Geek Girl Report: Help Wanted Goes High-Tec; Making The Most Out Of Online Job Hunting

Whether you're looking to start a new career, or just getting sick of the one you have now, everyone's going to have to look for a job eventually. And nowadays, most job hunters are taking their search to the Internet. From job searching giants like Monster and Career Builder to professional social networks like LinkedIn, the Internet is ripe with all sorts of helpful resources to help you land a job, if you know how to use them. Here's a couple of tips to help with your online job hunting.

Know where to look

When it comes to job hunting online, a good strategy is to start by thinking big, then narrowing down your search. As I mentioned before, job posting sites like Monster and CareerBulider are good places to start your job search, just because of the sheer number of postings they have available.

When you want to narrow your search, be sure and check our local recruiter sites that work in the field your searching for. These sites are particularly helpful in that they'll usually focus on a certain field, and have a recruit that can promote you on your behalf. Finally, check out the sites of the companies you want to work for. More often than not, they'll have their own internal job listings posted somewhere on the site.

Polish your resume

Never underestimate the power of a good resume, even in the digital age. They're so important, in fact, that I could write a whole other article on them alone. But I'll just keep it to a few quick suggestions. First, tailor your resume to the job you're searching for. Don't just blast your resume to every place that's hiring, take the time to really customize your application and resume to the company. And don't forget the cover letter! Sometimes, a well-written cover letter can stand out in a hiring manger's mind more than the actual resume.

Also, this should go without saying, but make sure your watch your spelling and grammar when you write your resume. Even if you're writing it just to post it online, auto correct can't fix everything, so be sure and double and triple check your resume before sending it off!

Follow up!

You know what they say, "Out of sight, out of mind." After sending your resume off, it's your responsibility to check back with the company if you don't hear back from them after a week or two. Don't worry about bothering them; following up with a resume shows the potential employer that you're serious about this job. (but don't be a pest and call every single day, either...) Remember, no matter how much you can get done through technology, nothing beats doing a little footwork and connecting with people yourself.