What resources do you use most for job search? If the answer is Indeed, or any other major online job search engine, then it probably won’t surprise you to learn that so is everyone else out there. Job search engines, which aggregate postings from company websites and all over the web, have their place as a tool. The real question is, do they work?
Indeed boasts a high number of hires, according to an “independent study” mentioned on their website, along with CareerBuilder, Monster, and SimplyHired. This study was done by SilkRoad Inc., which is financially partnered with all the job search sites just mentioned. That being said, the proof is in the pudding. If you have been using Indeed and are receiving invitations for interviews or had offers, then congratulations. But maybe, just maybe, you’ve sent out 30 resumes through online search engines over the course of a couple of months and had nothing but rejection. That’s not unusual.
On these giant sites that have millions of jobs, you’re also getting the maximum competition. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of fellow job seekers. You’re also up against Applicant Tracking Systems, an evil software system that ranks and eliminates candidates way before a human being sees an application, and ATS is now AI enhanced and getting more robust by the day. If you’re a recent post-secondary grad without a ton of experience (or any), you might be getting lost in the ether. Again, not saying that you should forego online job search entirely, but there are other baskets to put your eggs in.
Three things to do differently:
- You know I have to say it, so let’s get it over with: networking. If this is a new idea for you or you’ve heard of it before and shuddered, you may be picturing something terrible. A fluorescent conference room, business-casual zombies, and the dry-mouth anxiety of forced interaction. Networking is not isolated to the formal events that happen on or off campus, first of all. Networking is talking to your peers, family friends, and instructors and sharing experiences and information about your industry. It’s not that big of a leap to things like informational interviews and structured events. Are you definitely going to get a job by attending one single networking event? Probably not, but it’s a great place to get actual expert feedback, practice communicating your value, and make connections that you can leverage. Talk to your Career Specialist about how and where to network, or join the workshop.
- Step away from the search bar. Many people limit their search to a few familiar keywords: “marketing assistant”; “junior developer”, “civil technologist”. Increase your exposure to roles that are relevant to your skill set and education. Not all entry level jobs contain the words “junior” or “assistant”. Besides a job title, matching yourself to a role requires researching companies, qualifications, and job duties. Having the right basic skills or qualifications might put you in the running for a job. Being able to connect with the work the company does and their work culture and also express a thorough understanding of the job description in your application will get you selected for an interview.
- Niche job boards like Career Track attract employers who have a very specific target. Employers who post on these boards also have their jobs on Indeed, but what they really want is the target audience that board caters to. It’s a frequent expression that employers love BCIT students. The ones who really love BCIT students post jobs with the BCIT-specific job board, Career Track, and attend the career fairs, like the upcoming Industry Days Hiring Fair on May 2nd. Other niche job boards exist with professional associations, government sites like Career Launcher, and industry-specific sites (check with your Career Specialist).
Job search is somewhat of an art, and less a science. That is already starting to change due to machine learning, but in the mean time, experiment with these suggestions and let me know the results. If you’ve had a good, bad, or other experience using job search engines like Indeed, please comment below to share!
