Tips for Searching for IT Jobs Online

Searching for a new job can seem like a daunting task and these days it seems the only way to do so is by filling out an online form on a job search website. If you’re just graduating college, most IT programs have some sort of process in place so that you can get your resume into the hands of prospective employers.

However, after that ship has sailed, you’re on your own. There’s always Monster.com and LinkedIn, but these sites are so big that it’s easy for your resume to get lost in the shuffle and left out of searches. Let’s take a look at some of the online IT job search sites and some methods you can use to make your resume stand out.

Tip 1: Find the Right IT Job Search Sites

The easiest way to find IT specific job sites is to use technology. For example, begin with a Google search for “IT Job Search” and it will return about a hundred job search websites such as indeed.com, computerjobs.com, techcareers.com, itbusinessedge.com, ziprecruiter.com, and so on. Some of these sites are more specialized than others and are explicitly geared toward programming jobs or IT security positions. Do some preliminary searches to see what types of jobs come up to determine if the site is a good fit for the career you’re interested in.

Tip 2: Optimize Your IT Job Search

After you’ve found two or three qualified job sites and have searched for the job that you’re most interested in, nail down several different possibilities. If the listing has contact info, you can research the contact person on LinkedIn or other professional sites to review their background or reach out to them directly. You can find a hook and customize your resume so that it will pique their interest and allow you to stand out from the competition. This can help you get your foot in the door or at least win you a phone interview.

You can also set up a candidate profile on most sites that will let employers know more about you and the type of position you’re looking for. Subscribe to alerts, job RSS feeds, and use saved filters to easily identify new positions as they become available.

Tip 3: Recognize Different Types of IT Jobs

There are several different general categories of IT jobs including software, hardware, web/cloud, security, and networking to name a few. There are also specific levels and titles included in each area, and sometimes different titles actually mean the same thing. For example, a Programmer and a Developer are typically synonymous. Sometimes you might also be labeled as a Programmer Analyst. This means you’re a Programmer, but you will probably have to also do most of your own analysis on projects because the company doesn’t employ just ‘Analysts’.

Additionally, different levels of the same job can be named differently in different companies. In one company you might be a Senior Programmer or Developer, but at another company you might hold the rank of Software Engineer – which may or may not be the exact same position.

Tip 4: Make Your Resume Stand Out

After you figure out what positions you’re interested in and which sites you want to use to search for them, then it’s time to post your resume. The goal is to make your resume as searchable as possible and maximize your exposure to potential hiring managers. The best way to do this is to include keywords that will stand out to the crawler that will be sifting through the resumes when employers run a search. You can easily Google what keywords to include in your resume to help it stand out for specific positions.

You will also want to include all of your employment experience, achievements, and any certifications that you’ve obtained over the years. Certifications will help you stand out from other applicants by letting prospective employers know that you have the ambition and drive to work harder than the rest of the pack and that you’re ready to further your career while being an asset to their company.

Tip 5: Get Certified

If you don’t have any certifications to list, then there is no better way to get one than by using an online training company such as ONLC. Contact us today to see how you can maximize the effectiveness of your resume with a multitude of training and certification classes.