It used to be newspaper classifieds were all you really needed as far as finding available employment, but times have changed and the best place to start your search for employment will be online.

It used to be newspaper classifieds were all you really needed as far as finding available employment, but times have changed and the best place to start your search for employment will be online.

Utilizing online resources can really help expedite your search due to the sheer amount of information websites and other resources provide right at the swipe of a few keystrokes. Job sites, bulletin boards, forums, discussion groups and even more can provide you with job postings, advice, guides and more that can help you find an open position in the industry you’re geared for…or maybe just something to help you keep up with your bills for the time being.

Job Search Sites

There are several sites whose dedicated focus is to list jobs and that’s all. These sites typically have advanced search functions that let you tailor your search so you can look for jobs that match your salary requirements, skill set, industry and even distance from where you live, so you can determine if it’s within your commute radius. You can also post your resume online so that employers can browse what you have to offer and, with luck, you may be contacted by an interested party.   Especially valuable sites include Indeed.com & SimplyHired.com.

Craigslist

Without a doubt, Craigslist is the one site you can go to to find almost anything you’re looking for and that includes employment opportunities. There are multiple categories you can search for: from office jobs to creative work, to manual labor and much more. Craigslist also offers search filters so you can tailor your search to specific areas, salary ranges and more.

Newspaper Websites

Newspaper classifieds have gone digital and are still a good place to look for work. Many online newspaper sites offer links to their classified section that will often have a dedicated section for employment currently being offered by local businesses.

Company Websites

What industry interests you in particular? For a truly focused search, try entering the name of your chosen industry along with an area you’d like to work in. Chances are you’ll get several hits back listing the websites of businesses both large and small in your area. Most business websites will almost always have a section where they list employment & career opportunities.  Some even let you apply online.

Temporary Agencies

Temporary agencies can help you find the job you’re looking for, but with so many out there with a specific industry focus, how do you know which one will work best for you? By going online, you can research which one works best for you and which industry they target.  This will allow you to get a jump start by registering with them online, saving you time in a face to face interview. Some agencies will even list current assignments they are hiring qualified talent for.

Job Search and Career Advice Forums

Feeling lost? Lonely? Think you’re the only person looking for work online? Far from it! There are lots of people out there who have banded together to form online meeting groups and forums where individuals can discuss job leads, network, share hiring advice, interview tips, resume services, cover letter critiques and more. These online communities can not only share valuable information to help you in your search, but also boost your morale by letting you know there are others out there in your situation working just as hard for positive change.

Other Helpful Tips

Search filters are your friend! Learning how to use them properly can help you narrow your search down and cut down on time wasted sifting through jobs you may not be qualified for or simply don’t fall in line with your career ambitions. Most sites offer filter functions that, as we mentioned earlier, can narrow your search down to a specific industry, salary range, location and even commute time. Narrowing your search for what you really want will save you time, energy and resources in the long run.

How an employment advertisement is laid out  can often give you a clue if something is legitimate or bogus. Watch out for employment ads that sound too good to be true! Lots of catch phrases, exclamation points, capital letters and promises of thousands of dollars weekly are all red flags to watch.

Most employers will have you contact them via email first so they may examine your resume first and then contact you directly if they are interested. MOST ads that have a direct number for you to call and promise immediate interviews are suspect. Trust me, I have followed these types of leads before and found myself lured into “get rich quick” seminars or door to door sales positions peddling questionable air purifiers.

Utilize these online resources and tips and you’re sure to be more successful in your job search.

More and more, job seekers are taking the initiative to utilize web-based resources such as www.iamscreened.com to run personalized background checks on themselves prior to applying for positions of employment.

Many stories that you’ll hear of background check nightmares involve an error costing a prospective job candidate their chances at a dream job. But an error costing you your job once you’ve already settled in and started collecting a paycheck for your hard work? Is it possible?

Sadly enough, that’s exactly what the Baltimore Sun reported as happening to Eschol Amelia Studnitz who lost a $58K a year accounting job due to a background check discrepancy. Now unemployed, behind on mortgage payments and utility bills with still no resolution in sight for what should have been a quick fix, she wonders how this could have happened.

Studnitz was employed by Corporate Mail Services or “CMS” which had secured a mail handling contract with the Social Security Administration. Once employed, a standard background check screening returned “unsuitable.” Results that barred her from obtaining a level 1 security clearance required by all individuals working at the CMS Arbutus facility in Maryland.

Studnitzs’ shock was profound and the Sun quoted her as saying “I kept thinking, ‘What could I have done?’”

The Social Security Administration (SSA), within a week, realized it had made a mistake and contacted her  employer CMS. The SSA stated that their decision had been reversed and that Mrs. Studnitz would be cleared to work on a new mailing handling contract. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Citing issues regarding her work performance and handling of the reinstatement process, CMS declined to restore Amelias position. three months later she now finds herself unemployed, in debt and feeling completely betrayed by her former employer: “I’ve never been let go, for one thing. And to be let go with a callous attitude. I was a good employee. [CMS] just completely wrote me off like a bad seed. It was surreal.”

