Using Company Web Sites in Your Job Search

Company Job Search Resources

Employer Web Sites are one of the most important job search resources available to managers, professionals and executives. A 2001 study of hiring by 18 companies revealed that only 7.73 percent of 122,000 new employees got their interviews through job boards while 12 percent were hired after submitting a resume to a corporate website.

Company Information

Most businesses have their own sites which provide basic background information, a glimpse into the corporate culture, job opportunities, contact information and more. Most of the sites contain job pages with lists of current vacancies and extensive information about the organization. Researching the information available on a company web site is an important competitive advantage for most job seekers and is a must for mid to upper level positions.

The information available is useful in developing contact lists, customizing cover letters and resumes and deciding if it is worth pursuing a career at a specific company. Companies expect applicants to do some basic research on the company and nothing is more basic that the information on the company site.

The first step toward having a successful interview is to learn about the company with which you're interviewing. Anything and everything you can learn about an organization and its employees, customers, products or services and internal atmosphere and functions can help during an interview. When visiting a company site don't overlook the section on news or press releases as it is a valuable source of information on what the company considers important.

Employment Information

Most company web sites contain job banks with lists of current vacancies or information about employment opportunities.

The easiest way for companies to advertise positions is on their own website. It costs nothing, and the company can add postings instantly in a format best suited to the company's needs and requirements.

Always check the Company's web site before you respond to a job posting on a job board. Direct employer contact is usually preferable to using a commercial job bank. Many companies are finding that it is easier to keep track of applicants online, and with the large number of applicants applying for jobs, it's also easier to funnel the appropriate applicants to the right department. It also allows the company to see which applicants are really interested in pursuing a career with the company based on whom actually applies for positions at the company website. Job boards often produce many unqualified responses and company website responses may get specialized handing or preferential treatment. In addition, the company website may contain information about the job and/or information about the company you can use to customize your response.

Tips for Your Job Search

Most online job seekers do not use or visit company web sites. The sites are often difficult to find using traditional search engines and most job seekers concentrate their efforts on the large commercial job sites. Since these sites are under utilized, the sophisticated manager, professional or executive job seeker will take full advantage of these resources.

The JobMetaSeek Company Directories are organized by Industry and Occupation. The links contain City, State or Province information. Most job seekers are familiar with the largest and best-known companies in an industry but often overlook many other potential employers in the same industry. Competition for jobs at these companies is often significantly lower and you many find excellent opportunities simply by visiting the web sites in your target industry and geographic area. Use the Company Directory to locate the companies that could be useful in your job search.

Investigate the material and resources available on each site for immediate use or for future reference. Responding to jobs of interest should be a priority due to the lower competition factor and the benefits of applying directly on the company site.