The simple and honest answer is no single resource actually provides job seekers with complete and comprehensive listing service but you can get very close if you use the Internet carefully and understand what it is showing you.
Many websites are poorly maintained and updated. So by the time you get to read the information they have it is frequently so out of date as to be of no use to you. Some web- sites and recruiters are also interested only in collecting your resume so they can pitch them at potential employer clients in exchange for fees and commissions without your needs or requirements being addressed as to whether this would be a good career move for you or whether you could in fact have gotten a better deal with the same employer or elsewhere. Almost all employers providing food services of America jobs and vacancies will be advertising positions outside of traditional media outlets and channels (including Internet) and many recruiting agencies are not going to be able to collate all of this information either, so for the most part, you should always question what the web is showing you.
Take a look at the advice we have compiled here for you to use when assessing Internet resources and how to use the web to your own advantage when it comes to getting ahead in the race for catering service jobs.
Check the Credibility of the Web Service
We can all put a search string into a search engine and look at the thousands of web sites that come up on the listings but this simply does not cut it anymore. A professional looking website can be created in an hour for a few dollars (and we mean less than $10!) but behind the sleek and glossy imagery there will be nothing of substance to back up the claims of the site owners. Just performing a simple check of the site owners contact information will tell you whether they are legitimate or not; if they do not provide a physical mailing address or a landline telephone number then you are well advised to avoid using them.
Are Fees being Charged?
The traditional web service does not charge job seekers but instead charges the employers who are looking to fill their vacancies. Job seekers get a free ride as they can use the service for free but as we are all aware, there is no such thing as a free lunch and not even for those of us working in the catering business!
Think about this - you are an employer will you be paying hundreds and thousands of dollars for promoting a vacancy?
No single website is going to be able to convince every employer with a vacancy to advertise with them. It’s just not possible.
So how comprehensive can a web service really be if it is charging an employer a fee to advertise?
The straight answer is that they cannot and never will be able to provide a comprehensive listing of vacancies in any employment sector and it is only when employers are not charged for listing their vacancies that you start to get a comprehensive listing service being produced. The downside is of course someone still has to pay and that is the job seeker but then they are getting a very good deal for not very much in terms of cost.
Websites who charge the individual members for access while providing free access for employers provide the best databases of vacancies in the country.
Your Resume
A resume needs to be protected as it is a document of your life and has a great deal of your personal and private information which any identity thief would be very happy to get into their possession.
You must ensure that the web service you use has a secure and effective tool for managing who gets your resume and when they can receive it as well as making sure you provide positive agreement to your resume being released.
Moreover, your resume is the most powerful tool you have when it comes to convincing an employer who does not know you that you are in fact someone they should be considering for the vacancy. A good web service will give you the tools to create and manage your resume, including different versions of your resume for use with different employers who are looking for varying skills and experience which you can highlight just for them.
Control and security are the key issues that should be addressed by a web service so you get the most out of your resume but in a safe and secure fashion.
Summary
You have a very powerful tool at your disposal with the Internet but it is a dumb and very blunt instrument unless you understand what is being shown to you. Just because you read something on a website does not mean it is true nor that it is good value for money or indeed is providing you with any value in your job search. Always ask questions and as soon as a service provider is unable to give you a satisfactory answer, then you know it’s time to look elsewhere for help in getting the best out of the jobs market.
