The Internet: The Indispensable Tool for Job Hunting

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African American collegians preparing to launch their careers have at their fingertips an indispensable tool for job hunting: the Internet. Students skillful at surfing the Web can benefit from a wide array of sites offering employment leads, career counseling, tips for resume preparation, and relocation advice. By navigating the Internet comfortably and confidently, students can gain a competitive edge in locating the best opportunities in any given industry or academic field.

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The Impact of the Internet: The explosive growth of the dot-com community during the 1990's had a tremendous impact on the employment industry. Among the early visionaries of the Internet as a point-and-click tool for job hunting were the creators of job boards such as Headhunter.net, Careermosaic.com and Careerbuilder.com. They clearly recognized that as the Internet became more technologically sophisticated and commercially appealing, the doorway was open for employers and job seekers to meet on the electronic "information highway." These trailblazing companies were soon followed by other businesses that carved a niche in the burgeoning market of Web-based employment services.

Now, the Internet has mushroomed beyond anyone's imagination. According to current estimates, over 10,000 Internet sites are devoted exclusively, or at least tangentially, to employment matters. These include job boards such as those listed above and many other types of Web sites, as discussed below.

Popular Among Recruiters: Employers of all sizes and descriptions rely heavily on the Internet for identifying prospective candidates for positions ranging from entry-level to senior management. Although the majority of job openings require some degree of work-related experience, many sites include attractive opportunities for recent college graduates.

Why is the Internet so popular among recruiters? Several reasons can be given for the widespread use of the Internet as part of a comprehensive corporate …