Using the Job Portals

The internet has made looking for a job much easier as it allows job seekers the ability to quickly check job listings on a large scale.   From your local online paper to the massive job portals such as Monster and Hot Jobs, these online resources should play an important role in your job hunt. 

Keep in mind that each job portal is different - and to maximize your potential for success, be sure to get your resume set up on each site.  This will take you a few hours to do, but the results will be well worth the effort.

Monster
Reviews say Monster.com has over 1.1 million job listings and over 41 million resumes. In addition to seemingly endless job postings, it offers advice on resumes, interviewing and salary information. Its Privacy Plus feature blocks specified companies from viewing a user's resume, keeping it confidential from a current employer. Monster Networking hooks up people in the same industry to provide possible leads. Members of the network also give rated feedback on each other. Monster Learning is offered as a directory of online degree programs. Users can also subscribe to newsletters, read the site's blog or sign up for job alerts. However, while Monster.com has the widest scope, some complain that many of its listings are "junk" listings from headhunters and agencies. Competitor HotJobs lets you filter out those postings.

HotJobs
HotJobs.com ranks below Monster.com in sheer number of listings, but reviews say HotJobs has better features. Site users like the "status" feature by which you can see how many times your resume has been viewed (Monster now also has a similar feature). And if you think your current employer might find your online resume, HotJobs allows you to block certain companies from accessing your profile. You can browse by keyword, industry or state, and there are tools for resume writing, interviewing and networking. A user can also subscribe to any of eleven newsletters that cater to particular segments of the market, such as technology, government, sales, health care and college grads.

The Vault

The Vault is a different type of job portal in the sense that is allows you to search for information about empoyers - almost like a credit score type idea.  They have numerous features that you might find useful such as salary caculators, tests to determine the perfect job for you as well as career research, job seeking advice and sample cover letters you might want to check out. 

Career Builder
CareerBuilder.com pulls job listings from the pages of the Tribune, Knight Ridder and McClatchy newspaper conglomerates, so a search here might turn up something unique, especially if you are looking for work in a major metropolitan area served by one of these newspapers. Since experts say it pays to visit as many sites as you can, CareerBuilder is worth a visit.