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Is it even worth applying for jobs at places like Monster, Hotjobs, etc?

I'm a soon to be college graduate looking for work. I've heard that these giant job boards can be quite a crap shoot for job seekers due the high volume of candidates (I've heard 1000 applicants for a job isn't rare). Should I even bother applying to job postings on these sites or just pursue other avenues in my search?

Public Comments

1. In my experience, you'll find that employers are advertising in more than one place to find a suitable candidate. If they're getting 1000 applicants, chances are they're not being specific enough about what they want. What you have to remember is that these sites are just facilities for employers to get to you. An idea would be, have a look on monster, and if the company advertises who they are, have a look at their website. Maybe they have their own careers site. Or sign up to a site, so you get the kind of jobs you're looking for the day after they've been posted, so you're first in. A local newspaper might be another source, or an agency. Have a look for a niche job board as well. If you have a particular area or trade, niche job boards are fantastic to find what you want. They're not as cluttered, and usually offer similar (if not better), technology than the giants. Good Luck with your job search!
2. There are a number of sites out there, and Monster and HotJobs are 2 of the biggest. It is very possible for one job posting to get over 1000 applications. The key is to keep track of what you applied for and FOLLOW UP! So many people apply, but very few take the time to call the hiring manager to see if they had a chance to look at their application. Do you really think the hiring manager will take the time to read all 1000 applications??? Give yourself a chance and put your name fresh in there mind and at the top of the pile. One site that I have found very helpful is TheOnlineBeat ( www.theonlinebeat.com ) because they offer a search that allows you to search 5 of the largest job boards at once. Also, you only have to enter your job description and location one time! It is nice because it returns the largest search results out there. Good luck!
3. if you need a job quickly try jobs at night. they have listings for night and evening jobs, and you can search for your regular one during the day. some of the time these are jobs nobody else wants you know graveyard shift.