10 Job Search Tools For Recent Grads
These mobile apps and sites give an edge to anyone entering the workforce or seeking a new job.
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The Class of 2013 is the most recent group to face the reality of today's job market. As they venture into the working world, these graduates are learning that unless they chose the perfect combination of majors or know precisely the right people, landing a job is tough.
Fortunately for them (and everyone struggling with unemployment), we are long past the days of paper resumes and mandatory in-person interviews. Applicants can use social media and virtual job boards to research positions, network with professionals and effectively market themselves. Employers customize digital applications, screen resumes for job-related keywords and interview candidates using phones and webcams.
Mobile technology plays a big role. From finding local professionals to preparing for interviews, apps can help with every stage of the hiring process. The competition for jobs is fierce, but those who know which tools to use can get ahead faster.
AfterCollege is a website designed to help recent college graduates find job openings based on their majors. It's particularly useful to those who chose their fields of study based on personal interest, without a particular career path in mind. "The problem that a lot of students have is they don't know what to search for," explained Roberto Angulo, CEO of AfterCollege, of the post-graduate job hunt.
Angulo was inspired to create the website 13 years ago as a Stanford undergraduate going through the job application process. He wanted to create a singular place where students could go to find job openings that were relevant to them based on their selected major/s.
Users of the site don't have to worry about entering particular keywords or skills, which other job boards require. They simply enter their university, major, and graduation year to receive a customized list of jobs that are relevant to them based on their field of study. "It's like Pandora for jobs," Angulo said, comparing it to the popular Internet radio website. Users will certainly find similarities between the two. Like Pandora, AfterCollege allows users to rate their job listings based on whether or not they liked the results.
It wasn't until 2011 that AfterCollege began to offer its current model. It features jobs from over 20,000 companies and partners with 16,000 academic programs nationwide to create a comprehensive selection of employment opportunities for job-seeking college students.
Whether you're looking for your first job or thinking about switching careers, many mobile tools will aid your search. These useful websites and apps will guide you.
Job hunters can use Indeed to access millions of employment opportunities from thousands of online job boards and company websites. Those who sign up for a free account create an Indeed resume and browse jobs according to keywords and location. While scrolling through open positions, users can save and email their favorites so they can go back later and apply. The site remembers users' most recent searches and updates the amount of new job postings with every visit. Indeed is also available as a mobile app entitled Job Search, which features the same functions as the website. Download the app here.
Background checks are becoming more common in the hiring process. EKnowID allows users to do background checks on themselves so they are aware of how they will appear to hiring managers. The company believes that such information should be available to individuals as well as corporations. U.S. background checks are completed within 72 hours and international checks take about 2 weeks.
JobCompass is available as a website and mobile app. It searches from millions of jobs according to location and plots them on a map, and according to iTunes, it is the only iPhone app to do so. Users can determine the geographical proximity of positions before emailing, saving or applying to them.
There are job boards for the indecisive, and there are job boards for those who know what they want to do. Industry-specific websites such as JournalismJobs, WorkInSports, EducationAmerica, GovernmentJobs, HealthCareerWeb and TechCareers simplify the job search for those who have narrowed down their interests. Each limits its job postings to positions in a particular industry.
Users who create a free account on Bright fill out a personal profile and can search jobs according to keyword and location. The resulting jobs are accompanied by a "bright score," which indicates how well-suited you are for each position based on the details of your profile. A higher score indicates that you would be a good fit, while a lower score suggests that the position isn't the best match.
Pocket Resume allows users to create and email resumes from their iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry or Android devices (the website contains links to download the app from various carriers). The app saves users the trouble of formatting their resumes, allows on-the-go edits and exports a resume as a PDF or RTF file. The app costs $2.99.
Many job seekers (recent grads, I'm looking at you) are unsure which industry is best for them. IPQ Career Planner is an iPhone app that helps narrow down the search with a personality and skills assessment. The app analyzes those results and uses them to recommend appropriate jobs. It also offers career advice.
Most job boards post only positions that have been submitted by partnering companies. LinkUp, a website and iPhone/iPad app, features jobs directly from more than 35,000 company websites. This drives job seekers straight to employers' websites, where they can apply to positions that may not be placed on popular job boards.
After endless research and applications, receiving an offer for a job interview is thrilling – and stressful. The Job Interview Questions Prep app helps applicants adequately prepare for interviews and gain confidence in their responses. Users view 1-2 minute videos of commonly asked interview questions and hear ideal responses that will help them stand out from other candidates. The first five questions are free, but users are charged a fee to practice further.
After endless research and applications, receiving an offer for a job interview is thrilling – and stressful. The Job Interview Questions Prep app helps applicants adequately prepare for interviews and gain confidence in their responses. Users view 1-2 minute videos of commonly asked interview questions and hear ideal responses that will help them stand out from other candidates. The first five questions are free, but users are charged a fee to practice further.
The Class of 2013 is the most recent group to face the reality of today's job market. As they venture into the working world, these graduates are learning that unless they chose the perfect combination of majors or know precisely the right people, landing a job is tough.
Fortunately for them (and everyone struggling with unemployment), we are long past the days of paper resumes and mandatory in-person interviews. Applicants can use social media and virtual job boards to research positions, network with professionals and effectively market themselves. Employers customize digital applications, screen resumes for job-related keywords and interview candidates using phones and webcams.
Mobile technology plays a big role. From finding local professionals to preparing for interviews, apps can help with every stage of the hiring process. The competition for jobs is fierce, but those who know which tools to use can get ahead faster.
AfterCollege is a website designed to help recent college graduates find job openings based on their majors. It's particularly useful to those who chose their fields of study based on personal interest, without a particular career path in mind. "The problem that a lot of students have is they don't know what to search for," explained Roberto Angulo, CEO of AfterCollege, of the post-graduate job hunt.
Angulo was inspired to create the website 13 years ago as a Stanford undergraduate going through the job application process. He wanted to create a singular place where students could go to find job openings that were relevant to them based on their selected major/s.
Users of the site don't have to worry about entering particular keywords or skills, which other job boards require. They simply enter their university, major, and graduation year to receive a customized list of jobs that are relevant to them based on their field of study. "It's like Pandora for jobs," Angulo said, comparing it to the popular Internet radio website. Users will certainly find similarities between the two. Like Pandora, AfterCollege allows users to rate their job listings based on whether or not they liked the results.
It wasn't until 2011 that AfterCollege began to offer its current model. It features jobs from over 20,000 companies and partners with 16,000 academic programs nationwide to create a comprehensive selection of employment opportunities for job-seeking college students.
Whether you're looking for your first job or thinking about switching careers, many mobile tools will aid your search. These useful websites and apps will guide you.
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