5 Places To Look For Jobs, and 3 Places To Stay Away From
When I first exited college I had no clue how to apply to jobs. I didn’t know where all of the hotspots scattered across the internet were, but after a year and a half of applying, I eventually found the key.
The key is really just a collection of resources I’ve had success with; some of them might surprise you, too!
There’s also a few I want to caution you away from, but first we’ll go over the winners.
Indeed
My favorite internet job board, Indeed allows you to upload your resume and easily apply to jobs within a matter of seconds. You can also search in specific locations while saving those searches so you can see any new job postings. It’s really my go-to. Monster can take a hike.
Craigslist
It gets a bad rap, but Craigslist actually gives me the highest percentage of responses. You just have to know what to look for. If a posting is in all caps and promises a fixed dollar amount per week, don’t go for it. I wish searching for different locations was less tedious, but you can strike gold on Craigslist if you look hard enough.
Upwork
I’ve written about the benefits of Upwork before, but if you’re really down on your luck, go here to find freelance opportunities in a variety of fields. You’ll get experience and money — it’s a win-win. Read this related article for more information.
LinkedIn does have a job board, but its real professional worth is in the profile. I’ve had a few people contact me via LinkedIn to talk about a job opportunity, so make sure to stay active on there and keep your “online resume” updated. Also, join a few groups to start posting and commenting. You never know who you could meet.
Social Media
When I say social media, I really mean Twitter. There’s a lot of fake profiles out there, but there’s a ton of real people who like to interact with people. If it makes you feel better, I’ve made a few friends whom I’ve never met on Twitter. It’s possible to make a real connection with people, so my advice would be to research the place you want to work, figure out who works there, and try to naturally reach out to them to spark a conversation! You never know what could happen.
Okay, these are some good places to start. There’s already a wealth of opportunity in each, but what about some places you should stay away from?
ZipRecruiter
My experience with ZipRecruiter hasn’t been a good one. It’s easy to apply to jobs and it feels like you’re doing a lot, but the problem is I’ve never gotten a response from anyone on there. I just think it’s better to personalize an application and cover letter, that’s all.
Staffing Agencies
Staffing agencies make you feel good in the moment, because someone is interested in you, but I’ve never actually gotten a job through one. The agents are nice and all, but it’s their job to look around at as many prospects as possible. It’s just a waste of time because you’re never in direct contact with a company, just the staffing agency. Stay away from them.
Career Builder
Career Builder might be cool to start, but I’ve gotten so much spam in my inbox because of them it’s not even funny. I don’t want to be an insurance agent!
This is what’s worked for me. I could be wrong about staffing agencies, Career Builder, and Zip Recruiter, but all I can do is just share my experience.
Want to know a couple other places to find work, along with my strategies for landing any job you want on Upwork? Download my ebook below to find out!
