Job Search: Online Job Boards vs Print Classified Ads
I think it’s safe to assume that the majority of people starting a job search today will immediately think of the Internet and the countless online job boards that are out there. Or perhaps they’ll go to the online version of their local newspaper, whose career section is probably powered by a major job portal anyway. So basically, if you’re searching online, you’re grabbing many of the same results, unless of course you’re using a free job board, in which instance, you could be getting a little bit of everything and a broader view of the employment landscape. But what are you missing when you bypass some of the local newspapers in your area? Could there be a gem of a job hiding in the back pages of your local Penny Saver or the Anytown Times or whatever the case may be. Maybe a job posted by someone from an earlier generation who doesn’t really bother with the “Internet”…
I’m not sure, but I still see people looking for jobs in newspapers more often than I expected (after I thought to look for it). If you’re thinking of applying for marketing jobs in Phoenix, Arizona, wouldn’t it be worth your time to pick up one of the smaller local rags and see what’s hiding in the back pages? I see a few advantages to that approach:
1) You will likely have to call someone to get more information about where to send your resume and possibly to get more information about the job itself. This may be an opportunity to make a favorable initial impression on a decision-maker.
2) If in fact the job is only posted in the small local newspaper (with no online presence), then you’re probably going to be one of only a handful of applicants, making your chances of getting the job that much greater.
3) Sometimes these types of jobs are the most interesting ones around. They might be offering something a little less homogenized, perhaps with a little more soul and opportunity for fulfillment.
Overall, you’d likely be wrong not to start your job search online. There are just more jobs to be seen and applications are easier to submit, etc. It’s just an easier process, and one that you can manage on your own time at almost any hour of the day or night. But my personal belief is that taking the time to dig around any newspaper (or job listing source) that does not have a readily available online presence is a great idea. You never know what you might find.
Article by, Mick and courtesy of Insourced blog
