What to Look for When Scouring Job Postings Online

There are thousands of job postings online. For some companies, applying is as simple as a click of a button. For others, answering a slew of seemingly pointless questions is a necessary first-round step.

For the easy jobs, it is almost guaranteed that hundreds, if not thousands, of job seekers apply regardless of their qualifications, making it easy for qualified candidates to get lost in the mix.

The longer applications may weed out less interested candidates, but the time it takes to complete the multitude of questions still does not guarantee a response.

Because of these challenges faced by job seekers every day, it is important to know what to look for in order to make the most use of your time and to stand out from the crowd.

A great place to start your search is with the help of an employment specialist, especially when it’s a free service. But, no matter where you seek assistance, the following are important things to keep an eye out for when looking for your next job.

Carefully Read the Job Posting

The first mistake many job seekers make is not thoroughly reading through the job posting to decide if it’s a good match before taking the time to submit an application. 

When you find an interesting job post, read it with care. Each posting will have a few basic parts:

1) Company name and job title

2) Job description, which may include a job number

3) List of responsibilities; the specific tasks you would be expected to perform

4) A list of requirements or qualifications; often education, skill level, and specific experience the job candidate should have

5) Link to apply online, which may require you to set up an account with a username and password

Other items that may be included are a contact name and email, salary range, additional compensation benefits, date job was first posted, and date the job post will be taken down.

While some do find success applying to as many jobs as possible, reading each aspect of the post may lead you to realize that this isn’t a job you want to take, so don’t waste your time—or another’s time—by applying to something you don’t want.

Additionally, keep in mind that some job postings are fake or looking to take advantage of applicants. If the above information is not listed, delve into the company more before sharing your personal information.

Steer Clear of Scams

As briefly touched on, scammers advertise jobs on many of the same online forums as legitimate companies. To ensure you’re not wasting your time or sharing your personal information with someone you shouldn’t trust, look out for the following:

●     You need to pay to get the job. The post may say a job is available now or guarantee you a place in the company if you pay a fee for a specific certification, training materials, or the like. Unfortunately, even if you pay, the job will not likely materialize as legitimate employers and recruiters will not ask you to pay for the promise of a job.

●     You need to supply your credit card or bank account information. This may seem obvious, but scammers have a way of sounding very promising. No matter what is offered, do not give out this information. It will likely not end well for you.

●     The ad is for "previously undisclosed" federal government jobs. Information about available federal jobs is free and available to all. Federal positions are announced to the public on usajobs.gov. Don’t believe anyone who promises you a federal or postal job unless you personally see it on this website.

●     It sounds too good to be true. Make $10,000 sitting at home in your pajamas. No experience needed, but six figures guaranteed. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.

If you are searching on reliable job boards most positions offered will be legitimate, but use caution as you move ahead in your search and if it seems strange, it probably is.

Use Job Boards to Find Jobs, Then Take it One Step Farther

It's often a losing proposition to send your resume through one of the big job boards, like CareerBuilder, Indeed, or Monster. They can be a black hole—your resume is swallowed up and never seen again. While a very small percentage of people actually get hired this way, what these boards can do is give you a sense of who's hiring and what positions are open.

The job board on a company's website is also worth a visit. But here, too, listings can be deceptive. The plan may be to fill the job in-house, but the employer is meeting the letter of the law by posting it on a public forum. Or the organization may be posting it to build a pool of candidates for a future opening. Whatever the case, it's still a great way to get a read on what qualifications are needed for a particular position.

Instead of submitting endless resumes on forums, find the jobs that are the most appealing, apply to them through the job board, then use the company’s website, or LinkedIn to find out who the hiring manager is and email that person directly.

This will take some extra digging and time, but if the job seems like a perfect match, going that extra step will show the hiring manager that you did your homework and will give you an edge up on other applicants. It could be the difference between getting a call back or not.

Use Technology

With so many job boards out there, it is hard to stay on top of the newest available positions. Using technology can help with this seemingly impossible task.

Stay on top of your job search by signing up for job alerts. On most job boards, you can register to receive emails alerting you to new postings that meet your criteria, such as location or keyword. Most also allow you to select frequency, such as daily or weekly. Note that email alerts from niche job sites are likely to be even more narrowly tailored to your expertise.

Also consider signing up for RSS feeds. RSS is short for really simple syndication, which is an automated electronic information-sharing system that allows you to receive content in an easy-to-read format. You can sign up for RSS feeds for postings from many job boards.

Another great way to use technology to help weed out jobs that are not a good fit is to use filters. Many job boards offer this tool to help users refine their search results. Filters are common search categories with subcategories showing the number of job postings in each. Using them may save you the step of selecting search categories one at a time without knowing the likelihood of bearing fruit.

On most job boards, filters are located on the left of the results page and include options such as industry, location, and job duration. For example, at Simply Hired, you can filter for dog-friendly, gay-friendly, eco-friendly, and socially responsible employers, among others.

Job searching is a challenge, but knowing what to look for and how to turn attractive job postings into possible interviews is critical to making the most use of your time. If you have any questions about this process or desire additional job search assistance, connect with an employment specialist in your area.