Amelia now finds herself with limited legal options, a poor job market with few available opportunities and an uncertain future and all because of a minor glitch in the system. It’s a terribly unfair situation…could it happen to you?

It might seem like a one in a million situation chance but with background screenings having become an integral part of the hiring process, the potential for minor errors costing qualified individuals their jobs may become more commonplace.

Now, before you panic, you need to know that terminations based on mistakes on a background are very rare but they can happen. No individual has to remain powerless in the face of potential complications such as what Amelia Studnitz had dealt with.

More and more, job seekers are taking the initiative to utilize web-based resources such as www.IAmScreened.com to run personalized background checks on themselves prior to applying for positions of employment. Receiving your very own advance background screening allows you to ensure your personal data is accurate, up to date and uncompromised. By having a check run, any errors and mistakes can be caught and corrected prior to the official screening process. It’s like sweeping a road free of nails before you drive your car down it. After all, who wants a flat tire when their destination is in sight?

Losing focus and concentration can happen to the best of us.

If you’ve ever clocked in at a job, you’ll know that everyone has at one time or another had trouble maintaining their focus on the task at hand. Well, maybe not everyone. I won’t deny there are a few hardy souls out there that lock themselves into work mode and stay that way throughout the day minus a break or two and lunch hour.

But then there are the rest of us. You’ve been working on that inventory in Excel for a good three hours and suddenly you hit the wall and despite your best efforts, each click of the mouse feels like a ninety pound bench press. Your eyes are going everywhere, BUT the screen. The internet is calling out to you like a beckoning siren. With each minute you’re spacing out more and more. It seems all is lost.

Well no, not really.

Losing focus and concentration can happen to the best of us. Even with the best intentions and dedication to a specific task, sometimes it seems difficult to stay on track. Often, it’s a combination of mind and body signaling that it’s time for a break or a change of focus in order to keep one stimulated, awake and aware of what needs to be done.

In these situations the best thing to do is take a step back and assess your situation.

What exactly is it that’s causing you to lose focus? It might be that you’ve been focused on a particular task for too long and your brain is feeling a little dulled. Maybe your body’s energy level needs a boost in the form of a beverage or snack.

Once you’ve taken account of how you’re feeling, see what kind of time or resources you have available to refresh yourself. Get up, stretch, step outside for a breath of fresh air, go sip some cool water, grab a snack from the break room, walk around and get a little blood flowing. A combination of these activities in just five minutes can revitalize your senses and get you back on track.

You might also just need to switch your tasks up. If you’ve made good headway on an assignment, but can’t bear to work on it anymore, put your multitasking skills to good use and switch over to something else for a while before coming back to your primary task at hand. New tasks equal new mental stimulation and will wake your brain up.

If being able to stay on track and remain focused on the task at hand eludes you, another simple method involves reminding yourself why you’re there doing and what you’re doing.  Maybe you’re saving up for a trip somewhere; you’re working hard to put a son or daughter through school; or your employment is helping you finish school. Reminding yourself of the goals you’re working towards can help you see past the immediate situation and the rewards you can expect if you just stick to your work and persevere.

And if all else fails, try speaking with your supervisor. More than likely they have been where you have at one point and they can offer you advice and guidance to stay on track. If it’s a question of the nature of your work, they might be able to offer you new tasks and responsibility to keep things fresh or change your daily schedule up so you can avoid a numbing routine.

Focus can be lost but it’s easily found again if you just know how by using some of the simple suggestions mentioned above.

If someone is checking on your references, it’s a good sign you’ve come a long way in the interview process and you’re being given serious consideration for the position you’ve always dreamed of (or at least will help you continue to make those car payments)

It’s important however that you choose your references carefully as their word and manner in which they are associated to you can alternately hurt or harm your chances.

First, the most obvious choice is people who will speak highly of you. Make sure you’re in good standing with the people you’ve tapped to put in a good word for you when your potential employer comes calling. Because of possible legal backlash, most professional adults will not outright badmouth a former employee but then, why would you want someone getting mediocre feedback about you? Go for people you have made good and lasting impressions on.

Second, know if someone is going to be contacted for a character or employment reference. You should save long time friends, friends of the family and family members for character references (which are more for gauging your moral quality as an individual) versus former supervisors, managers and co-workers for employment references who will provide someone with an idea of your moral character in addition to verifying your work performance, abilities, skill sets and other related information.

Third, make sure you and your references have all your information straight before they are contacted. Avoid the embarrassment of having to explain to the company you’re applying with why you said one thing but your reference said another. Take some time and contact a former employer, verify the information they have on file and make sure it matches what you’ve put down on your job application.  By ensuring this type of consistency, you strengthen your credibility immensely in the eyes of a potential employer. You’re someone whose word can be trusted.

Fourth, always make sure the reference you’re giving can be tied to the position you’re applying to. You wouldn’t use your summer job at the local burger joint as an employment reference for the design studio in downtown would you? Look for employment and personal references that have some sort of tie to the field you’re interested in. Even if you don’t have them then you can always emphasis and play up elements of past positions that can be tied to the one you’re applying for now. For example, maybe you redesigned a menu on your computer for your boss at the burger joint.