The time draws near when Daddy’s pocketbook no longer opens at your wish. No need for worry though; you’re all grown up, and it’s time to earn your keep. Now the only question is: Who in the world is actually going to hire me? Job searching Web sites such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com have become a popular way to find out about potential careers, overtaking print medium want-ads because of the ease of use and practically unlimited space, according to a PBS Frontline news special about converging media. These two sites respectively attract 18 and 21 million unique visitors a month, more traffic than other job search engines according to their company representatives.

Randy Horne, senior advertising/public relations major, said he used these sites and Hotjobs.yahoo.com to find work. He said each Web site houses practically identical features, and employers typically post the same jobs on all three sites.

Horne, 22, said he got a few job offers but wasn’t satisfied because, “they didn’t want to pay me enough paper.”

Employment-seekers looking to work in a specific field or geographic area might try one of the many specialized job search systems, including USAjobs.org, which focuses on government jobs, and Texasjobs.com, focusing solely on the Lone Star State.

Job-hunt.org is a Web site specifically tailored to inform people who have lost their jobs or have struggled to find one. An advice piece found on the site labeled “The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes” states that the Internet is a valuable tool to find jobs, but job-seekers do themselves a great disservice by using an Internet-only approach to find a dream job.

“Even if you have a job and can only job hunt at home in your spare time, don’t focus all of your attention online,” according to the Job-hunt.org Web site.

According to Job-hunt.org, “People are hired by people, so the Internet is only useful as a way to reach the people with the job opportunities. Use the Internet as a part of your job search toolkit.”

Kimshi Hickman, associate director of University Career Services, echoes this sentiment. She said the best approach to finding a job is to use a variety of job-seeking methods. Hickman said one benefit that can’t be found on a job Web site is the social network.

“Networking is key to finding a job,” Hickman said. “Don’t wait until you graduate to start. Your network is anyone that you know. Talk with the people in your network, regardless of whether you think they have a job in the area you’re looking for or not.”

Although networking gives the job seeker a definite edge, some employers solely use job posting sites in a relatively new practice as a measure to avoid discrimination, Hickman said.

Aside from visiting the career center and frequently skimming through Frogjobs.net, UCS’ job Web site designed specifically for TCU, Hickman suggested that students search thoroughly and start soon.

“Truly you want to find a job before it hits the networks,” Hickman said, “and your competition becomes thousands of other people.