The World Wide Web (W3) has created a global economy and world-wide marketplace for job boards and other resources ideal for the individual planning a career move. These resources, in some cases, simplify the job search process. However, some of these resources are more valuable than others.

So which resources are right for you? Each option has pros and cons to consider.

Mega-Job Boards

Open job boards, like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com and Yahoo’s HotJobs offer convenience as their biggest asset.

These mega-job sites advertise heavily, drawing employers in search of the perfect candidate. So if getting your name and credentials out into the marketplace is your only priority, these mega-sites will do the trick.

Simply open an account, post your resume, complete an on-line profile and wait for those job offers to start pouring in. Unfortunately, it could be a long wait. While these sites do have an extensive reach and are well-branded, they’re also open to anyone.

What does that mean to you? Competition by the metric ton. You may have the best experience, a highly-specialized skill set, and be the perfect candidate for that six-figure job opening, but frankly, you’ll be lucky if the HR director even sees your resume. In fact, there are passive job seekers who have been listed on these open job boards for years and have never received a single contact, interview or request for additional information.

To take that next step along your career path, you need recognition. Your expertise must be clear to a potential employer. Your experience must dovetail perfectly with the needs of the hiring company. Problem is, there are 3,128 other candidates all going after that one job, and regardless of how professional your resume, or how well-crafted your cover letter, HR personnel who use these gigantic job boards may not ever see your professional employment package (PEP) because it’s buried under 3,127 other PEPs.

Pros: extensive reach; used by large and small employers; heavily branded.

Cons: global competition; gaining recognition; lack of results.

Company Job Sites

Companies, large and small, often post job openings on their own web sites. Or, in some cases, you’ll see a link that says “Apply With Us” or some such navigation tab. These are companies that have openings NOW! The jobs are posted, all you have to do is apply.

Be prepared. Have your resume written – letter perfect. In fact, create several resumes to suit different job requirements and descriptions. If you are a sales professional, you will have a sales-based resume, a marketing-based resume, a lead generation resume, and so on. This way, you can pick the right resume for the posting on specific company sites.

Same with your cover letter. Create several to highlight your skills and experience. Think of the resume as the skeleton. Use the cover letter to flesh out your skills, experience and career objectives.

Also, before logging on to begin a job search, know exactly what you’re looking for and what you’re willing to do to get that next job. Are you willing to relocate? Easy if it’s just you, but what impact will moving to another location have on your spouse and the kids? Is relocation even a possibility?

Are you willing to work for less if the right job comes along? Good question. Got an answer?

Are you willing to transition out of one industry and adapt your skills and experience to another industry. Today, the average worker will have 6.5 jobs in his or her career, and those 6.5 jobs may force you to take a jog to the right or left along your career path.

Pros: Companies that post for in-house jobs are actively recruiting. They WANT you to apply. There’s less competition than you’ll find on open job boards so you’ll stand out in the crowd because the crowd is much smaller. Finally, there’s often a contact number on the company web site. Call it to ensure that your resume, cover letter, certifications, licenses and other elements of your PEP reach the right set of hands.

Cons: The time factor. This is the biggest negative. You have to find company web sites within your area of expertise, you have to check back often to see if new job posts have been uploaded, and you have to visit a lot of company sites.

One tip: create alerts using your email service. For example, let’s say you’re a lawyer. Create alerts for the keywords “legal job openings,” “jobs for lawyers,” and so on. This way, job openings are delivered automatically to your email inbox. It’s a real time saver when you need to find a job like YESTERDAY.

Government Agency Job Boards

The state of Connecticut has its own job board. So does the province of British Columbia. These government-supported job boards are created by the State Department of Labor or The State Department of Unemployment.

You’ll also find federal and provincial job boards available with a click. Now, don’t set your expectations too high, here. These job posts are usually for entry-level positions, part-time and even temporary jobs, but you never know what you’ll find.

Again, it doesn’t cost anything to open an account to post your resume and create a professional profile, so you don’t have much to lose except a little time. Also, these government job boards usually have a notification system that will email you when a possible job opening that fits your skills and experience is posted. So, provide a current email address and all contact information.

You may find your next job in your inbox tomorrow morning.

Pros: Listings of government jobs across an entire region; local job openings within your own community; no cost; broad spectrum of job opportunities.

Cons: The competition thing, again. These open job boards are visited hundreds – thousands of time a day, so to stand out you have to have a pretty impressive resume. BTW, if you don’t know how to write a resume, hire a professional. No one has ever been hired based on a resume alone, but a solid resume will get your foot in the door and get you some face time with an HR recruiter. Keep your resume up-to-date as well, regardless of where you post.

Industry-Specific Recruitment Sites

There are job sites that cover specific industries, and these often deliver the best outcomes during a job search.

There’s a job board for pharmaceutical professionals, medical professionals, teaching and academic services professionals, carpenters, oil riggers – you name it, there’s a specialized job board for just about any industry niche.

There’s usually no charge to post your resume to these sites, but if the site does charge a fee, move on to the next site. If you’re looking for a job, you shouldn’t ever pay a fee to a recruiting and placement service within your industry. You and your fellow job seekers are the website’s inventory. You are the resource they “sell” to employers so do not ever pay an up-front fee. Your experience and skills have value to that industry-specific recruitment and placement agency.

Pros: These sites know the industry and are usually well-connected with numerous contacts in many different companies. There are fewer competitors for the same job, though the competition may be more qualified. After all, you’re in the same industry. Also, these web sites usually maintain databases of active and passive job seekers so placing a resume, cover letter and creating a profile is a good idea, even if your career development plans are a little fuzzy at the moment. You never know when you’ll get a phone call asking if you’re available for an initial interview.

Cons: The biggest negative to industry-specific job boards and recruitment services is the level of competition. You’re competing with job seekers who have more experience or a deeper skill set. Still, these recruitment services are plugged into the industry. They know where the jobs are – today.

The key to success is to take a pro-active stance during your job search. If you’re sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring after sending out 100 PEPs blind, good luck. You may be waiting a long, long time.

Get out there. Get on-line and post. Post to the mega-sites because they’re free, though the likelihood of finding the ideal job is pretty slim. At least your name, your experience – the professional you – has a presence on Monster.com or HotJobs.com.

Do your research. Visit web sites of companies who post job openings on their own sites. And, if the company offers an APPLY WITH US tab, click it and open an account. Use the best resume and cover letter to suit the needs of that potential employer. And check back often.

Contact your local community, state or regional job boards. Again