Chandler Hill Partners Blog - How the web has changed job searching

The Internet has changed a lot of things over the past decade or two--including how we search for jobs. Sure, the basics are the same: Find an opening and apply for it. But the Web has permanently altered the employment process. And with more than 1.2 million info tech jobs lost this year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a lot of people are going to be using every tool they can get to find their next job.

While networking is and has traditionally been the best way to find a new job, other effective tools are networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Here's how the Web is changing how we look for jobs. Social networking sites are exploding in popularity, as people look to connect with pretty much everyone they know. Facebook claims it has more than 250 million users; Twitter's traffic has grown tenfold in the past year; and LinkedIn is perhaps the most useful of the bunch for job hunting because of its employment and recommendation focused profiles.

Employment-focused Web sites and job search engine sites have been popular as well. At the same time, it's estimated that privately held craigslist will generate more than $100 million in revenue this year. Other job search sites, like Monster.com and CareerBuilder are also seeing huge increases in traffic. The Internet is definitely making a huge impact on how we search for jobs. Those who rely on only one tool will take longer to find a position.

Abridged: Business Week