Anyone who visits multiple job sites will quickly realize that not all of them work the same. Some sites will allow you to copy and paste your resume into a dialog box, while others will ask you to complete a questionnaire or profile that was developed specifically for that website. This is why you should want to familiarize yourself with the rules of use for job sites.

Job sites are usually free for job seekers, but employers usually have to pay to post job openings on job search sites and have access to the resume bank. Paying employers want to limit their search time and job sites try to help them by using efficient recruitment tools. The questionnaires you have to answer on these sites are a big part of this screening tool. By answering these specific questions, you’re helping employers quickly filter your profile, whether it’s in or out.

When you are completing a questionnaire or profile, there are two things to think about:

1. Who will read my answers and with what intention?

2. What do these questions really do to me?

Monster’s resume builder is a perfect example of a recruiting tool used to help the employer. To start a My Monster account, the name, address, career level, and title fields are required to be completed. Although the initial information required is similar to other types of job sites, Monster allows you to maintain five different resumes/profiles. This is a useful feature for people with skills in more than one professional area. When job sites allow you to have multiple resumes/profiles, you should make the most of them. Make some of your profiles very broad and some very specific to increase your visibility to potential employers.

Monster’s resume builder is a good example, because it’s fairly conventional in the way it divides the profile and resume into thirteen distinct areas, including career objective, objective job, objective location, salary, employment status, skills, references. Personal and Education. Most job sites will ask you to address the same or a similar topic when signing up and creating online profiles.

In Monster, one of the first screens you’ll be asked to complete includes “Title” and “Career Goal”. Monster offers examples to help you answer these questions. Using the recommended answers is not in your best interest. Never lose sight of the fact that employers pay Monster to save them recruiting time by dismissing it. Monster asks you to provide a job title and describe the type of position you are seeking under “Career Objective.” If you want to be evaluated and increase your visibility with potential employers, you need to think beyond the question. Each field that is filled in on the job site is a keyword opportunity. Instead of filling in the “Title” field as “Computer Programmer,” the space can be used to list relevant job skills, such as languages ​​you speak, software, and systems you know.

The “Target” field can hold up to 2000 characters, which is about half a resume of usable space to add those valuable keywords. Again, following the examples provided by Monster would not benefit you. The site’s examples list an objective statement of two or three sentences. A better use of the “Target” space would be to list your professional profile, achievements, language, software, systems experience, and any other relevant information from your resume. As you answer the questions, you’re essentially rebuilding your resume, so it’s essential that you use plenty of keywords and highlight your previous career success stories.

You are not always limited to a single answer, even in the case of checkboxes. You should always test the site to see if it is possible to select more than one answer. Never assume that your answers are limited to just one, even when the instructions on the screen indicate that you are.

We all fear the salary requirements in an application or profile. Although the salary field is between two “required” fields on most job sites, the salary field is not required. This means that you can and should leave it blank. In circumstances where you can’t leave the salary field blank, it’s best to use a range, not a single number.

On many job sites, you are asked to describe your dream job and given a space that can hold up to 500 characters. Instead of answering the question, you should use this space to add more keywords to your profile. Note that the tester is searching for and retrieving candidates from a list of keywords that have been entered into the system. The more keywords that appear in your profile, the higher up the list of matching resumes yours will be placed, and the more likely your resume will get to a place where a real person will see it. You should write in this space, “Work with opportunity to use…” and then follow this statement with a long list of relevant keywords.

When answering questions related to relocation, don’t make a hasty decision. Only answer this question if necessary; and if you do, choose the widest possible option. Even if you can list multiple preferred locations, don’t. It is very wise to keep your answers broad. A company or recruiter who is only interested in local candidates will use the address provided on your resume as a search parameter.

Even if you and your family are very happy in the city where you live, it is wise to select “No Preference” to the questions related to your willingness to move. The situation you are so happy about now may change in the future. Also, since you should now have your Career Management/Job Search database up and running, you should be able to store all of these opportunities for future consideration. Also, any job you interview for but turn down will serve as practice to hone your interviewing skills.

It is important to always read the fine print on job sites, when completing online profiles and questionnaires, as the instructions on which fields are and are not required can be contradictory.

An additional common section on questionnaires relevant to work experience. You will likely be given the opportunity to list all of your past jobs in chronological order. Your goal here is to create your resume online, not to write a chronological narrative of your work history.

You should always use the work experience fields on the questionnaires to include descriptive stories about what you have done. Sometimes you have to list responsibilities. To do this, you should list your responsibilities and relationships with supervisors, then add achievements and keywords that are applicable to the context.

Additionally, recruiters and employers frequently look for candidates who are currently working or have worked for specific companies or industry competitors. To make the most of your desire to hire a candidate with industry knowledge, be sure to take the time to list partners, clients, and companies you’ve done business with. If you have removed specific information related to your current employer from your resume, you can add that information to this list. You are most likely to come across online profiles and questionnaires in the following situations:

* Register with a recruiting company

* Post your resume on a job board

* Application for employment in a company

* Registration at a job site

In each situation, you need to consider who is asking you the questions and what you are seeking to find out by asking the questions. All audiences try to filter or exclude you, so think carefully about your response. You should always read the instructions on the site and avoid answering questions related to salary and relocation if possible, and add as many keywords to your profile as you can.

These online profiles and questionnaires can affect your job search in the same way that your resume will. You should treat this process with respect and not rush it. Be sure to check your spelling and check anything new you’re writing, and only post to websites that allow you to update and change your information at any time.