Top 9 Job Sites for Your Career Search

Approximately 84% of employees in North America plan to look for new jobs in 2011, according to a recent survey by global talent management firm Right Management. Put them alongside those who are unemployed, and you have a whole lot of people searching for work.

If you happen to be in either of those positions, it’s essential to get organized about your job search by understanding what information and resources are available to you on the major job sites.

Over the years, job boards have become more than just job search sites — many now offer additional resources and functionalities to job seekers. Here are nine of the top job sites, including a few of the basics, that boast valuable services beyond job postings.

1. TweetMyJobs

TweetMyJobs is a free service that connects job seekers with job openings. TweetMyJobs is affiliated with the National Career Development Association as well as the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

After signing up, you’ll have access to thousands of JobChannels that allow you to receive targeted information about the jobs that fit your profile. Job information can come to you via Twitter, e-mail or RSS.

In addition, TweetMyJobs offers resume writing services (prices vary depending upon your needs), including specialized services for students and veterans. Lastly, it has an interview coaching subscription to assist job seekers with every step in the interviewing process.

2. LinkUp

LinkUp is a job search engine that gives you the ability to search more than 20,000 company websites from a single location. A search under technology in a specific area code, for example, could be a good start for finding tech jobs in your area.

Under the LinkUp tools tab, you can set up job alerts and save your searches. LinkUp also allows you to bookmark jobs so you can see when they’ve been closed by the employer.


3. Indeed

Indeed is another job search engine that enables users to find jobs posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards. Indeed has been recognized by Time magazine, PC Magazine and PC World for its capabilities.

Indeed also offers some valuable position data like basic salary, job postings per capita and industry employment trends.


4. Simply Hired

Simply Hired is a job search engine that allows searches by title, category, company, location and so on. You can save your searches for future reference and set up e-mail alerts to notify you when new jobs are posted.

Both PCWorld and Macworld have partnered with Simply Hired to create a job channel. And under Simply Hired’s special searches feature, you can view lists of the top diversity-friendly companies, veteran-friendly companies and green jobs just to name a few.


5. CareerBuilder

CareerBuilder is a dedicated job site that allows you to search for job openings by location or job category (i.e. engineering, finance, information technology, etc.). Employers are able to search the site for candidates as well. So having a resume ready at a moment’s notice is important.

CareerBuilder provides a resume writing service (fees range from $75 for an update to $279 for an executive level). It also offers an enhanced profile service (for an additional fee) that allows your resume to show up higher in an employer’s resume search.


6. Monster

Monster is a premier provider of employment solutions. You can search for jobs as well as post your resume for employers to find. Monster has several online communities that offer support and information in targeted job categories such as InsideTech for the technology industry and ManagerLink for management and leadership development.

In addition, Monster also offers an array of services such as resume writing, career assessment and personal salary report (fees vary based upon service). It has a strong presence in social media with several targeted Twitter accounts, Facebook Pages and YouTube channel.


7. SmartBrief

SmartBrief, an organization specializing in industry and function-focused electronic newsletters, also offers the opportunity to post jobs and look for jobs. Jobs are organized in industry job boards that are further parsed . If you have a very targeted search, for example a position specifically in telecommunications, SmartBrief has job boards in that particular industry, in this example, CTAM and CTIA.


8. LinkedIn

LinkedIn gives you the ability to search for jobs, and, if you’re an employer, the opportunity to search for candidates. LinkedIn recently added a resume builder tool that allows you to import your profile into one of several template options and then customize it.

LinkedIn is also offering a special “job seeker package” (prices vary from $19.95 to $49.95 per month) that gives you access to features such as salary information, interview preparation and priority customer service.


9. Mashable Jobs

We’d be remiss if we also didn’t mention Mashable()’s own job board, which provides listings for the latest social media and web job opportunities. It’s easy to search, and it not only provides full-time positions but sometimes harder to find contract, temporary and internship opportunities. You can subscribe to job listings via RSS, as well

Conclusion

Searching for a job can be time consuming. The key is finding the opportunities that are a good match as soon as they become available. Bookmarking your favorite sites will help you stay organized and make the search process a bit easier.

What job sites have you found valuable? Let us know in the comments.

