The main point of job boards is to ease the job-hunting process. They provide job seekers with tools and advice to increase their chances of employment. However, bear in mind that some job boards still retain vacancies that have already been filled. It turns out that they leave these vacancies on their sites because they receive advertising fees for them. So to help you avoid wasting your time, I have compiled some tips below.
Filter Down Your Choices
Applying for every single job vacancy in your job search can be tempting especially with one-click applications. By filtering down your choices there is more opportunity to find suitable jobs that are still very much available. Utilising the one-click application is definitely timesaving. However, applying for every job listing could result in applying for jobs you are not in fact qualified for and/or positions that have already been filled. Being part of the first initial rush of applications does not guarantee a call back let alone the job. Take your time to show the employer that you are a strong candidate by tailoring your CV and selling yourself through a well-written cover letter. Filtering through allows you to decide whether or not the job is worth applying for. This may be time-consuming at first, but trust me it saves a lot of time in the long run.
Research, Research, and Research
Relying on what the job boards tell you is not always the best way to go. Despite being well informed, there can often be misinformation or even a lack of information. Try to find out as much as you can about the company itself. Take a look at their website, some recent projects or their company values. Not only will this assist in the application, but also, if you research correctly you should be able to find helpful information. For instance, some companies share news about their newly hired personnel, thus indicating whether or not a job position is still open. Others may feature open vacancies that you may not have previously considered. Spending some time to do some research will help to assure you if a job board is up to date, since you will be able to compare the information for yourself. Again saving you time in the long run.
Check All Dates
Opening and closing dates are a specified part of all vacancy posts. Of course, some companies still hire even after the published closing date. The idea is not to completely ignore posts that have passed their closing date but to simply take them into consideration. Simply ignoring the post could mean a missed opportunity. It is important to use your best judgment. The length of time a vacancy is advertised for tends to vary depending on the advertised position. For example, if the vacancy posted is a managerial or directorial role, then it is probably worth applying for even past the closing date. Companies prefer to take their time when hiring such personnel. After all, it is a crucial role in any business. Part-time positions such as sales assistant are usually filled fairly quickly. So, applying towards or after the closing date is not recommended.
Taking these three steps will help you manage your applications better, preventing you from wasting unnecessary amounts of time whilst getting the most out of job board databases. As expected not all job boards fail to keep up to date with their job listings. In fact, there are many international job boards that do a great job of keeping their database up to date.
Lucine Bassa
Photo credit: Designed by Freepik