Top six career building Web sites

By Amanda Parsons
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

It is tough when you finish with college and finally have to look for a career. Many job hunters wonder, where do I start my search? More of today's job searchers are turning to career building Web sites. Sometimes it is hard to tell which Web sites are for real and which sites are a scam. Lucky for all of you job searchers out there, we did the research for you, but there are some things that you need to know before you go apply on-line for employment.

First, you need to have a resume on file so that you can send it as an attachment. Next, you should always fashion a job specific cover letter that can be added to your attached resume. If you choose to only search online and are not comfortable sending your resume to just anyone, then email the prospective employer with questions to make sure you really want the job before applying.

"When I check the online applicants on my computer, I am always more impressed with the applicants who have taken their time to communicate with me via e-mail or the phone before sending their resumes over," Sudee Mann, Office Manager, Preferred Mobile Music, Inc. said. "It makes me feel more comfortable during the interview, as though I already know a little something about the person. I feel as though I can be a little less objective to this applicant because I already know they are willing to go that extra step to get information." When sending an e-mail inquiry about a job, it is always important not to use Internet abbreviations. Spell out words fully and correctly.

There are six top Web sites that may help you on your quest for employment. Each one posts thousands of jobs Online. First is Monster.com. This Web site is the most popular job searching Web site on line. Hotjobs.com is run by Yahoo!, a popular Internet provider. If you are currently a Yahoo! member you may feel more comfortable using this trusted job-search site. Jobsummit.com is a well-run site, listing thousands of jobs and narrowing them down to proximity and location, which is convenient if you do not want a long commute to work. Careerbuilder.com has a helpful section with resume writing. Snagajob.com and Jobs.com are two more popular sites that are trusted by users.

"When I graduated from college I had to search for a career so I looked online. I found some employment listings on a popular job search website and was called to some interviews. Some businesses would call me back for two or even three interviews. I was really stoked until I found out that they were mostly scams to get me to do door-to-door sales," Jonothan Dunn said.

"The posting online said nothing about door to door sales, that is how they trap you."

With so jobs posted it is difficult to decipher which ones are scams. To aide you on this quest there are a few tips you should keep in mind. If it sounds too good to be true, (ie: part time work pays up to $14 per hour) it usually is. Always call if you have questions and don't be afraid to ask about anything. Employers like you to contact them, it shows that you are a go-getter. Also, feel free to search the Internet for any company names you think might be a scam. If the company has burned people in the past, odds are someone will talk about it on the Internet.