Cheap gas on the information highway

The unemployment rate in BC crept up slightly last month. Not quite the leaps and bounds as the price of gas however both will impact job search activities as well where a person chooses to work. Working closer to home or in cities with easier access to alternative forms of transportation is becoming a priority. As far as impacting a job search, we’ll see more people choose the Internet over going face to face. Gas is definitely cheaper on the information highway.

If you are going to use the Internet as your exclusive method of job searching, a well target résumé and cover letter, that is typo free, will be your only marketing tools. Extra care must be taken to personalize your correspondence to the company or individual in a way that sets you apart from the competition. Employers love electronic applications. No paper, easy to delete, and let’s not forget the programs that can disqualify you before they even look at your mail.

The other challenge with the Internet is it allows a job seeker to cover a lot of ground making it very easy to loose track of who you have been applying too. There is nothing worse than getting a call from a potential employer and you don’t even remember emailing them a résumé.

Electronic job searches require organizational skills. Keep a detailed log of every person you’ve contacted as well as easy access to all electronic correspondence and you will come off sounding prepared and professional when the phone rings for your next interview.

Glen SLingerland - Skills 101/Job Development