How can I use the internet to search for jobs in Alberta?

Categories: Job Hunting 

The internet can be a useful and efficient way to search for a job in Alberta, but it should never be the only method you use in your job search.

The job market in Alberta heavily favours workers, so employers should work to attract you. Most job hunting websites make their money by charging employers to advertise a job. You should never pay a job hunting website to submit your resume, unless you are submitting your resume to a job hunting website in a very niche field.

There are several major job hunting websites in Canada. Monster and Workopolis are two of the major ones. Almost all job hunting websites work on the same basic principle. Employers pay to post and ad, and the job hunting website invites job seekers to submit resumes and application to the employer.

Most job hunting websites will ask you to complete a short profile, including your work history, education, skill level and other personal information. Most will also allow you to submit a resume and a sample cover letter that you can use to apply for jobs on the site.

There are some more basic job sites that work just like classifieds ads in a newspaper.

What’s good about job hunting online?

Job hunting online can be an efficient use of time, you can apply for jobs all over Alberta without ever leaving home. You’re not limited by geography or your ability to get around. You can apply to jobs from Lethbridge to Calgary to Fort McMurray.

Job hunting online lets you apply for more jobs more quickly than you would be able to in person or by using the newspaper. Searching for jobs online can also show you more opportunities in related fields, rather than just your niche skill.

Most major job hunting websites also provide tools to help you improve your resume so that you can increase your chances of success when applying for jobs.

What’s bad about job hunting online?

When employers use job hunting websites to recruit new workers there are a few downsides. Knowing these downsides can help you avoid having your application lost in the shuffle.

First, the major job hunting websites are often too general. Applications are often not specialized for the career field, or aren’t formatted im the way an employer needs.

Second, employers often receive far too many applications when they post jobs on a job hunting website. It is not uncommon for a single post to receive hundreds of applications - far too many for a single person to sort through.

It’s easy to avoid getting your resume lost in the shuffle if you keep the points above in mind. Always make sure that your application is tailored to the job you are applying for. Using the same cover letter and resume for every single job is not a good application strategy. It is best to be as specialized as possible.

Job hunting websites can’t be a substitute for other ways of searching for a great job. They can only help make your search more efficient. Above all: in a labour market like Alberta, job hunting websites should work for you, not the other way around.