Careers Online--Beyond Monster and HotJobs
(By Carol A. Gutmann, Founder, President/CEO, Placement USA)

Ever since the economy took its nosedive two years ago, leaving 3 million Americans unemployed, the job market has been saturated with talented job seekers who have resorted to applying for any job that vaguely resembles what they are qualified to do. What does this mean for employers posting jobs? Well, let's just say there are a lot of employers out there buried in resumes.

Many employers have turned to smaller job posting boards on the Internet, bypassing boards like Monster.com and HotJobs.com for more secluded sites that are not inundated with overqualified job candidates applying for anything they can find.

The problem with the major online job databases and posting boards, like Monster, Hotjobs and FlipDog, is that practically every job seeker in the United States goes to these sites to find jobs. Some employers get thousands of resumes for a single posting, preventing them from focusing on a few qualified
candidates, because they are too busy plowing through the mountain of paper.

This is also a problem for job seekers because it creates too much competition. Often thousands of people are competing for the same job. And, of course, only one of them will get it.

Using smaller job databases, like PlacementUSA.com, is advantageous for both employers and job seekers. Employers have begun to realize that many of the more ambitious job seekers go beyond major job boards to smaller, less saturated job boards. These people are often the best candidates for employment, as they show tenacity and ingenuity in their job searching. Also, fewer people use smaller databases, so employers don't receive as
many resumes and inquiries, allowing them to focus on a few qualified candidates.

Job seekers often have a better chance of finding a job through a site like Placement USA because it cuts out much of the competition. They know employers will sit up and take notice of their resume, instead of becoming lost in a sea of look-alike resumes.