21st century job search
| by Helen Perkins 01 Feb 2002 |
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The internet means it is now possible to find the perfect job without leaving your desk. Over the next few months, we will be focusing on all the vital aspects of finding and securing employment, with a particular emphasis on how new technologies are revolutionising the job market. This month, we look at how you can harness web resources, coupled with more traditional sources of vacancies, to help you find the ideal post. To make any job search as fruitful as possible, you first need to know what you are looking for. Job seekers tend to fall into two categories – those who have a firm idea of what their next career move might be and those who simply know that it’s time to move, either because they have outgrown their current position or need a fresh challenge. Whichever group you fall into, the internet can help speed up and refine your search. You’ll find details of any especially useful sites listed at the end of this article. The focused job searchIf you have a definite idea of the kind of position you are seeking, there are a number of web services from which you can benefit. Online job sites Many job sites also contain additional useful features, such as advice on CV writing, interview technique, salary surveys and even psychometric testing. Employer sites Most employer sites will contain a section devoted to career opportunities and vacancies. If you don’t have the website addresses of companies you are interested in, you will almost certainly be able to find them through a good search engine, such as google.com. An increasing number of larger organisations use the internet as a major means of recruitment and, as a result, the careers sections of many well-known sites are extremely comprehensive. Such is the appeal of the net that many leading UK recruiters, such as British Telecom and KPMG, are now conducting all of their graduate recruitment online. The principal advantages of online recruitment are speed and convenience. To facilitate web hiring, recruitment methodology is gradually changing to become more internet compatible. For example, KPMG has identified 16 key competencies it looks for in graduates and its online application tool asks candidates to rate themselves in relation to them. The result is a personal profile which can be automatically scored by computer. By adopting this approach, KPMG can respond to candidates within 24 hours and aims to cut the time taken to hire new graduates by 40%. While online applications can be completed quickly, it is important not to rush them and ensure you give them the same careful consideration as paper applications. It is also important to keep a hard copy of your application and ensure you supply the employer with an up-to-date e-mail address. The general job search Agencies Journals, magazines and newspapers Despite the popularity of the web, many employers still see advertising in professional journals as the best route to employing an accountant with the right skills. As a result, you’ll still find a wealth of opportunities advertised in student accountant and other professional journals. The quality national press continues to carry vacancies for particular occupations on certain days of the week. Most of the broadsheet press also have websites, many of which show all the vacancies placed with them. Again, entering the newspaper name in a good search engine should lead you to their site. Salary surveys The PASS magazine website carries a salary survey (see below). Agency sites will also tend to contain salary surveys for a variety of different countries and regions. Some useful websites
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