How the Internet Changed Job Searching
In ancient times - that is, the time before the Internet came along - those looking for work read newspapers or took an afternoon walk and hoped to go by an office that might have a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window. More often than not, the jobs available weren't much and those businesses that were hiring might not have an ad in the paper.
There was also the possibility that a family member or friend had an opening at their current job that might (or might not) be suited for them. And of course there were career fairs, in which prospective employers, companies, and businesses introduced themselves to the public at large and hoped that in the sea of people that came they would find that one individual they needed for their desired position. These combinations would eventually garner results, though for those looking to go into a certain career, the results may have varied.
Then came the Internet - a connection of networks that span the entire world, with people in different cities, states, and countries all having the ability to not only talk to each other, but allowing them to post their open positions online. Job boards such as Career Builder, Hot Jobs, and Monster allow for both employers and employees to post, respond, and view available positions that have opened within a company, or for companies, available employees who are looking. For those looking for specific jobs (like those in healthcare or technology), there are sites like Dice and Media Bistro that cater to those searchers who are looking for a certain type of position.
This isn't to say that earlier methods of finding jobs (newspapers, word of mouth, etc) are extinct; in fact, these methods have been expanded. For instance, say someone is looking to find a job in another city or state; previously, they might have had to spend money for delivery or needed to drive there in order to get the local paper. With the Internet, many of the local papers are in both newsprint and computerized form, allowing out of state residents to view and search for jobs. This makes it easier for those thinking about transitioning from one city to another.
The same is true for those looking for employment once they have left college. Many universities and colleges have career counseling centers, but for a lot of long distance or online students, the online options for these centers allows them to get career help even when not in the city, state, or country of their school.
The Internet has changed the way people not only look for jobs, but jobs in themselves. Many jobs can be done via telecommuting; meaning that an employee doesn't even need to leave home in order to be at work. And with social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn there are more possibilities than ever for those searching for a job.
Image content @ Morgue File