Has anyone her ever used a site like Monster.com to find a job? Looking for opinions

I am really scared to enter back into the American job market after such a long time away from it. First in China for two years, now, dealing with recovering from cancer for the past half year or so. I am at the tail end of successfully beating cancer, with 1-2 months to go until treatment is done (doc says I am progressing well).

Anyway, the point of my post is to figure out how useful sites like monster.com are.

-Have you ever used a site like this?

-Which one?

-How useful was it? Did you find a job? How did that job turn out? Did it open up doors for you in regards to career advancement?


Because I am not sure where my gf and I will live, I figured a website like monster.com could prove to be useful, since no city is set in stone. At least for me, she will be busy studying. At first, it was Boston or Philly. Now, it is looking more like College Park (DC or Baltimore) or Cleveland. Really, it is up to my gf and I will go where she chooses, since she is getting her masters and has plenty of cities to choose from.

However, DC (as well as NYC) scares me/makes me feel nervous because of insane cost of living (recently saw a posting for a room in DC in a basement for 1200 in an average area and multiple people said that was a common price. Ughhhh. A far cry from my kick butt 575 place in P-land Maine. But you know, if that is where my gf chooses, I will suck it up and try to overcome my worries of cost of living after she sets her choice.

Any info you guys could provide in regards to these types of websites would be really useful. Also looking to network (friends, jobs, etc.) in DC, Cleveland areas or even NYC.

THANKS!!!!!

 

I've used a site called careerbuilder. It got me a few interviews but I never got one of the jobs. That's only because my employment history is fukt though, and also because of my criminal background. The online jobsearch sites can work.

It's just like filling out other applications online, because the jobsearch sites link you to the sites of the employers, only you don't have to fill out application after application. You enter your information, including your qualifications and employment history and whatnot, on Monster or careerbuilder and upload your resume, then you save it all on your profile. Then all you have to do, in many cases, is click on the links on monster or whatever and it automatically submits your application and resume to the employers, so you can apply for dozens of jobs in the time it usually takes to apply for one job.

 

they can work. best is to use mutliple ones. i've had a few leads lately...a bunch of insurance places wat me to sell insurance - 100% commission bases....not going to do that. but i've been put into contact with a few staffing agencies.

i'd also join linkedin and network on there

also meetup.com once you know the city you are going to. go and meet and network with groups you find interest in.

 

my dad used monster and he got a construction job laying bricks for $22/hr

 

I've seen lots of really good jobs on monster.com...also look up the cities newspapers (depending on which one you choose) because most of them offer employment viewings in their classified sections for free.

And fitzy, I'm having the same problem as you with the insurance companies. That's the only downfall of signing up with an account on monster

 

I've applied to several jobs through monster and career builder and have never received a call back ever. I have had tons of luck through craigslist though. There are a lot of bullshit jobs on CL but there are some really good legit ones as well.

 

i dont fill out apps.. you wanna hire me.. heres a resume' .. will talk from there..

 

I agree with you.

And I suggest not using craigslist only because there are too many spammers on there. If you do use craigslist, only apply for positions where the ad states the company's name...the ones that are just general help without a phone number or a company name are spam...which is 85% of the posts on there

 

Thanks for the info so far everyone!

 

i tried craigslist and monster and all that but had no luck. u might be better off just doing online applications for stores

 

I've gotten a job off of craiglist, it was pretty entry level warehousing, but I was just looking for a part time evening job, and it fit the criteria well.

I also experimented with Monster and had no leads at all. i found it was pretty weak in my area of the states. I've heard people in the NorthEast have had better luck with it.

 

If you have professional skills then you would be advised to go through a head hunter (Executive Recruiters). Submit your CV to them.

I only use head hunters, it is worth paying them to find the best candidate to hire. I get a list of those they screen and then I further screen them and then interview from there.

Good news about your treatments! I am really pleased to read that!!