Job boards like CV-Library can enhance your job hunt instantly. However, they’re only particularly useful to your search if you know how they work and how to use them.
To help you ace your job hunt, here’s our explanation of how job boards work and three simple ways to utilise them effectively.
What is a job board and does it work?
In short, job boards host vacancies on behalf of recruitment agencies and employers. Job hunters like you can then search through thousands of these vacancies. To apply for a job, you only have to upload your CV and click apply.
It really is as simple as that.
But in addition to searching for jobs, you also let the jobs come to you…
Recruitment agencies and employers use job boards to discover the ideal candidates for their vacancies. Therefore, once you’ve uploaded your CV, recruiters paying for the job board’s services will be able to view your CV and may contact you if they think they’ve got a job that matches your skills and experience.
This is a major advantage to your search as recruiters are finding great opportunities for you – what a time saver! But if you’d prefer to carry out your job search yourself, you can always hide your CV.
Read on for three simple ways to use job boards effectively and find your next job.
1. Sign up for Job Alerts
One of the easiest ways to use job boards effectively is by signing up for their Job Alerts feature as it saves you plenty of searching time.
These alerts send the latest jobs matching your criteria straight to your inbox. All you have to do is input your keywords, for example “Design Manager” AND “Bristol”, and you’re good to go! You will then receive alerts every time a Design Manager job in Bristol is uploaded to the job board.
With Job Alerts, you’ll never miss a job again and you could gain the competitive edge by being the first to apply.
And the best part is, these alerts are free!
2. Make the most of Boolean searches
Whether you’re pretty savvy with a Boolean search or you’ve literally got no idea what we’re talking about, here’s a quick guide on how to use one to ensure your job search is as effective and accurate at possible.
Boolean is a method of searching and it will help you achieve the most specific job search possible. If you combine keywords and phrases using the Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT, “speech marks” and (brackets) you can restrict, widen or define your search.
Here’s how to use the operators to ensure your searches are retrieving the jobs you want:
AND: e.g. Design AND Bristol
This will retrieve jobs containing both the keywords Design and Bristol.
OR: e.g. Design OR Photography
This will retrieve jobs containing one of the keywords.
NOT: e.g. Design NOT Photography
This will retrieve jobs containing the keyword Design, but not if they mention Photography.
“…” Speech Marks e.g. “Design Manager”
This will retrieve jobs containing the key phrase Design Manager. You can use speech marks with multiple-word search terms to form a key phrase, but the words must appear in the right order for the key phrase to be identified in a job.
(…) Brackets e.g. Bristol AND (Design OR Photography)
This will retrieve jobs that have Bristol and either Design or Photography. Jobs will match if they contain Bristol and one of the keywords contained in the brackets.
And that’s really all there is to it. Boolean searching on a job board helps you find the vacancies you really want.
3. Ensure your CV has industry-related keywords
Now you know how to find the jobs, it’s time to learn how to get your CV noticed online by employers.
Much like you’d use a Boolean search to find relevant jobs, recruiters use a Boolean search to sift through CVs. Therefore, if you want to be headhunted for the right jobs, you need to ensure you’re including industry-related and role-related keywords that recruiters will be using.
We recommend looking through job descriptions you like the sound of and identifying keywords and phrases in the ‘skills required’ sections. If you have those skills, make sure you reference them in your CV. That way your CV is more likely to appear in a recruiter’s searches and you’ll be headhunted for your dream role in no time.
Job boards are an incredibly useful tool when it comes to finding a new job. By following these three tips, you’ll instantly use job boards more effectively and give your job search the competitive edge it needs.
About the author: Laura Slingo is Digital Copywriter for the UK’s leading job board, CV-Library. For more expert advice on job searches, careers, and the workplace, visit their Career Advice pages.