Don't Waste Time or Get Taken by Costly Scams
The Web is a universal marketplace; a boundless "help-wanted" column. A good job may be just a few mouse-clicks away, but as with anything Internet, you have to know what you are doing. You can waste a lot of time, or get taken by costly scams.
Even while headlines talk unemployment, jobs can still be found at thousands of Web sites. 
If you need a job, you can get help from several types of Web sites: @ Many company, government, and institutional sites have a "jobs," "careers," or "employment" page.
@ Information and assistance sites can help with resumes, interview techniques, even salary negotiations.
@ Career sites contain massive numbers of searchable electronic help-wanted ads.
Most people probably start searching by career sites. At most sites, you can search for jobs by city, region, industry, profession, and sometimes by individual company.
The biggest commercial site, monster.com, lists thousands of jobs each day.
When you search for jobs at CareerBuilder.com, another large site, you can specify "freshness" so you only will see listings posted within three, seven, or 30 days - or even 24 hours.
Another way to use career Web sites is to post your resume so employers can search them and find you. A resume that is posted must contain the keywords that interested employers will search for. Posting your resume generally is free, after you open a free account at a career site.
Don't forget to keep notes on whom you contact, and on the substance of each contact. A separate mailbox in your e-mail program and a separate set of bookmarks in your Web browser will help document your searches.
Also, watch out for shady job offers online -- the recession has spurred scam artists to take advantage of desperate job seekers. Be wary of work-at-home offers, hefty up-front fees, or anyone you don't know soliciting your personal information. E-mails with typing errors can also signal a scam. To protect yourself, search the company's name and the word "complaint" online. You can also check the company's legitimacy and rating at the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org).
