Everyday Blog

When you type in the keywords “online jobs” into a search engine, almost all of the suggestions will be sites dedicated to advertising jobs. Indeed this is a big and expanding type of Internet business, which has to a great extent displaced the press and jobs agencies as a way of matching jobs with jobseekers. Unfortunately, not all the jobs to be found on such websites may be all that they appear, and some in fact appear to have a fairly shadowy existence. For those disillusioned with going after these positions, there is a quite distinct definition of online jobs available, jobs that are genuinely “online” because you can work from home doing Internet business using your computer.

The online jobs websites are principally run by recruitment agencies, that have moved into Internet business as a new medium. These sites may make it seem that jobs are more plentiful than they actually are. Many jobs are advertised on the website of more than one agency. They are readily identifiable, since the job summaries resemble each other albeit couched in dissimilar language varying according to whoever wrote them. Should you find the advert on one job site, and send in your CV, there’s no point in applying for it twice on another board.

In addition, there are some mysterious jobs that are repeatedly re-advertised. I have applied for jobs shown on these online jobs websites, and never even received a rejection letter. Now, had they been overwhelmed by the number of applications, and lacked sufficient time to reply to every single applicant, fair enough. But if that was so, it’s a fair bet that out of the dozens of applicants they heard from, one at a minimum might be selected who was suitable for the vacancy. Unfortunately such is not the case, since the position is then re-listed on the jobs sites, once, twice, or many times again. Hence it seems fair to ask, what on earth is occurring in such cases?

Can it possibly be true that in the depths of a serious jobs shortage, with countless applications for every advertised opening, recruiters are unable to get anybody who is suited for the job?

Basically, I suspect that a lot of these jobs don’t actually exist. An expert in the field has informed me that some employers and agencies use such ads to amass CVs. Then when later on they really do have an employment opportunity, they have a fair impression of the range of potential applicants that are accessible in the jobs market, and can assess how low a salary they can get away with offering.

Many online jobs websites allow you to start jobs bulletins by email, whereby you will be emailed with details of jobs that match your specifications. All too often the jobs may be totally unsuitable, and their relation to what you specified is tenuous at least. From one board which is supposed to provide information on jobs in and near to my town, I am regularly sent emails about opportunities in the Channel Islands! If I was able to work from home in type of Internet business logging into the office, that would be feasible, but not if I need to sell my house and go to live there.

So, what of that other type of online jobs which I alluded to? Many of these involve working for yourself, but they definitely offer the genuine chance to make money, and rather than going after jobs with a somewhat doubtful existence it is valuable to consider investing in attainable Internet business opportunities supported by reputable companies, and work from home to acquire the basic training and start up a successful enterprise. However for those who rely on the online jobs websites, I hope they are successful in telling apart real posts from those of more questionable existence.