Monster.com and other a like websites can be a great resource, but for many these types of websites will not help gain employment. Here is why;

Job boards typically are not the primary source of new hires. If you conservatively estimate that 50% of new hires come from other sources, then the theoretical maximum chance one has for finding a job through Monster drops to 10.5%. Many people use firms, like ours, to help them navigate real job leads. The main issue with Monster.com is there is no way of monitoring what jobs are actually being filled. And, because of this, there is no way to monitor the success rate. Plus, your personal information is shareable with anyone that signs up as an “employer.” This means jobs that say, “Work from home- $4000 a week”, which usually are ponzi schemes have access to review your resume.

There are some companies that hire only through Monster.com but that group is very limited. I always suggest cold calling the employer first. If you see a job listed on Monster.com call the employer and verify that the job is still open. Next, ask if you can email or fax your resume directly to Human Resources. Monster.com receives tons of resumes every single day, which means employers are bombarded with tons of options. The people who are faxing or emailing Human Resources directly actually have a better chance of having their resumes reviewed vs. those submitting through Monster.com- or an alike website.

My tips:

Use Monster.com to generate a soft lead.
Call the company directly to see if the position is still available and ask if you can submit your resume directly.
Make sure your security settings don’t allow random employers to review your personal information.
Get an employment advocate. Companies, like ours, have the resources to connect you with the perfect job- allowing you find and gain employment faster!