There once was a time when job boards reigned supreme, and all a job seeker had to do was click through a few listings on Monster.com or a similar site in order to land their next job. Unfortunately, those days are over. The world has changed, and while job boards still have a role to play, they’re certainly no longer the “end all be all” for job seekers. 

 

Job boards are simply not as effective anymore since there are social media outlets like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter where you can pretty much network your way to the right contacts.

 

According to Work It Daily, “The fact is, job boards have a 2-4% effectiveness rate whereas networking has over a 50% effectiveness rate. Think about if you were a hiring manager: Would you be more likely to take time to interview a candidate you don’t know except for what’s been given on a submitted cover letter and resume or someone who’s been referred to you? A referral has much less risk, and that’s why networking has a higher success rate than job boards when it comes to securing a position.”

 

The problem is that most companies these days use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which automatically scan resumes for keywords and rank them based on the results. Each algorithm is different, and that means that unless your resume is optimized for that particular algorithm, chances are the hiring team will never lay eyes on it. 

 

So how do you get around this ATS dystopia? The solution is to try to get in front of a real live human and tell your story. 

 

Use The Job Boards For Inspiration

 

One of the best ways to utilize job boards is to look to them for inspiration and ideas. To do this, go about your search as you normally would. However, instead of just applying and sending your resume into the proverbial black hole, log into LinkedIn, and start to do some research.

 

Try and find either the hiring manager or someone in the department you’re trying to join. By connecting with them and expressing your interest in the role, you might be able to circumvent the ATS algorithm and get in front of a real person.

 

From there, you can connect and tell your story. Sometimes, you might be a fit for specific roles that don’t seem directly related to your prior experience. That’s okay because a diversity of backgrounds is often a strength. 

 

Fall Back On LinkedIn

 

Ask any hiring manager or recruiter where they are going to find talent. Most will tell you they are looking on LinkedIn. Resumes that get posted to job boards are still viewed, but there’s a good chance the information is outdated, which is one reason why hiring managers and recruiters are relying more on LinkedIn where information is generally more current.

 

The message is not that job boards are dead because there are plenty of niche job boards worth going to as a job seeker, but that your job search results will be more productive if you tie-in direct networking through the right contacts.