The technological advances made in the job search are numerous -- and highly beneficial if utilized correctly. With so many options at their fingertips, job seekers often relegate themselves to feeling overwhelmed and simply do what's easiest. For many, this means focusing most of their time on all-in-one job boards -- but these simply aren't cutting it when it comes to getting qualified candidates hired.
"Don't spend hours searching large, national job boards for opportunities," said Lynne Sarikas, director of Northeastern University's MBA Career Center. "You will waste a lot of time with minimum chances of success." Additionally, with the competitive state of the job outlook, individuals need to be capitalizing on their specializations -- their niche -- to stand out from the competition.
This is where niche and regional job boards come into play -- allowing job seekers to almost instantly redirect their job search. These websites act as matchmakers for your career, and unlike the larger, more generalized job boards, actually put you in touch with companies and positions best suited to your specific needs. Sarikas recommends targeting your efforts in order to increase the likelihood of success.
Job boards shouldn't be the end-all, be-all of your job search strategy, but when utilized properly, they can create a solid foundation for an effective hunt for employment.
Job Search by Tax Credits, on Flickr
Here are five niche job boards that are sure to get you hired:
1. BilingualLink
The web-based bilingual career community at BilingualLink is dedicated to helping job seekers fluent in English and French. Far more than just a job board, it maximizes employment opportunities through listings, job fairs, a newsletter, and a variety of career events to give job seekers the opportunity to develop relationships with a wide variety of employers.
Created in 1998 by Rose Cathy Handy, an author with a human resources background, BilingualLink has helped more than 30,000 candidates find work in the bilingual market. This job board has found great success through its dedication to forging lasting relationships with job seekers and employers within the bilingual niche.
2. Talent Zoo
Focused on the communication and creative sector, Talent Zoo has job listings in marketing, advertising, public relations, and digital types of positions. This seasoned player in the employment and recruitment sector features listings from all 50 states and acts as a content portal for both active and passive candidates.
Talent Zoo has found so much success through their truly specialized career and content portal by being extremely committed to serving both employers and job seekers within their industry. Not only are they a great job board, but they focus on driving connections through a deep interest in social media, editorial, and blog posts.
3. Vestiigo
This Canadian job board focuses on job listings for young professionals with two to five years of experience. Vestiigo provides its members a high probability of landing a job through a "quality over quantity" approach. The opportunities listed on this website are from only the best and brightest small companies.
Much of Vestiigo's success comes from its unfading dedication to pairing to candidates with the right employers. This is done through screening prospective members to ensure they are active and engaged in their search for employment. Founder and CEO, Tim Ryan, advises job seekers to always consider the brand of the job board they're applying through, and ask whether it is a good representation of them.
4. Cool Works
Many job boards meet the niche of industries, but what about the interests of job seekers? For those adventurous and outdoorsy job seekers, Cool Works helps you find job listings for employment opportunities off the beaten path, as well as seasonal employment. Basically, if you've ever wanted to work at a ski resort, ranch, or national park -- this is the job board to use to get you hired.
Founded on seasonal employment, Cool Works caters mainly to three main groups: students, retirees, and "nomads." It has found success through fostering a highly social community for individuals looking to thrive on participating in unique life experiences. In fact, many of the community members are actually repeat users that move from position to position.
5. AllCountyJobs.com This regional job board was originally created to house job listings specifically from Fairfield County, Connecticut. However, it has since blossomed into a job search community that spans opportunities in New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The overall mission of AllCountyJobs.com is to provide location-based job seekers with listings in their specific or neighboring county.
This exemplary regional job board has found its niche through housing opportunities for area business seeking local talent, as well as job seekers tired of scouring through postings that just aren't commutable. For many individuals, regional job boards can transform their job search for more efficiency.
As you can see, there are job boards that cater to just about every possible niche. Whether you're a young professional, bilingual, or a nomad, be sure to take advantage of niche and regional job boards to save your job search.
Did using a niche or regional job board transform your job search?
Amit De is the CEO and Co-founder of Careerleaf, an all-in-one job search platform that cuts the time to apply in half. Connect with Amit and Careerleaf on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
