By: Corey Rozon
Using the internet to find a local job or even a job overseas is quite simple. You can even look for executive recruiters or head hunters to help you with your search. All you really need to do is visit a job board that caters to what you are looking for. If you are looking to become a Chef in Toronto, then search for a job board that specializes in the hospitality sector, if your dream is to move to Ireland, then look for an Irish jobs board.
It sounds easy doesn’t it? Well remember using the Internet alone to conduct an effective job search is almost an unrealistic expectation. You still will need to apply, attend the interview and acquire documentation that is required to work overseas. All of which will require research on your part.
Research on a potential employer is still a critical part of any successful job search. Jobseekers should make it their priority to learn as much as possible about potential employers and the industry they represent. Here are four tips that will help you along the way:
1) Remain Focused
Stay focused on your research goal and if you stumble across an interesting unrelated website, bookmark it and come back to it later. If not, before you know it you've lost track of what you wanted to accomplish, and have spent the last hour watching funny videos.
2) Develop a Research Strategy
Develop a plan before you begin looking for information by deciding in advance how much time you are willing to invest researching a particular topic. Your topic will influence where to look on the Internet, whether it’s searching newsgroups, blogs or company websites. Knowing roughly where your information might be found will assist you in developing your plan.
3) Set Realistic Goals
Goals will ensure you stay on track and should be specific, such as ‘spending 2 hours a day researching employers who are looking for advertising sales agents’ as opposed to the goal being ‘searching for a job on the internet today’.
4) Keep Records
As you research potential employers you mill collect a lot of information. By organizing the information you want to keep and discarding that which has little or no immediate value, you will be better prepared when it comes time to responding to emails from employers that you are interested in.
Finding a job online is the easy part. Making sure you are the right fit for a company that is looking to fill a position, will take more effort on your part. Remember to keep good records of potential employers, remain focused during your search, set realistic goals, and develop a plan to help you obtain those goals. If you become overwhelmed with the amount of information available, there are also plenty of head hunters and executive recruiters that will assist you in matching your skills with those of a company that is looking to fill a vacancy
