Print Article for : Why The Internet Is Bad

Your Online Guide » Education and Teaching » Cover Letter

[W789]Why The Internet Is Bad

by Stephen Van Vreede, Ste

So here you are, a fresh-faced job seeker with a professionally written resume in hand (or on your hard drive, anyway). You are a mixture of emotions: anxious, a little excited, uncertain, maybe even a bit bitter about having to look for a new job in the first place. But most of all, you are hopeful.

You've heard about all these great online job posting sites where employers list job after job. You've heard that these sites are a buzz with hungry recruiters and hiring managers just waiting for good candidates. So of course you are hopeful. Who wouldn't be?

It sounds so easy…and so quick.

But after a few frustrating weeks, you soon find out that it is anything but easy or quick. You've spent practically whole days combing the Internet, uploading your resume everywhere, replying to posting after posting…and what do you have to show for it? Probably very little.

Now you're experiencing even more emotions, including anger. And you are ready to blame someone. You probably start with your resume writer because after all you spent good money to see results. And so far, you aren't seeing results!

Before you clobber your resume writer, however, let me clue you in on a dirty, little secret: Online job posting sites are the most ineffective way to get a job!

Yes, it is true. And the bigger they are, the more ineffective they seem to be. Depending on which report you find, these sites have a less than 4% effectiveness rate. And when you ask most job seekers where they spend the bulk of their job-seeking time, they will tell you that they spend 85-90% of it on the Internet.

I know, I know. These sites are popping up everywhere. And why not? Job seekers are now convinced that they are the answer to their prayers.

It's sad, really, because although the Internet is definitely a great research tool and has some great resources, it has really taken on a reputation that it cannot live up to, particularly when it comes to the job search.

Why don't these sites work? The reasons are diverse, but essentially, many companies post for positions that they either end up filling internally or through other connections (referrals, recruiters, etc.). Employers are often bombarded with applications through these postings, and it can take them weeks to get through them all. In many cases, they may even give up looking through these applicants to pursue some other avenue for finding the best candidate.

Listen. At the end of the day, a job search is all about action. And although these sites keep you busy filling in online questionnaires and uploading files, more times than not, your info ends up in some black hole, never to see the light of day again. So all that time you spent equates to nothing more than busy work.

Does that mean I think you shouldn't bother with these sites? Not necessarily. I think you need to be careful in the ones you choose to spend time with. Find ones that are more local to your area and specialize in your field. Don't get waste time with too many, and instead use the Internet to research companies, hear about potential openings, link up with old colleagues, and find valuable resources like group job hunting forums.

A successful credit dispute letter is a wonderful thing. It can delete negative items from your credit report and eventually raise your credit score. It can stop a collection company from harassing you. You will reap the rewards of lower interest rates and a more secure financial life. Why risk success by filing your disputes with the credit reporting bureaus and financial institutions over the Internet?

There are companies who offer automated credit dispute letters on their website, for a "small fee" of course. These "boilerplate" letters have a low rate of success. Can you imagine being at the receiving end of this endless stream of almost identical dispute letters? It almost verges on being a spam attack. How would you respond to thousands of machine-written letters? Not well, I suspect.

The key to a successful credit dispute letter is a custom written document that concisely and clearly states your case. It has to appeal to the person who will be reading it. Tell your story in human terms and cite specific facts, and you will be much more likely to win.

Know who you are writing to, and customize your letter accordingly. A letter written to a credit reporting bureau asking them to delete incorrect data from your credit report should be very different from a letter going out to a collection agency that is harassing you.

Documentation that backs up your claim is critical. Do you have cancelled checks or a bank statement that clearly shows payment of a disputed bill? Make a copy of your documentation (never send the original), and include it with your letter. Just how can you send documentation if you use one of those Internet-based dispute letter mills? You can't!

You may be tempted to quote the law in your dispute letter, particularly if you think that the other party has violated the law with their actions. Resist that temptation. Reproducing the wording of a law or regulation in the text of your letter is NOT helpful. Remember, that although your dispute may be with the organization, it is a real, live PERSON who will be reading your letter. Appeal to their emotions. Maybe your financial problems were brought on by an illness or a divorce that caused a loss of income. Share that information with them in your letter.

Be sure to include your complete contact information in your letter. Provide your mailing address, email address, home phone number, and even your cell phone number if you want. And if your identity is in question, include copies of two forms of identification with your letter, such as a driver's license or page from a passport.

Don't trust an Internet-based spam mill to generate a stream of credit dispute letters for you. Your financial well-being is at stake. Spend the time to write correspondence that clearly addresses your problem. If you need help in crafting this type of letter, there are some good resources available to you in the form of manuals that provide samples of effective dispute letters. Just be sure to customize your dispute letter, and you will be successful.

Article Source : Pg. 23

About Author

Both Stephen Van Vreede & Jay Peters are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Stephen Van Vreede has sinced written about articles on various topics from Get Ex Back, Careers and Job Hunting and Cover Letter. My company is called No Stone Unturned, and I am an MBA and certified professional résumé writer (CPRW). I have been in the career consulting business since 2002 with an additional 8 years of corporate hiring experience. You can check out my website at. Stephen Van Vreede's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.

Jay Peters has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bad Credit Loans, Free Credit Report Score and Credit Counseling. To learn the inside secrets to fixing your credit fast, visit the author's website: . Jay Peters's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.