Getting your name out to the world and posting your resume online is an essential first step for any job hunter in the twenty-first century. I recommend that you sign up to each of these services, as companies may post positions or review resumes on one site but not any of the others.

Do note that there are countless other smaller sites that I did not include here simply to keep this article tidy and also to save you time in going to 50+ sites, creating accounts and getting very little to show for it all.

With that said, the most common (and therefore usually largest) of these is numbers the first 3.

1. Yahoo! Hot Jobs / Monster.com

Hot Jobs as recently merged with Monster.com to become the conglomerate of job searching online. Both were staples in their own right, and now that they have combined forces they have the largest amount of traffic amongst this entire list.

2. Career Builder

Another main player in the online job searching space, your time would be well spent to upload your resume and check out Career Builder’s resources.

3. Job.com

Job.com is yet another site to toss up your resume to and see if you get some bites, and can’t hurt your efforts – right?

4. The Ladders

The Ladders touts itself as the job site with the highest paying jobs, with yearly salaries of no less than $100,000.

5. Indeed.com

Not only a quality job portal, but it also has a great search function that allows you to look-up averages wages for your industry and even your job position.

6. Job Central

Most likely the smallest of list above, Job Central still may have some smaller employers searching its database and let’s face it – it only takes 1 offer to land a position.

These next two sites are targeted towards those just getting ready to graduate from college, and also those who had just graduated no more than 2-3 years previous.

7. College Recruiter

Specifically aimed and finding college students / grads jobs and internships, all who fall under that demographic should post up their resume and see if they don’t get some action.

8. College Grad

More of a general information resource than a job portal, College Grad has been consistently working on expanding their job database to further benefit the college-aged.

9. Your Local Newspaper

Although not truly a website in its own right, don’t forget around your local newspaper job listings in the classified section both in print and online. Sometimes you may still get the best results from going local.

Note that these are not in any particular ranked order of quality or other attributes. All trademarks / servicemarks are property of their respective owners.

Whether you move onto the next round of screening or are knocked out of the running depends on what you say and what you do during a job interview. Don’t commit silly mistakes and ruin your chances for a well-paying job because you forgot to spit out your gum or arrive late to the office.

1. Know your Facts

Many interviewers are surprised when applicants were not able to tell them their dates of employment or what they actually did on an everyday basis at their last job. Review your work history and be sure that what you say matches what is written on your resume. Learn all you can about the company and about the job you are applying for. Do your homework.

2. Be at Your Personal Best

Do not come to an interview chewing gum or drinking coffee. Avoid too much perfume or a lack of deodorant.  As much as possible, avoid talking or texting on your cell phone or listening to music while waiting to be interviewed. In short, look, smell and behave at your personal best.

Regardless of whether the work environment is casual or not, it is always important to dress professionally for an interview. Here are some tips to how be at your best for a job interview:

• Make sure you have the proper interview attire and that everything fits properly.
• Have your attire ready the night before the interview! This will prevent you from fussing over it on the busy morning of the interview.
• Be sure your shoes are cleaned and polished.
• Take a breath mint with you and use it before you enter the office.
• Ditch the gum before you even walk into the office.
• Leave some of your jewelry at home if you are someone with a lot of body piercings.
• Cover your tattoos.
• Arrive early. 5-10 minutes early is perfectly acceptable.

3. Watch your Words

Speak slowly and pronounce words clearly. Take your time if you need to think about the answer to a question. It is always better to take a moment’s pause before you talk than to stumble over your words. To make responding more comfortable, practice answering some questions prior to the interview. (I cover this in my premium guides extensively).

4. Listen to you Interviewer(s)

Being grilled on the hot seat is stressful during the interview. To make it easier to form proper responses to interview questions, do your best to listen to the entire question the interviewer is asking before starting your response. Also, think of any hidden motivations your interviewer may have when asking the question.

5. Hone your skills!

Spend time to prepare your interview techniques. These should include the following:

• Preparing your resume. Your resume should include all your contact information near the top so the potential employers can reach you easily. It is also important to prioritize the content of your resume, with your most important and relevant experiences listed first. Avoid padding your resume.

• Ability to present why you are qualified for the job. You must be able to express your strengths and cite past experiences relevant to the job you are applying for. Let them know how you will be an asset for the company.

• Why you are interested in the company. You must spend time on finding out as much as you can about the company. Know where the company is standing and the direction it is heading. Find out who the big players are in the industry.

• Practice staying calm and focused. Always maintain eye contact. Listen to the entire interview question before you answer. Take your time to think about your answers before you give them.

First Impressions Last
It is important to remember that the image you leave the interviewer on your first meeting is the one that is going to last. Take your time to prepare for your job interview, or your hunt for an acceptable, well paying job may indeed be a long road ahead.