.  Jeopardizing current employment and damaging reputations both can happen when putting potential employers with former business contacts.  This is risky because the former contact has the power in that situation and in the job market; the only person who controls your destiny is you.

            Employment networking sites allow their members control who can view specific aspects of their information, according to Lehoczky.  Ryze offers its users three varying levels of accessibility, which allow for even the most well connected individuals to maintain privacy and prevent them from receiving large amount of “contact requests.”  Privacy is always a concern no matter the profession or situation.

            Calvin Bruce warns internet users to be cautious of what information is placed on the internet.  It is a public place where people from around the world can access everything that is place on websites.  Sometimes even the information on your computer and not on the internet can be accessed by experienced hackers.  Bruce also reminds his readers to be aware of who they are forwarding emails to, one would not wish to send a carbon copy about a job opportunity to someone else who could potentially apply for the same position.  Thoroughly read conditions when posting resumes on the internet, be sure that the locations to which the resume is posted is closed to the general public.  No matter what website one uses on the internet, there are “electronic footprints” left behind and though you may delete the account, there is a chance that your name may remain on the website long after you are gone.

            There is unlimited potential for growth in the employment networking field, especially on the internet.  Joe Whyte told us that this culture rose to popularity within the past few years, but does not seem to be stopping any time soon.  All generations have access to these websites and will find them more beneficial than any other type of job search engine.  Whyte goes as far as to say that the employment networking websites could destroy the standard job search.

            The internet will only continue to grow and the employment networking websites are nothing short of revolutionary.  The job opportunities can be viewed by thousands who may not have heard of the opening before.  It is the cheapest and most effective way to inform the business community.

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            Social networking is one of the most primitive behaviors human beings possess.  It is found every time you meet a person through a mutual friend or find that you and another person have many friends in common.  Social networking sites on the internet allow their members to see everyone who use the same website, and some even show “friends in common,” like Facebook.

            The term “Employment networking,” introduced by Peter Weddle, is a revised form of social networking.  Weddle gives three major differences between social and employment networking; purpose, manor, and location.  The purpose of the employment networking sites is to get a job, pure and simple.  These websites provide ample amounts of interaction and opportunities to build relationships, but Weddle emphasizes that its users not get distracted from their goal.  It may be fun meeting new people with common interests but it is unlikely you will get hired.  Employment networking on the internet is still extremely professional because coworkers, colleagues, current and former bosses and even recruiters can be found on these websites.  Weddle also points out, “Employment networking requires active participation, and the quality of your effort determines the return you get from your investment online.”  The person who sits at home watching television has far less of a chance at landing a job than the person who is actually interviewing at multiple places of employment.  The more actively you pursue a job or to make the connections and grow relationships, the better chances you have to receive an offer.  Finally the location is obviously different, the atmosphere and tone are very professional on employment networking websites.

            Websites like LinkedIn, connect people from all fields and aspects of business.  The website’s cofounder Konstantin Guericke says “Some people might not mention that they’re open to other opportunities, but that doesn’t keep them from making professional contacts.”  Making these contacts is required for success on these types of websites.