Tips for searching for jobs online

Tips for searching for jobs online

The internet is one of the most powerful tools for job searches, with a world of learning, training, and employment opportunities at your fingertips. Within seconds, you can find pages of job vacancies and listings, and apply within a few clicks.

But pages of results can feel more overwhelming than reassuring. When searching for jobs online, or even just browsing for job information, there’s a lot to explore and take in. Where do you begin? What are the best ways to approach an online job search?

Here are our tips for searching for jobs online, and how to find reliable, helpful careers advice online.

1. Find reliable sources

With so many results to every job-related question you might type into the search bar, how do you pick the most relevant? A good way is to start with reliable sources such as the gov.uk website, the National Careers Service, Apprenticeships.gov or Prospects.ac.uk.

2. Get advice before applying

Before you set about completing applications, make sure you know what industries and roles you’re interested in, and do plenty of research around potential jobs and career pathways.

You might consider:

• Required training and qualifications
• Typical working patterns and hours
• Location of employers
• Progression opportunities
• Skills and traits required
• Potential earnings

Online searches are great for finding these things out. Job information sites such as the Job Explorer Database (Jed), make careers information understandable and interesting. The JED database has information on 856 jobs and over 2,500 job titles.

You can access JED within Years 7 to 13 through your school, or students from schools and colleges in Calderdale and Kirklees can access MyDirections for free.

Other resources for all age groups include:

• Skills Assessment by the National Careers Service
• Prospects Career Planner
• NHS Careers Quiz
• Civil Service Careers Quiz
• UCAS Careers Quiz

3. Check the details

It’s easy to find job vacancies online and it can be tempting to apply for everything that may be of interest. But applying for lots of roles you are not suited for can be disheartening and take up lots of time and energy.

Start by making sure you have most of or all the requirements for the job. If there are non-negotiables, for instance, a particular qualification or years of experiences, it may not be worth your time applying. If you are unsure, try contacting whoever posted the ad to ask.

4. Online job search tips

When searching for roles, job websites are a good place to start. Indeed, Reed, Jobsite and Monster all have thousands of roles listed, and you can apply there and then. Make sure you search by location and check all the details as mentioned above.

5. Use social media

LinkedIn is a great place for finding businesses and roles of interest. A LinkedIn profile enables you to search for and find jobs to apply for. You can begin growing your network within your chosen industry while hunting for your next opportunity.

6. Personalise your applications

When you are applying for many roles at once, it can be tempting to re-use the same CV and covering letter each time. However, it’s important to make sure your CV is structured around the most relevant experience for that particular role.

Your covering letter should be amended slightly to make reference to the role that you are applying for. This increases the likelihood that someone will take notice and shows the person considering your application you are interested specifically in that role.

7. Take online interviews seriously

Job interviews are nerve wracking, whether in person or online. It may be easier and more convenient to attend an interview online, but you should prepare in the same way you would for an in-person talk.

Some tips for online job interviews:

• Sit somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed
• Tell others about your interview so they don’t disturb you
• Sit somewhere with a plain background behind you
• Check your speaker and camera are working ahead of time
• Turn off sound notifications on your computer and phone
• Wear something presentable and look clean and tidy
• Sit facing a light source for a clear view of your face
• Log on and join the meeting with time to spare
• Prepare as you would for an in-person chat!

8. Get some one-to-one online job advice

Although there is so much advice out there about online job searching, sometimes you need to speak to a person. Speaking to a careers adviser about your current position and goals for the future can help you feel clearer about your next steps.

If you are in school, college or further education, you may be able to access careers advice in-person or over the phone. If you are outside of education or training, it can be more difficult.

How do I find one-to-one online careers advice for adults?

If you're not in school or college and want some in person advice, we can help. Anyone in the UK can access our one-to-one online careers advice sessions. You can book them online and there is a fixed price per session:

• Careers guidance and coaching for adults: 1 hour appointment – £75
• Careers guidance and coaching for adults: 30-minute appointment – £45

Our careers advice sessions are meetings online or on the phone. Sessions are one hour or 30 minutes and designed around what you need from them. Our advisers can help you explore new job, promotion or learning opportunities.

If you are struggling with your job search, or simply want to talk things through, a one-to-one session could provide the help you need to progress. If you have any questions, get in touch with us on 01484 242000 or email chat@ckcareers.co.uk.