4 Online Destinations That Help You Find Gigs

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Before you can start looking for a job, you have to know where to look. In the pre-internet age, this was a pretty simple process: check your local paper, ask your college career counselor, and see if Mom or Dad knew a guy. Today, there are hundreds of ways to start your job search. And the best part is that you don’t even have to leave your bed for any of them.

1. Craigslist

PROS: Highly targeted to specific cities. Low cost to post means that smaller companies and start-ups can advertise postings there. Especially useful for freelancers.
CONS: Hard to search. A lot of scams and fake posts. Sometimes people might confuse their jobs post with their casual encounters post, which can be awkward.

2. Monster, Careerbuilder, and other large career websites

PROS: Sheer volume of openings. Ease of searching. Uploading your resume can lead to unsolicited job opportunities (yeah, right).
CONS: Easy to get lost in the shuffle. A lot of headhunter or agency listings mean one extra step between you and a real job. Publicizing your e-mail can lead to a lot of spam (but does that really surprise you?).

3. Local Newspapers

PROS: Specific to your area. In major cities, this can be the best place to start.
CONS: With low circulation rates and stiff competition from Craigslist, business might consider it more effective to advertise through other channels. Also, NEWSPAPERS ARE DEAD.

4. Cold-Calling

PROS: Gets you in touch with a real person, which can be invaluable in making you stand out.
CONS: It’s not always clear who the right person to call is. There might not be an opening. Can be hard to “sell” yourself in 30 seconds if you’re not the extroverted type. Extremely nerve-wracking.

5. LinkedIn

PROS: Um…
CONS: It’s basically Facebook for old people.

College life doesn’t last forever. Get prepared for what comes next. Stories from the front lines here.

image – LinkedIn