Career Builder: New Careers are on the Horizon....Possibly
Written: Sep 28 '05 (Updated Sep 01 '06)
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Are you looking to change careers? If you are, then you are probably already familiar with the internet and the many different career sites available for the task of looking for new work. One site that I have been a member of for years is Careerbuilder.com, a web- based service that attempts to bring employees and employers together.
What Does This Service Offer?:
Careerbuilder.com offers the following services:
Job Search- Here, you can search for jobs by location, by job category, or by job type. The site also allows you to setup several different resumes and cover letters to make the application process as simple as possible.
Career Resources- Tips on building a better resume, writing an effective cover letter, conducting an interview, starting a business, working from home, and other career- related topics can be accessed in this area.
Career Fairs- Dates, times, and locations on upcoming career fairs can be found in this part of the site.
Employee Search- If you’re an employer looking to find some qualified employees, you can sign up for Careerbuilder.com’s services. The site will post job ads for you and help you find the best employees.
Customer Service:
If you have questions about the site and need to speak with customer service, the number to call is 800-438-1485. You can also enter a search term and lookup a possible answer to an FAQ, and you also have the option of sending an e-mail to the support team.
Final Thoughts:
Careerbuilder.com is a job search site I have used on and off again for the past several years. I first became familiar with this site several years ago when I was looking to make a possible career change. I was already a member of Monster.com and I decided that it would be wise to sign up for other career on- line services, in order to better my chances for success.
This web service is similar to the other job search sites in many ways. There is a broad base of career opportunities to select from at Careerbuilder.com, with jobs ranging from business, to education, to manufacturing labor, to retail, and beyond. Jobs can be searched without establishing an account. But if you want to apply for a job, you will need to setup an account first, download or build a resume, setup job preferences (if you wish), etc.
I started using this site quite some time ago but I didn’t check my account for quite a while (over two years) until recently. After updating my record, I noticed that the site had improved in several ways. There is more statistical information than in the past, and this can help guide job searchers by providing data on searches. For example, if I click on “My Careerbuilder”, I can view the number of job searches, number of jobs I applied for, and number of clicks (searches) of my resume (by employers) for the past 72 hours. You can also establish up to five saved job searches (specific cities where you want to look for jobs) and have the results e-mailed to you daily, weekly, etc. The advice and resources section has been expanded, too, with more services to use and/or purchase.
Now, let’s talk about the jobs themselves and my experience using this service to find good employment. With any job search web site, the most important factor to consider is how well it succeeds at finding jobs that match an individual’s skill set and then facilitating the necessary transfer of information so that one of its customers gets a chance for an interview. I would like to say that my use of Careerbuilder.com has resulted in dozens of job interviews, but I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I did. The fact is, I have had little luck with this site. My credentials are better than the average individual, but it is rare that I get a follow-up call or e-mail from a potential employer for an interview. Most of the offers I get are sales related careers- typically, for me, financial sales careers. These are ok, but as most people already know, sales positions are generally the easiest to find. In this respect, I don’t consider Careerbuilder.com to be very valuable.
Millions of people use this service so it is overflowing with resumes. There are ways to improve one’s exposure to potential employers, but they all carry a small fee (the basic services carry no fees). I have not yet used one of these added exposure services, and that could be the reason for my lack of success. It appears that, if someone is really serious about getting good job offers, he/she needs to sign up for one of the premium services. Because of this, I’m of the opinion that you need to upgrade and purchase more services to get any real attention in this site. If you continue to drag your feet, like I have, hoping that some employer will notice you and will contact you about a great job, you will find yourself waiting for a very long time if you are using only the basic services. You may never get any calls or e-mails with great offers at all with the basic service. You need to sign up for the premium service to have any real chance to land a great job.
Like Monster.com and other job sites, as soon as you logon to Careerbuilder.com, you are almost always offered some type of service to buy. Usually, these offers are for education, resume writing, or some other professional service. You have to click “no thanks” to get past the advertisement and proceed. I know the people at Careerbuilder.com need to make extra money any way possible, but I get a little tired of this feature.
Applying for jobs in this site is generally easy, but you need to keep in mind that not all jobs can be applied for using your Careerbuilder.com account. Sometimes, the employer will require that you apply in a different manner, which will take more time. When this happens, you will be given special instructions (like logging into the company’s own web site to fill out an on- line application) to complete your inquiry. Also, you might find yourself frustrated with the lack of salary information. Salaries are not listed with many jobs and there is no way to find them out, in many cases, unless you apply for the job first and then see what happens.
One of the bright spots in this career site is the special advice and resources section. Here, you can get help with relocation, assistance rewriting your resume in a more professional manner, guidance relating to 401K investment, franchises and businesses for sale, and much more. Some of these services carry a price tag. Others are offered free of charge. Some services are offered by Careerbuilder.com; others are links into other web sites. The advice is good, and it’s often just what the doctor ordered.
Overall, Careerbuilder.com is an average web site for those seeking a career change. It offers the usual tools that one expects a career site to offer and it does have a good section for finding advice. But unless you purchase a premium service, you are unlikely to have much luck finding the career of your dreams. The standard service is free, but it leaves all the work to you in terms of searching and finding jobs. Maximum exposure requires paying a fee to Careerbuilder.com so that your resume grabs the attention of the best employers.
Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read Reviews on Related On- Line Services:
Hot Jobs
Job Direct
Jobsonline
CareerPath
Nationjob
Career City
Monster
Yahoo Careers
Recommended:
Yes
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