Part Time Job Searching for Sites Ending in jobs.com

Hi everybody! Today, I will be taking some time to speak to the person looking for a part-time job.  This is a bit of a departure from what is usually a more career-oriented column but I feel this information is valuable as well.  You can conduct an online job search for a part time job the same way you can for a full time job.  The same practices apply- always make sure you have an alternative to email or other online contact such as voicemail, an answering machine, or a cellular phone.  If you are "pounding the pavement"- walking into retail stores- you should be prepared for an interview on the spot, as you may be offered an immediate interview.  You can also try some of the lower-profile, but still large, job boards on the Internet, such as Go Jobs.com.

All of the big national boards have search engines and sections for part time employment, and there are job boards on the Internet specifically set up for part-time work, too.  The great thing about these boards is that you can usually apply for part time hourly positions right from your computer desk! Most of the major retailers, such as Target or Wal-Mart, have special sections- ending in jobs.com- designed to help streamline the process of hiring hourly workers.

Most online applications for part-time work are the same as those for full-time jobs- they will require contact information, education, and employment history, as well as salary information and your availability. Some of these applications will also ask for references.

Don't limit yourself to looking online.  Make sure you keep aware of your environment, and be observant of new employment opportunities.  Many retail establishments keep "Now Hiring" signs in their windows when they have opportunities available, and you can always ask to speak to a manager if it doesn't look like the business is hiring- they may have unadvertised opportunities available.  Also, many of the smaller employers advertise on sites such as Craigslist, and the printed paper can be a good resource as well.

Remember, also, that you're not on your own- there's help out there!  There a multitude of both free and very inexpensive resources available to assist you in your job search, including college student employment offices, the state Department of Labor, your high school guidance office, or the public library, too!

You definitely don't want your social/professional network to grow stagnant, either- many, if not most, part-time jobs are not advertised.  Make sure everyone you know is aware that you're looking for a job- networking really does work!