Monster.com

[a.miller]

Has anyone had any good results with using Monster.com? I've been researching and applying for jobs that I'm very qualified, and even over-qualified for, and I'm not seeing any good responses. I have sent my resume to 50, yes 50 companies. I have never been contacted when my resume was sent through Monster.com's application process. When a company posts their email address, I contact them directly. Then and only then have I received any form of a reply. I am beginning to think Monster is a bullshit service.

 

I would really appreciate any suggestions. I have to find a job in Los Angeles in the next two months.

[cryptique]

I found my current job via Monster.

 

I'd had a r

[a.miller]

Thanks for your advice. Monster currently has what they call the "Job Search Agent". When you initially setup your profile, you enter a bunch of job criteria, etc. Then, on a daily basis, this "agent" spits jobs out to you via email. I've very diligent about applying since November -- numerous resumes per week. I guess I'm just feeling down on my luck. I know nothing in this world is handed to people, but damn -- I need a new job already!

[IRememberDBoon]

what do you do?

 

in the tech world dice.com rules your face

[alison the wilca]

I also got my current job via monster, tailoring my resume to analytical skills. There are all kinds of job boards for specific professions and specific cities. I think the best option is thinking of companies that are in your city (the bigger they are the more jobs they'll have open) and just going directly to their websites.

[a.miller]

what do you do?

 

in the tech world dice.com rules your face

Marketing and graphic design, but my degree is in journalism. I'll check dice.com out.

[remphish1]

I got my job from Careerbuilder.com....was very active and searched for awhile. Sent a bunch of resumes out. Got my current job only two interviews in though

[isadorah]

Marketing and graphic design, but my degree is in journalism. I'll check dice.com out.

 

 

if you're in marketing/graphic design try: AIGA.org and their job bank; Communications Arts' job bank; SEGD job bank; USA Jobs (for government jobs, the listing is called Visual Information Specialist); and when you do searches on Monster and Career Builder get creative in the key words, a lot of times Marketing/Graphic Design jobs are posted under other names such as Art Director, Creative Director, Creative Assistant, and so forth.

[El Picador]

Craigslist is probably your best bet. I live in Orange County and have had great success in getting interviews and finding who I wanted to work for. I moved out here about a year and a half ago (from Oklahoma) and found a decent job pretty quick. I wasn't happy though so I got back on Craigslist and started sending out more emails, interviewing on my days off and ultimately landed a great job that I love. I tried Monster years ago and had no success. It also doesn't hurt to find a company you want to work for, seek out the email or postal address of their HR dept and send them your cover letter and resume. A lot of the best jobs don't advertise their vacancies, they just wait for the right people to come along.

[quarter23cd]

Eh, Monster has always seemed like kind of a waste to me. I don't think I've ever been contacted back from a job I actually sent a resume to through Monster. I have, however, had several calls of the "I saw your resume on Monster..." variety. Most of these have been recruiter/headhunters, a few legit jobs that frequently have almost nothing to do with my skill set, and a few really shady sounding things.

 

Honestly, I've had my best success the old fashioned way--through local newspapers. Not even the "big" papers--sometimes the little community rags that you normally throw away--sometimes there's a gem in there. Craigslist is also a good way to go, too. The major newspapers are almost worthless, in my experience.

 

I dunno, there are many ways of going about finding work. For my current job, I was relocating halfway across the country and didn't really know where to begin looking, so I hooked up with an IT consulting firm and they placed me pretty quickly at a job--nice to have somebody else do the footwork for you, sometimes. I worked 6 mo on a contract basis and then was offered a permanent gig.

[isadorah]

thought of some other options: Aquent. they are a staffing agent for creatives, design, marketing. www.aam-us.org is the american association of museums, they have a job bank that lists marketing, communcations, and design jobs, sometimes not all museum based, some are design firms that work for museums. also, if there's a firm/company you want to work for, cold call them/send in your resume. that's how i got my first job.

[a.miller]

thought of some other options: Aquent. they are a staffing agent for creatives, design, marketing. www.aam-us.org is the american association of museums, they have a job bank that lists marketing, communcations, and design jobs, sometimes not all museum based, some are design firms that work for museums. also, if there's a firm/company you want to work for, cold call them/send in your resume. that's how i got my first job.

Thanks for the advice! I've been checking into all the suggestions and will add these to the list.