Job-hunting has never been as exciting and as efficient as it is now with the abundance of data available via that great information vehicle we all know as the Internet. Nowadays, all you need to do is go online and you immediately gain access to hundreds upon hundreds of websites that carry lists of job vacancies and offer all types of services to job-seekers geared towards helping them land the job they want. Some are dedicated recruitment sites that serve as headhunters for large companies that neither have the time nor the inclination to review hundreds of job application letters.

Despite the encouraging scenario that online application presents, it would be wise for anyone who may be interested to avail himself of this medium to understand that there are certain pros and cons that need to be understood first before actually applying online.

Let's start with the cons.

The major drawback of applying online is that it eliminates the personal touch. Once you have posted your resume and application letter online, you are left with no assurance that they actually reach the intended party or that they are given the importance and attention you wish they would get. You can only hope. Online applications do not allow for a follow up of your application. What's more, statistics show that nationally posted job invites receive over a hundred resumes in just over a weekend. What does this mean? This means the people who have posted these job vacancies, who are themselves too busy to entertain live applications, will not have the time to review this tons of applications they receive. What they do is hire the services of a professional recruiter to sift through the large volume of emails and provide them with the list of top candidates. Because of the large volume of emails received, chances are only the first 100 applications are actually read and processed.

The question then is should you stop applying online? The answer is a resounding no. Definitely not. While applying online may have its drawbacks, it also has its plus side. For one thing, applying online exposes you to a variety of job positions that you may not even know exists but which actually fall within your area of expertise. Some online sites also offer other services that help improve your chances of getting accepted in the job you want like assistance in the preparation of your resume or counseling on the right way to conduct yourself during a job interview. Some large websites even help you save time by directly emailing you a list of job openings that match your interest and talents. These sites are free and only require you to register so that you can store your data online for access in future applications.

Applying for and finding the job you want is a tedious and trying exercise. Help in any form that can make this process easier is most welcome. This is where applying online is most valuable.