How has looking for a job changed in the past ten years?

Answer 1

You can find work anywhere from gigs on Craigslist where you're only working one day, for a nice sum, to opportunities on Monster where you can find the next job that might help take your career in a different direction. A lot of people are moonlighting; telecommuting and working jobs they normally would not be able to afford to do in conjunction with their regular 9 to 5. Hardly anyone is relying on one job to make it these days as the cost of living is rediculously high and people are spending the majority of their income on real estate.

I used to use Monster a lot, Career Connect, even HotJobs, but found that the really interesting jobs are in the local publications; the job I have now I found through Pilot Online, and there are many, many, many jobs if you're an administrative person in places like the Washington Post (online). Craigslist is still a great place for gigs; particularly for those in the arts; writers, musicians, photographers, videographers, etc.

I rarely actually look in the newspaper, or walk down the street looking for help wanted signs anymore. Looking for a job is much easier thanks to the Internet.

How has looking for a job stayed the same? Companies still hire internally and the only jobs you'll find posted are those that can get you into the door on the bottom floor. If you want to climb that ladder, it's best to know someone on the inside who knows about the jobs that aren't listed. Government jobs still require you to sign your life over and tell everything and anything you've done in the last 15 years. If you don't have the ambition, you'll remain at the bottom, so you need to figure out if you're just learning enough to go into business for yourself or if you're just working there for a paycheck ...

Answer 2

Ten years ago people looked through want ads in newspapers to find jobs. Now they mostly rely on job posting sites. Emailing resumes and thank you notes is also much more common.

Also, it's not uncommon now for people to stay at a job for less time, or to have been laid off several times. It used to be a stigma to have been laid off - now it's a lot more routine.

Finally, companies are more cautious now about conducting background checks and/or drug screens before bringing an employee on board. Employers must also verify that the new employee is legal to work in the U.S.

Answer 3

I remember my first job in 1989, I got it because the owner of the business liked my parents and felt I deserved a chance.

What I have seen is that the paperwork side of getting a job has increased. It used to be your resume and an interview with the manager or owner. Boom, job offer.

Now it's your resume get's posted no one calls you, but your friend refers you to a job at his/her company. HR had access to the job site your resume was on, but didn't call you.

You have to fill out an official application completely (thanks to federal guidelines governing what the definition of applicant is) if the company is governed by OFCCP rules.

Then you have to go through a special behavior based or competency based interview. That every qualified applicant gets treated the same in.

In the end you get a job because your friend works there.

All the red tape in the middle has changed, it's longer, can be messier, supposed to be more fair, but many times it isn't.

Answer 4

It has changed significantly. There are more resources available that list jobs. The Internet alone has hundreds of job sites that you can go to that enable you to apply online and receive responses quicker. Also, depending on the industry, employers are now hiring people during interviews because they need their positions filled. I work for a home care agency and when nurses are interviewed they are usually offered a job because we have to fill open shifts for our cases.

Answer 5

Quicker and easier since Al Gore invented the internet.