Now that you’re divorced, are you in the market for a new job? Well, you’re not alone. Recently, Yahoo! HotJobs (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com) surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. workers and found nearly half plan to search for a new job within the next year. Additionally, that number only represents those who will actively look. Another two-thirds of currently employed respondents said they may not actively seek out a new job, but that they would be open to one if the right opportunity came along.       

Whatever is motivating you to seek out a new employment opportunity  -- whether it’s a recent relocation, the need to earn more money, or an effort to re-enter the workforce now that you’re single and can no longer afford to be a stay-at-home mom -- when you’re ready to begin your job search efforts, the Internet can be a powerful tool.       

As a word processor, your computer can help you create professional-looking resumes and cover letters. As a contact management and scheduling tool, it can assist you in keeping track of potential employers, allow you to track when resumes were sent, when follow ups are needed, and when interviews have been scheduled. When your computer is connected to the Internet, it also becomes a valuable tool for finding job openings, by allowing you to search through thousands of ‘help wanted’ ads and job descriptions in seconds – not hours. It can also be used as a research tool, making it easy to learn about potential employers before your interviews.       

Most recently, job seekers have discovered another way to find job openings using the Web. It’s by tapping into online social networking services, like Linkedin (www.linkedin.com), MySpace (www.myspace.com) and Facebook (www.facebook.com). These services allow you to meet new people with similar personal and professional interests, and then leverage those contacts to make finding and landing a new job easier.       

Even with a computer, the job search process will require significant time, dedication and persistence on your part. However, with the use of a computer and the Internet, certain aspects of this process have become much less time consuming and tedious. No matter what type of job you’re looking to fill, the more education you have, the better qualified you’ll be. The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data proving the substantial value of a degree in the United States.       

According to careeroverview.com, a Web site that offers information for job seekers about specific industries and the current job prospects within them, “Workers 18 and over sporting bachelors degrees earn an average of $51,206 a year, while those with a high school diploma earn $27,915. Workers with an advanced degree make an average of $74,602, and those without a high school diploma average $18,734.” One way to increase your earning potential is to obtain additional education and/or job-related training. 


FINDING SUITABLE OPENINGS

Once you’ve carefully analyzed your skill set, experience, education and overall qualifications, and have matched them up with your career-related interests, it’s time to begin searching for available job opportunities that you’re qualified to fill. The best way to avoid wasting valuable time during your job search is to only pursue jobs you’re actually qualified to fill and that you’d have an interest in taking. There are many ways to find suitable job openings, including: 

1. Searching the ‘Help Wanted’ ads of local newspapers and industry trade magazines.
2. Attending career fairs held in your area
3. Pinpointing specific employers you’d like to work for, and contacting their human resources departments directly
4. Working with a headhunter or employment agency Using your networking skills in order to reach out to the people you know, to determine if they know of available job openings, or if they can help you get your foot in the door at a potential employer through a personal introduction
5. Tapping into the online social networking web sites to meet people working in your industry in hopes of discovering new career opportunities
6. Attending industry-oriented trade shows and conventions
7. Surfing the Internet and utilizing job-related Web sites, such as The Monster Board and Yahoo! HotJobs, to search through thousands of job listings quickly, and apply for suitable jobs online.