HOW TO: Use Advanced Twitter Search To Find a Job

Looking for a job is never an easy task. But, in the Internet age, there are certain tools at our disposal that can help job seekers focus on what’s out there. One of these tools is Twitter.

In this screencast, we’ll show you how Advanced Twitter Search can help you find a job by using hashtags, geolocation and a little ingenuity.

Have you found a job using Twitter? Would you try something like this for your next job search? Let us know in the comments section below

2011 Secured Jobs for Job Seekers

2010 is a tough year for job seekers around the world. A lot of country is still under the drought of recession. Is 2011 will be a good year for job seekers or still a lot of people will become unemployed? As predicted to be, these are the most secured jobs which more likely recession proof but not all of it. See what they are and plan to change your career.

1.  Nurse

Nursing is a field that runs perpetually lean anyway; but as health care demands expand in every direction, opportunities for both LPNs and RNs will continue to expand along with it. With job growth predictions hovering in the 21 percent-22 percent range by 2018 the already very large industry is expected to see more new jobs over the next several years than any other occupation.


2. Physical Therapist

Driven primarily by aging baby boomers and technology advances that improve survival rates for trauma victims and children with birth defects, the demand for physical therapy is on the rise and is expected to continue growing by as much as 30p ercent by 2018. The greatest needs are in departments where geriatric patients frequent (acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic) as well as in rural and low-income areas.


3. Pharmacist

Employers have already been reporting difficulty finding and keeping enough pharmacists and as the population ages demand will only continue to increase. The Department of Labor predicts job growth for pharmacists will rise a total of 17 percent by 2018, which when added on top of the current shortage, makes for a very favorable job market in the field.


4. Physician and Surgeon

Tighter health care budgets and cost-cutting measures may keep the demand for doctors and surgeons at a more modest growth rate compared to other health care jobs (22 percent by 2018), but the fact remains that the expanding health care industry will keep the jobs coming. The job forecast is positive for all physicians and surgeons -- but especially those willing to work in rural and low-income areas.


5. Systems Analyst and Administrator

Technology is at the center of both business and pleasure these days, so it's no wonder technology analysts and administrators are in high demand. All areas of the field are growing, but the most expansion (53 percent growth by 2018) is in network systems and data communications (network architects and engineers, Web administrators and developers) as more companies upgrade technology and as the Internet and wireless systems gain traction in the business world.


6. Software Engineer

Our increasing dependence on technology is spurring demand for not only those who can analyze and repair high tech systems but also those who can make the most of them by creating new and improved software applications. Software engineers with expertise in mobile and wireless technology, networking, and the internet are in especially high demand and overall the field is expected to boom by 32 percent by 2018.


7. Biomedical and Environmental Engineer 

As a whole the engineering field is expected to grow at an average pace; but those specializing in biomedical and environmental engineering can expect to see significant increases (31-72 percent) in the demand for their skill set as an aging population and growing health care industry call for improved medical devices and an ever-increasing environmental awareness spurs companies to seek help meeting new regulations and heading off environmental problems before they arise.


8. Accountant, Auditor and Financial Advisor.

Due to ever-changing financial laws, business growth, and an aging population nearing retirement, job prospects for financial experts are estimated to grow by 22-30 percent by 2018. Also helping to boost job security in the financial field: the increasing push toward transparency and accountability when it comes to high-stakes money matters and business management.


9. Veterinarian

Not only are more people making animals a part of their family (cats especially) but they're placing a higher value on their pets and are willing to pursue and pay more for advanced and intensive veterinary services. Due to the rise in demand and the limited number of accredited veterinary schools (there are only 28 in the United States) veterinarians are predicted to have 33 percent more job opportunities by 2018.


10. Lawyer, Paralegal and Legal Assistant

The law is only getting more complex and jobs for attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants aren't going anywhere. Projected to grow by 13-21 percent over the next decade as other industries boom and require additional legal services, the legal field will produce the majority of new jobs in health care, intellectual property, bankruptcy, corporate and security litigation, antitrust law, and environmental law.



11. Customer Service

Customer service may be provided by a person (e.g., sales and service representative), or by automated means called self-service. Examples of self service are Internet sites. However, in the Internet era, a challenge has been to maintain and/or enhance the personal experience while making use of the efficiencies of online commerce.