Online job seeking leaving you lost? Here's how to catch up.

If you feel frustrated or lost when job seeking online, you’re in the right place! This article will help to address your concerns and learn how to thrive as a new online job seeker.
Maybe you’ve been out of the job seeking game for a while, or maybe this is your first ever time having to look for a job. For a beginner, the online job seeking system can seem complex and daunting. Especially now, a lot of online job seeking websites and services are rapidly changing their offerings to provide more tools to their members. If you’re just trying to learn the basics, it can make it hard to stay up-to-date on how this new system works.
Why can’t I just apply in person?
You may remember a day when “pounding the pavement” for jobs was a quick and effective way to get in front of employers to land a job. These days, however, many employers have built their systems online and don’t offer paper applications anymore. Walking into a place of employment and asking to apply may, in many cases, lead to you being asked to apply on an employer’s website.
While this may feel frustrating to hear, it’s helpful to be aware of this shift. Not only does this prevent you from being turned away in person, but it should also demonstrate just how important it is to learn how to search for jobs online. Your ability to get your next job depends on your ability to learn how to be an effective online job seeker.
So what do I need to know first?
To get started, you’ll need to learn how to do these things online:
- Create a resume that you can share digitally
- Search for jobs
- Apply for jobs
- Practice good online job seeking etiquette
Now that you have a list of what you’ll need to learn, I’ll take you through the basics of each element, and suggest further resources so you can dive into these topics more deeply.
How do I create a shareable resume?
A digitally shareable resume is just the same as any paper resume you may have, just the digital file. If you have a Word or PDF file that you used to create and print your resume, you already have a digitally shareable resume. And if you don’t have a resume saved on your computer, or have never built a resume before, I have some really great news...
If you have a Jobcase account, you already have one! Setting up your Jobcase profile automatically puts together a resume that you can download at any time in PDF format. Check out the article below for more information on how you can set up and download your Jobcase resume.
How do I search for jobs?
Searching for jobs is a lot like using any basic search engine. Most job sites will offer a field for a job title or keyword and a field to help you narrow down the location of your job search. Here on Jobcase we have an online job seeking tool you can try. When you use our tool, it should look something like this:
Once you have the basics of job searching mastered, check out the article below to learn more tips about how to increase your job searching skills.
How do I apply for jobs?
Searching for jobs is just the start! Now, having pulled up jobs that you would like to apply for, it’s time to learn how to apply. Applying can change based on which job listing you click on. Some listings may take you to another site from the one you were just on. This is common, as many job sites may show job listings from other sites. Other times, you’ll be able to apply on the site you’re already on.
Regardless, the application process will be similar wherever you land. Here’s what an online application will ask you to do.
- Fill out a form with some of your basic information, including contact information
- Upload your resume file
- Sometimes an application may ask you to answer questions about the job you’re applying for, such as “Why do you think you’d be a good fit for this position?”
Take your time filling out your application. You’ll want to make sure you fill your information correctly and without spelling errors. When you submit your application, you should receive confirmation that your application went through, either on the site you’re applying with or via email (or both!)
How do I practice good online job-seeking etiquette?
When you apply for jobs online, your email inbox and your phone will be your most important tools for communicating with potential employers. If an employer is interested in you, they may reach out to you via email or phone call. Whichever they do first is down to their discretion, but it’s important that you keep tabs of your email inbox and check any voicemails you may receive while you’re job seeking online.
If you receive an email or phone call from an employer, be sure to respond promptly and professionally. If you need help on how to do this, make sure to check out the article below on how to communicate effectively with employers.
I have the basics, now what?
If you feel you’ve mastered the basics of job seeking, that’s great! Know that there’s always more to learn, but you’ve achieved so much success already by launching over some of those first online job seeking hurdles. Now it's time to take your new knowledge forward and go find your next job!
Job seeking online isn’t easy…
What’s something you wish was easier about looking for jobs online?
Comments

This is one of the most informative things I've read about online job-hunting in a long time. Thank you Laila. I'm sure to some these tips might seem obvious, but for people who used to show up and talk to a manager to get job (like me) it's really helpful to break it down.
It was ok