----------------------------- || Author: Yandisa Mtyide || Release: 1 || Version: 1.0.0.1 || Source: SoftBis || Web: www.softbis.co.za || Email: info@softbis.co.za ----------------------------- Job Search Revised. ~ The essence of search engines. Why do we use search engines? We use search engines for various things, such as: 1. Research 2. Jobs 3. Links 4. Websites 5. Information 6. Etc We use search engines as a tool to find information published online that is relevant to our query. ~ The advantages of search engines The main advantage to search engines is the ability to discover numerous sources of information based on a certain query. This way we can collect as much relevant information needed to complete a task, assignment or research. ~ Google Search The {World-Wide Web} {search engine} that indexes the greatest number of web pages - over two billion by December 2001 and provides a free service that searches this index in less than a second - Source: http://www.definethat.com/define/2148.htm Impressive. ~ Job Search Let us turn our attention to 'Job Search'. What is Job Search? How do we conduct a Job Search? Offline vs. Online Job Search The influence of Google Search The evolution of Job Search Fundamentals of Job Search Perceptions and Norms * What is Job Search? It is a process of finding a new or previous job, which is market-related. * How do we conduct a Job Search? There are many ways through which we conduct a Job Search. The list can be found below: 1. Job Interviews 2. Job Applications 3. Job Advert Mass Mailing (Email) 4. Job Notice boards 5. Social Networking 6. Newspaper Job Adverts 7. Job Mail 8. Job Search engines 8. etc There are advantages and disadvantages to the above; these will not be mentioned in this article. * Offline vs. Online Job Search Types of Job Search can be offline or online. What do I mean by offline? Job Search that is not done electronically. This can be in the form of: 1. Classic Newspapers (Sunday Times, City Press etc) 2. Verbal Communication (Telephonic or Face-2-Face) 3. Notice boards (School, Workplace etc) 4. Classic Newsletters (Pamphlets) 5. Etc What do I mean by online? Job Search that is done electronically. This can be in the form of: 1. Online Newspapers 2. Online Communication (Social Networking, Emails, Mass Mailings, Forums etc) 3. Online Notice Boards (GumTree, PNet etc) 4. Online Newsletters 5. Chat Systems (Google Chat, Skype, MSN Messenger etc) 6. Etc There are advantages and disadvantages to the above; these will not be mentioned in this article. * The influence of Google Search We use Google Search almost every day to search for jobs published online. It is a great resource. We need to understand that Google Search is a search engines that indexes the greatest number of web pages (over a billion). It is critical to perfect a search phrase to receive the most relevant results. This is a challenge and can consume several hours or days. Job Search using Google Search can be time consuming and requires a lot of patience. It is massive. Fact is, "You need to know the right or exact search phrase". What is nice about Google Search is that we can type anything in the search box and receive an auto-complete list (suggestions). Question is: "What search keyword or phrase to use?" This can be time consuming. What is really important in a search is to find the most relevant results to save time and money. In most cases you will find people searching for "jobs", "job", "jobs in Gauteng", "general jobs". What does this search really mean? Think about it. There are millions of web pages that could link up to these type of search phrases. We need to refine our search phrases, know what you exactly want. Take for example "accountant jobs". This phrase refines our search to accountant jobs specific results. How about "accountant jobs in Gauteng"? Much better refined search phrase for more content and relevant driven results. The moral of this, when searching for jobs it is most important to search for content that is most relevant to your search phrase to save time. We need to understand the fundamentals and basics of search, this includes: 1. Magnitude of search results; 2. Content of search results; 3. Relevance of search results and; 4. Type of search phrase In summary, finding a job online can be a mission (especially when using search engines). * The evolution of Job Search Softbis ("Centurion based IT & Services Company") developed a search engine specific to Job Search. Code name: Job Search The idea to form a Job Search engine came about in 2008; this engine was to create a central base to millions of jobs published online today. This was a challenge at first but with in-house IT experts this was achieved late last month (2010, March). Job Search now links to job portals around South Africa, India, Australia, United Kingdom and United States. What is very important regarding Job Search is that it is "job title" sensitive or specific. Taking this route allowed SoftBis to focus mainly on filtering content ("job title specific") and providing relevant search results. It has taken SoftBis many months to teach job seekers the major differences between Google Search and Job Search. They also emphasized on the fundamentals and basics of Job Search. To recall some, Job Search is: 1. Job title specific or driven e.g. accountant (You need to type ONLY the job title in the search box) 2. Searches or crawls ONLY major job portals 3. Promotes Social Networking (Share search results with Facebook, Twitter, MySpace friends) 4. Etc It is today by far the most popular Job Search engine in South Africa. Job Search statistics: 1. 1000+ listed job titles 2. 14000+ page impressions 3. 3000+ search queries Stats provided by Google Analytics, Adsense and StatCounter. Stats rounded off to the nearest 1000. * Fundamentals of Job Search The most basic things to remember about Job Search is the following: 1. Job title specific or driven e.g. web developer (You need to type ONLY the job title in the search box) 2. Searches or crawls ONLY major job portals 3. Search engine NOT a Recruitment Agency (Labor Broker) 6. Job Search results are filtered according to the latest or recent published date. 5. Free service It is important to take note that Job Search does not function or work similar to Google Search. * Perceptions and Norms Most people are familiar with Google Search and at times it is reported that people do make use of searches to this nature on Job Search, see below: 1. jobs in Gauteng 2. accountant in Pretoria 3. web developer jobs 4. part-time jobs 5. part-time only 6. general jobs SoftBis has emphasised that "Job Search" should be treated differently as compared to Google Search. Job Search is "job title sensitive or specific". You need to type ONLY the job title, select the desired location and let Job Search do the rest. It is that simple. ----------------------------- || Author: Yandisa Mtyide || Release: 1.0.0.1 || Version: 1.0 || Source: SoftBis || Web: www.softbis.co.za || Email: info@softbis.co.za ----------------------------- References: http://www.definethat.com/define/2148.htm http://www.softbis.co.za http://jobsearch.softbis.co.za Published for SoftBis by Yandisa Mtyide (Architect, Developer & Founder - SoftBis)