Job Search Results Better With Job Boards

If you're currently in the midst of a job search, the findings of a new study could prove very interesting.

AfterCollege Inc. recently released a study that found recent college graduates think job boards are more useful than social networking sites when it comes to finding a job. The survey consisted of 670 graduating seniors, graduate students and recent graduates.

The study found that the most effective job search method was online job boards, followed in order by applying directly to the company or organization, speaking with someone who already works at the company of interest, attending a school career fair and speaking with friends or family members.

Of the 15 options listed, students ranked social media last for effectiveness. Roberto Angulo, CEO and founder of AfterCollege, said this is most likely because students primarily use social networking sites for socializing, not for business purposes.

"Facebook, for example, is a social utility, and it's open," Angulo told HispanicBusiness.com. "People who are on there are not thinking about work."

Even though social networking sites are fun and useful for making new contacts, they can become an issue when it comes to privacy.

"What if I work at Google, and become a fan of Microsoft's Facebook page?" Angulo continued. "My co-workers at Google would find out, and this may not be good. If you join a group (on Facebook, for example), you do it publicly, and it's not necessarily conducive to allowing someone to look for a job privately."

The study further found that of those who had an easy time finding work, 76 spoke to someone who already works at the company of interest, 72 percent applied directly to the company, 68 percent searched an online job board, 64 percent spoke to a professor or other academic adviser and 60 percent spoke with friends or family members. Overall, students with allied health-related majors had the easiest time finding a job.

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