If you are looking for a career change, you might try pounding on the virtual pavement of the Internet.
But don't count it as your sole source. An informal search by PR NEWS showed that while high-tech PR firms had some listings --most other agencies and corporations rarely are using the Web to recruit for PR.
While you can post electronic resumes, answer online ads, tap into company databases, network by e-mail and in Usenet newsgroups --executive recruiters suggest using the Internet in addition to a traditional search with snail mail letters, resumes and cold calls.
"The Internet just isn't all that popular," said New York PR recruiter Dennis Spring of Spring Associates. "People phone, fax and mail. We don't know why they don't use e-mail, but they don't."
PR NEWS found that while everyone else seems to think the Internet is hot, it's not yet hot for job searches. For example, when "public relations" was typed in on job-listing Web sites Monster Board, CareerMosiac and Hoovers Online, less than five listings appeared. Those opportunities that did were mainly for high-tech firms or computer companies.
Hot for High-Tech
Numerous searches on the Internet indeed has showed one trend --the medium is popular in the high-tech PR job market.
"We use the Web all the time," said John Brodeur of Brodeur & Partners, a Waltham, Mass.-based high-tech PR firm that is actively recruiting. "We are growing so much, it makes sense to look on the Web for people."
"From my perspective, the Web is the future of recruiting," said Lois Kelly, senior vice president of the Weber Group in Cambridge, Mass. "We use it a lot and will continue to do so."
At most of the leading sites (see chart), which are free for job-seekers, applicants can enter keywords to make a potential employment match. The Monster Board lets job seekers click on "search shortcuts" to bring up entry-level positions, jobs in the great outdoors (national parks, large ski resorts), and locations with healthcare employers.
Employers pay a fee--ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars--to list jobs on these sites.
When it launches a new version of its service this month, the Monster Board will e-mail applicants with information about jobs that meet their criteria. CareerMosaic has an international gateway section for finding jobs in Britain, Canada, and Asia. The Net is also a great vehicle for people who want to relocate.
The CareerPath.com site lets aspirants inspect the classified ads in 21 major newspapers, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times.
Results from the PR NEWS search showed a better turnout for public relations job listings on CareerPath.com than other job Web sites. For example, the Washington Post classified section had 13 listings and The New York Times had about 30.
Candidates can use keywords to narrow their search, and, in most cases, Sunday's ads will appear by noon the previous Saturday. Some Web sites are trying to branch out from strict job-related information by including other community resources. For example, besides its employment content, some offer data on the cost of living and schools in certain areas.
Some sites are aimed at those just starting out in the workplace. JobWeb (http://www.jobweb.org), which is backed by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, focuses on entry-level positins.
JobTrak (http://www.jobtrak.com) targets listings for college students and alumni at more than 400 institutions.
Of course, at the other end of the spectrum, not many chief executives are finding jobs on the Net.
Just over one-third of outplaced executives surveyed last winter by Lee Hecht Harrison, a career-services firm, said they were using the Internet in their search. More than half found out about job openings, while 46 percent researched companies, and 35 percent sent e-mail to contacts or potential employers. But only 19 percent posted their resumes on the Internet. (Brodeur, 617/622-2800, Weber Group, 617/661-7900; Spring, 212/473-0013)
Looking for Work on the Web
AMERICA'S JOB BANK (http://www.ajb.dni.us/): Offers computerized links to 1,800 state employment service offices.
CAREERPATH.COM (http://www.careerpath.com): Features classified employment ads for 21 major newspapers.
HOOVER'S ONLINE (http://www.hoovers.com): Gives free access to corporate data base
listings of latest IPO filings.
THE MONSTER BOARD* (http://www.monster.com): Lets you post resumes, provides links to
company pages and job fairs.
- Similar sites include Career Magazine (http://www.careermag.com); CareerMosaic (http://www.careermosaic.com); E-Span (http://www.espan.com); and Online Career Center (http://www.occ.com).