In January, the Financial Post reported an increase in job vacancies across many different sectors, which means that it's a great time for people looking for a job since they have lots of options and can be picky with their choices. If you are about to start a job hunt, you may want to shift your focus to online employment platforms. Job platforms have a variety of benefits. They are convenient since you don't need to travel anywhere to apply; they have a variety of listed positions and employers, and they allow you to quickly apply for many jobs at once. Here are four tips to improve your job search when using these types of platforms.

Make Use of Site Filters

One of the strengths of online employment platforms is that they have extensive lists of job postings. However, this abundance of information can be a downside if you don't use site filters. Instead of wasting time scrolling through hundreds of jobs, be sure to use site filters to narrow down:

• Your preferred working hours
• Your preferred job title within a given sector
• Your wage expectations
• Whether you want to work remotely or in-office
• Whether you want to work part-time or full-time

If you aren't finding exactly what you need, you can also save your filter settings so that the online platform can notify you of any new job listings that check all of your parameters.

Consider Creating an Account on the Platform  

One great feature of many employment platforms is that you can create an account on the site instead of linking a private email. Some accounts may be free while others may require you to pay a fee to get access to specialized features. One benefit of having an account is that you can set up a resume or portfolio page on the site so that recruiters can easily reach out to you.

Read Through Each Application with Fresh Eyes

Because you may be applying to many jobs with similar titles and job duties, it can be easy for your eyes to glaze over small differences in the application steps. Be sure to take breaks during your job hunt and read each application with fresh eyes. For example, one recruiter may only want to see your resume, but another employer may also want you to attach a cover letter or complete a personality quiz. If you forget a certain step in your application, the recruiter may opt to pass over your application since you didn't follow directions.

Have Someone Proofread Your Resume Before Submitting

One great advantage of online employee platforms is the ability to save and submit a resume to multiple companies in a few clicks. This advantage can be a double-edged sword, however. If you don't proofread your resume, then that means that grammatical errors, outdated information, and/or missing contact information will get sent to numerous hiring managers. Before submitting multiple copies of your resume, it may be worth it to contact an editor or freelance writer to look over your documents. If a writer is out of your budget, it's still worth it to have a friend or family member look over your resume since they may catch mistakes that you have missed.

Reach out to an online employment platform service in your area for more information.