Many companies are now turning more and more to the Internet for their employees. According to an industry study by Booz Allen Hamilton, the Internet produced 51 percent of US new hires 2005. This percentage includes an employers web site (21 percent), general job boards such as CareerBuilder.com (15 percent), niche job boards (6 percent), social networking technology (5 percent), and commercial resume databases (4 percent).

This trend in using the Internet to find employees will only increase as resume tracking technology improves. The following are some strategies to help you in your next job search.

1. Use an online job board - Most Job boards are free to use and join for the employee. These places allow you to place your resume online for perspective employers to see. Some job boards such as CareerBuilder.com now offer to send you emails with jobs matching your particular profile. If anything, it is a quick way to know what is online.

2. Go to a specific company website - Many companies first place new career opening on their own sites first. For that reason, if you are interested in a specific company you may want to go to their career site first.

3. Dont forget to network - We hear it repeatedly. It is not about what you know, but whom you know. In the last ten years, professional organizations have become so popular that many now have their own job boards for members. Networking has become an essential part in any job search.

4. When posting your resume to a job board, company, or resume database, make sure you fill out all the information requested. Many companies are using resume-tracking systems and these questions are many times the first step in the resume screening process. By answering all the questions asked by the systems, you increase your chances of getting through this first screening.

5. Before looking for a job make sure your personal house is in order, today, many companies are including extensive background, drug, and credit checks in their interviewing process. Many recruiters encourage their candidates to be up front about any issues that may come up because of a background or drug check. It is also a good idea to request your credit report prior to starting a job search, just to make sure everything is correct. Interviewing is stressful enough without the unexpected happening.

In todays complicated world, job searches have become almost an art form by following a few helpful steps you can assure greater success in finding your next position.