Investigate the Opportunities
One of the first steps in searching for a job is gathering information on prospective employers. Virtually every corporation has its own Web site with details of its business line, corporate objectives, history, office locations and philosophy. Take advantage of this one-stop source to help you find out the answers to the following questions:

• What products or services does the company sell? If this is a public accounting firm, what lines of service are offered to clients?
• Who are the key executives and what is the background of each? 
• What are the company’s values and mission statement?
• What significant achievements or setbacks has the company experienced in the last two to three years?
• How long has the company been in business?

Also look for articles online about industry-related events and general business trends. Most major magazines and trade publications offer electronic versions of their hard-copy editions, with access to archived copies of many news stories. In addition, government Web sites such as The Departments of Treasury (www.dot.gov), Commerce (www.doc.gov) and Labor (www.dol.gov) offer research reports on regional economic activity and occupational growth forecasts. All of this information will prepare you for a potential interview, giving you added confidence and making it that much easier to ask and answer industry specific questions.

Connect with Career Sites
Online job boards, staffing firm Web sites and corporate sites all are excellent avenues for developing job leads. Many recruiting firm Web sites can also offer value-added services, such as tailored search capabilities in accounting and finance. Look for firms that have local representatives who can discuss your career goals with you face-to-face if you desire further assistance.

Applying for Positions Online
Once you’ve found an ideal opportunity, the next step usually requires sending your resume electronically or posting it directly to the employer’s Web site. Many companies now accept resumes directly, but proceed with caution and follow directions, as many human resource departments have specific requirements, such as whether they prefer to receive your resume as an attachment or embedded in the e-mail itself.

In addition to a traditional, formatted resume that you can mail or hand directly to the hiring manager, it’s also helpful to prepare one in a plain-text (ASCII) format that doesn’t include graphics such as bullets or fancy fonts. This format is ideal for e-mailing because it’s supported by nearly every application on every machine.

Get the most out of your time online
There are numerous online resources and services, and sorting through them all can seem a little overwhelming. Start by deciding what you want to accomplish in each online session – whether it’s finding a specific type of accounting position or a job located in a particular geographic region. Then determine how much time you can afford to spend on your search, and make sure that you stay within your guidelines. Developing a plan before going online will help you stay focused and will also make your searches more productive.

Sometimes there’s no way to avoid having to filter through the vast amount of information online before finding what you need. Be patient, though. With a little resourcefulness, you can locate the tools you need for an effective and successful job search.

We live in a world of increasingly innovative technology that affects almost every aspect of our business endeavors. Job hunting is no exception. Tapped effectively, the Web can open virtual career doors like never before.