Searching for Employment in the 21st Century

Unlike the “good ‘ol days,” searching for a job isn’t as easy as opening the newspaper to see who is hiring. Now, it involves finding reputable online sources for employment options. You may still have the option of going directly to the employer themselves and asking for a hard copy of an application, but it might be a good idea to call ahead and check if that’s an option.

Online Job Hunting: Easy, but Beware

An easier way to search and apply for jobs are through online sources showing any posted local or national positions, or going to an employer’s actual website. When doing this, though, be careful to not apply for possible scams and ads that have been sponsored on these websites.

screen shot of scam kroger job ad

Case in point: this is a screenshot of what to be aware of... Billings does not have a Kroger.  These kinds of postings look legitimate, but can invite trouble.  Always make sure you check the details of a position before providing personal information.

Tip: If you have any questions about the validity of the site's job posting, contact the employer directly. They can verify that it is legitimate or direct you to where you can apply without worrying about scams.

Resources for Job Hunting

Luckily there are a variety of useful websites and other kinds of resources to facilitate your hunt for a job. 

Websites

Each of these websites has a similar style when searching for employment opportunities, but they all essentially have the same concept: to aid a person in finding a job or career.

  • Perhaps the most reliable website (no scams here!) is Montana Works, located on the official state of Montana's website.  It offers information on a number of resources, as well as searchable job postings.
  • There are a number of other kinds of websites that facilitate employment searches.  Two good options are:
    • Glassdoor: One of the largest job and recruiting sites out there, you can find tons of local job listings here, along with other information about companies that are hiring based on reviews of their current and former employees.
    • Indeed: Another mega site, Indeed compiles hundreds of job openings for you to search in the local community and offers the chance to submit applications through the website itself.  Like other job posting sites, its prudent to be aware of the potential for scam postings, but this is an important tool for looking for a new job.
    • Salary.com: Not only does this site allow you to search job openings in your area, but it allows you to reserach and compare average pay ranges for various positions. This can be an amazing tool to not only apply for positions, but, as you can see in this salary.com video walkthrough we made, you can find out what you might expect to make in a given industry in a specific place.

Employment Agencies

If hitting the web to search for a job doesn't sound appealing, you do have an alternative.  Employment agencies can be a job seekers best friend when it comes to finding the perfect position.  Oftentimes, these agencies will even help with the application process.

  • One example in Billings is Advanced Employment Services.  Check out their website to see what kinds of benefits employment agencies can offer you!

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