If you're starting an online job hunt, reviews suggest using more than one site and remembering that job sites are just one tool in your search. Many reviews recommend posting a resume at a large site like Monster.com or Yahoo! HotJobs, as well as at smaller niche sites. You should try to find a site that specializes in your field or industry. One recruiter suggests the home pages of professional organizations or unions -- you can search for them at the American Society of Association Executives' Gateway to Associations. CareerXRoads.com is a well-respected site that offers directories, white papers and personalized advice on finding a job. One white paper provides an annual list of the top corporate job sites.

There are online resources for arts administrators, zoologists and everyone in between. A recent Wall Street Journal article notes that employers may prefer specialized sites over the broad-based mega-sites. Employers prefer to target their ads to more qualified candidates, and ads on larger sites sometimes produce too many unqualified applicants. The large sites are working to develop relationships with niche sites, and they now have filters that employers can use to eliminate unqualified respondents. Overall, the niche sites are likely to keep gaining on the big boards, especially since they charge employers much less for posting ads. The Riley Guide, another website, has a huge listing of niche sites.

Peter Weddle, author of "Weddle's 2007/8 Guide to Employment Websites," surveyed employers and recruiters who state that they find job candidates through job-related niche sites, as well as association and college alumni websites. Employers state that these sites have a higher quality of job applicants.

Here are some common features to look for on job sites:

  • Resume posting lets the job come to you. Employers and recruiters can review your profile and contact you directly. Most reviewers find this to be more effective than applying to specific jobs online. It also works better for high-demand jobs in the high-tech, business and health-care fields.
  • Career advice lets you explore a new field. Most sites have some career-guidance features, including salary surveys and personality or skills tests. On larger sites, you will also find resume help, interviewing pointers, salary information and relocation advice.
  • Privacy features ensure that your resume doesn't fall into the wrong hands. It may seem unlikely, but we found plenty of postings from unfortunate job seekers whose resumes were spotted online by their current employers. More importantly, with the onslaught of spam and identity theft, more websites are implementing strategies to keep your personal information out of the wrong hands.
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