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WHERE ON THE WEB

Work your own career magic

Hey, college grads: Sweating the future? Jump-start your job search engine online.

Maybe it's because my calendar is devoid of career prospects and the information on my résumé dates back to my volunteer work as a Brownie, but, as a soon-to-be college graduate, the pressure of finding work makes my palms sweat. Scouring your hometown newspaper's classifieds is a great way to find a nearby 9-to-5, but what if I want out of the local scene?

I begin my quest for a career by cruising the Net, where I quickly learn that not all résumés are created equal, and posting yours on a job site doesn't guarantee success. BakosGroup.com tests your job-searching savvy by asking you where the majority of jobs are found (over 85% of all jobs are in what they call the "hidden job market" of unadvertised or created opportunities) and whether job titles can be altered in a résumé (yes, if done properly).

If you discover, as I did, "either you're new at this or you have received wrong information," then let the site help you. From the homepage, click on "FREE resume critique." Fill out the required fields, upload your work experience and let the experts tell you how to make your résumé into an 8 1/2-by-11-inch two-dimensional masterpiece.

Once your résumé is molded into a powerful marketing tool, put it to work by posting it on CollegeGrad.com. This site works as a search engine for employment by location, career or industry. CollegeGrad prides itself on having more than 50,000 job postings, covering everything from Office Clerk to Geotechnical Engineer. Its mission, says president Brian Krueger, is to help college students and recent grads find not just a job but the best job, by "providing more entry-level job content than any other career site."

The coolest thing about this site is that it teaches lessons usually skipped at school, like how to prepare for the dreaded face-to-face with an employer. Once you have an interview lined up, click the link for "Interview Prep." From there, the site pumps you up with 50 standard questions you should expect and also gives you questions to ask your interviewer about the company. Then what if you get the job? Try the links under "Salaries" so you know what kind of money you deserve and how to negotiate a sum that will keep you safe from a diet of ramen noodles and Easy Mac.

Another hot spot is Careerbuilder.com. Click the "Career Fairs" link. Not only will you find out when and where to go, but you'll learn what to wear (avoid perfume or cologne) and how many copies of your résumé to bring (20).

If you're still in school, swing by your career center and speak with a counselor. Many colleges partner with job help sites like eRecruiting.com, where you can find alumni employers and sign up for campus interviews with companies specifically recruiting students from your school. Check the school's career services homepage for links to this service. If your school isn't affiliated with eRecruiting, try the generic Experience.com.

-- Karen Schubert