Web-based resources bring an accessibility to finding work, but may not be the best place to start.

“The online process is the way to get your resume out there,” said Ellen Anderson, assistant director of Career Services. Usually, this step will be followed by a face-to-face interview. Depending on what a person is looking for, some niche Web sites may be more effective than others, Anderson said.

“I haven’t found very many people who have found their dream job on Monster[.com],” Anderson said.

Anderson recommends more focused search engines. Some Web sites tailor searches toward certain types of careers. Dice.com, for example, focuses on technology, computers and engineering fields. Monstertrak.com specializes in helping college students find jobs.

Daniel Doty, manager of Acher Alignment, has not fired people from online job search engines.

“I probably wouldn’t be interested in that because I’d want to talk with the person face to face,” Doty said.

When a person starts a job search, they should have a plan of action already in place, said Career Services counselor Robert Norwood.

“Avoid preparing for a job search when you should be conducting a job search,” Norwood said. “Job search materials [such as] resumes, references and a job search plan, should be in place before the job search is scheduled to begin. Once the job search begins, follow the job search plan, evaluate the plan’s effectiveness and if necessary modify the plan to improve the results.”

Specific skills tailored for a certain job, flexible hours and articulation are three of the things manager David Galica, director of operations at Snare Systems, looks for when hiring employees.

“They need to know how to talk, and most people don’t,” Galica said.

For example, Galica’s employees need to be able to explain technical computer issues with both himself and any customers involved.

“I always encourage job seekers to think about what makes them more qualified [than another candidate],” Anderson said. “The resume is such a critical part of this. The more ways you approach the job market, the more quickly your search will be effective.”