5 Under-The-Radar Resources Every Job Seeker Should Use
Because you’re reading this article, we know you’re already more informed than most people about your career and job search options. So we’re certainly not going to rehash the importance of having your social media profile up-to-date on LinkedIn or why a job aggregator like Indeed is a great way to cast a wide net -- or why you should do your research by using employee review sites like ours.
While you should definitely be taking advantage of the mainstream tools that most job-seekers use, here are 5 lesser known resources that should be on every job seeker’s radar screen:
1. Your alumni career services center
If you haven’t thought about your college alumni’s career services center since, well, college, it’s time to think again. Many companies post jobs with local career services centers trying to find experienced alumni as well as those who have recently graduated from university. These jobs may come with a personal email address or filter into someone’s email Inbox rather than go into a large and anonymous applicant tracking system.
If you haven’t thought about your college alumni’s career services center since, well, college, it’s time to think again. Many companies post jobs with local career services centers trying to find experienced alumni as well as those who have recently graduated from university. These jobs may come with a personal email address or filter into someone’s email Inbox rather than go into a large and anonymous applicant tracking system.
2. Your industry association
Whether you work in the creative design field or in finance, chances are there’s an industry association that offers member events, educational programming and networking opportunities. Some industry associations even just list jobs on behalf of companies that are corporate members. This is a great way to get to know people who will help coax your job application into the inside track.
Whether you work in the creative design field or in finance, chances are there’s an industry association that offers member events, educational programming and networking opportunities. Some industry associations even just list jobs on behalf of companies that are corporate members. This is a great way to get to know people who will help coax your job application into the inside track.
3. Industry rags
Reading up on the happenings in your industry helps you not only see opportunities (is a company you like opening a new office in your city? Or expanding into a new area?) but also sound smart when you actually do land an interview.
Keeping up to date through industry publications -- which are increasingly digital, have social media handles, and are free to follow -- is an important part of every job-seeker’s toolkit. Many industry publications have niche and tightly focused job postings as well.
Reading up on the happenings in your industry helps you not only see opportunities (is a company you like opening a new office in your city? Or expanding into a new area?) but also sound smart when you actually do land an interview.
Keeping up to date through industry publications -- which are increasingly digital, have social media handles, and are free to follow -- is an important part of every job-seeker’s toolkit. Many industry publications have niche and tightly focused job postings as well.
4. Facebook groups.
That’s right. Facebook groups aren’t just for separating out your “high school friends” from your “mom friends” anymore. Increasingly, professional organizations are forming invite-only groups. Think product managers getting together or growth-hackers joining in to share best-practices. These Facebook groups are filled with people doing similar things to you -- which means building relationships here and letting people know you’re in the market for a job.
5. Passive candidate sites (or their equivalent)
If you’re the kind of job-seeker who doesn’t have the time or inclination to apply to a lot of positions, make sure you’ve uploaded your resume to places where resumes are invited and recruiters will be sifting through them. These include the standard job recruiting site behemoths (Monster, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc) but also newer options like Hired or Simply Hired which allow you to post your requirements without giving away your identity.
New sites like these crop up every day, so do an internet search for “passive job seeker” and you’re bound to stumble across a variety of new companies worth a shot.
While you’re probably already using the most popular tools for job-seekers, this list will help give you a leg up on people who are only using them. Exploring beyond just the well-known online resources can really pay off, so go ahead and start already!
While you’re probably already using the most popular tools for job-seekers, this list will help give you a leg up on people who are only using them. Exploring beyond just the well-known online resources can really pay off, so go ahead and start already!
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