Does Technology Make Finding a Job Easier or Harder?

In this technological age, we are constantly seeing advancements and progression, allowing more convenient and innovative ways to do things. One thing that has undergone a drastic change is the job search and application process. Nowadays, most employers have websites that allow you to apply online to view current openings, submit resumes/profiles, and even track a job that may have been of interest to you. Then, we have those databases that compile a host of jobs, leaving it up to the jobseeker to separate the wheat from the chaff. But are these new methods of job hunting more effective, or have they just created a whole new mess?

The Problem with Job Compilation Websites

Almost every jobseeker has visited websites such as monster, careerbuilder, and thingamajob. These websites charge a certain amount of money to the poster to list their availability, making the information public knowledge. This increases competition to any job, and competition is a good thing-when you’re competing with qualified applicants applying to legitimate jobs for legitimate reasons. But this surge in these bulky databases also presents a new type of competition. People who aren’t qualified can apply for most positions; people who don’t give the job application half as much thought as you have can apply to the job; and people who don’t need the job can apply as well, maybe to just see how marketable their skills really are. People apply to jobs for the strangest reasons, and this hurts those who are really seeking employment.

Another aspect of this is the fact that there is so much garbage online, and these websites are not exempt. When you perform a search for an employment opportunity, you get all types of results-many of which could be totally unrelated to your search words or your field of choice. Oftentimes, there are lots of national jobs that allow you to “work from home,” and although the job might sound like a good idea, it’s probably not what you had in mind. Then, another element is the amount of commission-based sales jobs found on these websites. Although some people are looking for this type of work, there is no reason to bombard the average jobseeker with a host of sales jobs. Most of us need a steady income because we have steady bills, not bills that come when you’ve had a great month at work!

The Problem with Employer Websites

For large corporations and human resources personnel, the online job-posting and applications process is probably heaven-sent. It takes away having to deal with so many random people walking in asking silly questions. It saves on the amount of paper that the company uses. And it allows for an easier screening process. Smaller corporations utilize these methods also, posting their openings to their company website. However, this can be an injustice to both the jobseeker and the company for several reasons. One reason is that certain professionals prefer to submit a resume and handle the rest of the process when the time is right. Yet, most online websites takes you through an application process that is lengthy, uninviting, and can still go wrong at the last minute. Most online applications are very intuitive. Yet, there are some that require unnecessary work, work that a potential employee is just not willing to do to apply for a job. Another disadvantage of these online HR departments is that most small companies don’t update these sites as often as they should, so they could possibly have a job posted that was filled a month or so ago. No one knows and no one cares. And the problem is probably not rectified until they get good and ready to go in and make the necessary changes. A final problem is that some of the systems tend to overlap. So a jobseeker may have built a profile with a certain system, but does not know the user name and password. Not all of us are serial jobseekers. Those of us who aren’t don’t keep a running list of the usernames and passwords we create to apply for jobs. So, when we’re told that we already have an account, the “forget it” attitude kicks in, and another potential job opportunity is thrown out the window.

These are just some of the main issues we encounter while trying to find a job while we sat at home in our pj’s. There are many more, such as the temporary agencies mocking real employers, misleading those who are seeking jobs. And even fraudulent employers, who only want your personal information. So, before going into a job search, beware! Also be prepared to spend a whole lot of time doing the same thing over and over again:uploading resumes, filling in fields containing all of the information you uploaded, and then having your information go into a pile with probably hundreds more. Good luck!