Bored with Job Boards – How to Find the Best

“Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” – James Dean

So how many job search boards do you think there are? 50? 200? Thousands? This is, of course a rhetorical question because I’m not sure that anyone knows the answer (but I am willing to be proved wrong). It is safe to say that there are way too many and that the number is well north of 100 but (hopefully), falls short of 1,000. Like so many things on the Internet, many job search boards are a waste of time. Many of old information or wrong information. But the good news is that there are many really good job search boards. The challenge is to both, access only the best sites and to ensure you balance your time with other job search methods.

So what, exactly, qualifies as a Job Search Board? According to Wikipedia, the definition is “A job board is a website that facilitates job hunting and range from large scale generalist sites to niche job boards for job categories . . . Users can typically deposit their résumés and submit them to potential employers, while employers can post job ads and search for potential employees.”

The good news is that you don’t need to search through hundreds of job search sites to find the best ones. Many have done that for us already and, it is fairly safe to bet, that those sites that consistently show up on the “best” lists are probably the best sites to leverage. We all have our personal favorites, and you will need to select those sites that work the best for you. In this case, “less is more” and you should limit the number of sites you regularly use to no more than 5. This will allow you to balance your time with other job search methods.

The Best Job Search Boards:

• Top 100 job search websites and categories – The folks at Internetinc.com have done an amazing amount of research to list the top 100 job search website by job category. Please read the introduction before jumping to the job search sites as it provides important background information.

• Job Board Reviews – Another comprehensive job search board review site, this one is provided by jobboardreviews.com. The main page offers a search box (to find sites) and an alpha listing. Boards are also categorized by functional areas (both industry and types). The home page also includes the newest boards and most popular boards.

• Best Sites for Jobs – This review is provided by Alison Doyle of About.com and provides a brief review of 7 well known job search sites. Additional information is available for each of the sites (just click more information).

Other Things to Consider: Okay, you are looking for a job and leveraging job search sites, but what about . . .

• Protect your Back – If you are already out of work, read no further, but if you are looking for a job while you have one you need to ensure you keep your job search confidential. The last thing you want if for your name to come up with your employer as “looking for a job”. There are a number of ways to do this. Following are some links for your review.

• Stealth Job Hunting
• The Job Search and Confidentiality [INFOGRAPHIC]
• My Secret Job Search – Tips on Keeping Your Job Search Secret

• Confidential Resumes – Don’t slip up by keeping your postings confidential but then posting a resume that bares all.

• Keeping Your Resume Confidential

• Blind Ads – If you are keeping your search confidential, you cannot apply to ads that do not specify the company (blind ads). For all you know you could be applying to your own company. Similarly, ensure that any and all recruiters do not sent your resume without your approval

Good luck in your search.

By: CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.