by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Here are the keys to successfully navigating your next job search on the Internet. Follow these simple Internet job-search rules and you should achieve success in this strategic tool of job-hunting.

• Do make job-hunting on the Internet an integral part of your job-search strategy. And do utilize all the job-hunting tools the Net offers beyond job sites.

• Don't expect the Internet to be the magic elixir that gets you a new job...perhaps as many as five percent of job-seekers find a job solely through the Internet.

• Do be sure to use all possible job sites, including the general job sites (such as our job board), as well as industry-specific sites, geographic-specific sites, and job-seeker-specific sites.

• Do take advantage of all the features each job site offers you, including posting your resume, searching (or browsing) for jobs, and registering for job search agents.

• Don't be passive in your job-search. Do post your resume and apply for jobs, but then don't just sit back -- follow-up with each potential employer.

• Do consider using online newspaper classified want ads as part of your job search strategy.

• Do take advantage of all the resources on the Internet to conduct company research. See our Guide to Researching Companies.

• Don't spend all your job-hunting time in cyberspace. Integrate your Internet job search into a comprehensive job-search campaign that devotes plenty of time to traditional job-hunting techniques, such as cold-calling , developing a great resume and especially, networking.

• Do pay close attention to each employer's or recruiter's instructions for submitting your resume in response to a job posting. Should it be emailed, emailed as an attachment, faxed? What type of resume?

• Do consider using a resume distribution service. These services "blast" your resume to thousands of recruiters, headhunters, and potential employers -- for a fee.

• Don't respond to job postings that you aren't qualified for -- you're just adding to the clutter employers need to sift through -- and you're just wasting your time and the employer's time.

• Do consider putting one or more versions of your resume on the Web, giving employers 24/7 access to your credentials. And do consider developing a Web-based portfolio. Finally, do make sure you submit your Web pages to key search engines.

• Do go directly to each employer's Website and browse current job openings, review the employer's requirements, and apply to each employer directly. See our Quintessential Directory of Company Career Centers.

• Do know key strategies for sending email cover letters. And do know how to prepare a scannable resume.

• Do take advantage of our Guides to Job-Hunting on the Internet -- one for students and one for established job-seekers -- to help you learn how to maximize your Internet job-hunting experience. And do read our article, Maximize Your Internet Job Search.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.

Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.

Read all our job-hunting do's and don'ts.