These days, many people begin the hunt for a new job online. But if it sometimes feels like your resume is getting sucked into a black hole, never to be seen or heard from again, don't get discouraged—read on for our top picks of sites that will help you find -- and nail! -- the job of your dreams. Armed with the right resources, navigating the working world, and your new place in it, will be a piece of cake!

 

Careerbuilder.com takes the word "comprehensive" to whole new heights. In addition to the standard job search/resume post engine, this site offers all manner of offbeat advice, along the lines of "Dirty Jobs (And the Workers Who Take Them On)," "10 Sexy Careers You Never Thought Of," and "Finding a Job When You Don't Know What You Want to Do." So be prepared to sift, but it's worth it in the end because you come out much wiser, and hopefully even more gainfully employed. 

Linkedin.com is a unique take on the typical job search routine, because it's less about trolling through or posting your resume and more about the all-important enterprise of networking. Having a personal connection or reference for a particular job is the single easiest way to get your foot in the door for an interview, and Linkedin.com allows this to happen in the same way a social networking site does: You can (re)connect with people you know, just as you would do on Facebook, MySpace, or elsewhere. Similarly, Linkedin gives you direct access to people—you can email them directly and really introduce yourself and your resume.  The second tier is a job search function within your network (e.g., if you type in the key word "Sales," everyone in your network in that field will be grouped for your convenience). Ultimately, even if it's a placebo effect, Linkedin gives the impression that your career profile actually gets to someone by using the site.

 

Job.com is a very manageable and readable site tailored to localities, and to people who have firm ideas of where they want to live. Other online job resources often produce a rash of postings with no geographic filtering, but this site first and foremost delineates where you want to be. Once you click on, for instance, "Jacksonville Jobs," you find yourself in an incredibly comprehensive categorical (and alphabetical) breakdown. Interested in "Activism Jobs"? "Call Center Jobs"? "Manufacturing Jobs"? No problem. Job.com has all of those and a lot more.

 

Similarly, Indeed.com is a no frills site that on its home page asks for nothing more than two things: job title, keywords or company name, and zip code. Based on that, it pulls up appropriate matches. This site is not for the browser among us: the more specific your search, the better. Indeed.

 

TheLadders.com is a job site that touts itself as "Only $100k+ Jobs. Only $100k+ Candidates"—in other words, its function is to connect people who need, want, and deserve to make six figures, and the employers hiring at that level. TheLadders.com also claims that despite a rather sluggish economy and mass layoffs, there's still growth in their high-level category of jobs. Whether that remains true or not is anyone's guess, but there's nothing wrong with aiming high!

 

Ahh, the old stand-bys! Monster.com and Hotjobs.com (now Yahoo! Hotjobs) are the pioneers of the online job search engine, and in the case of these two, experience pays off. They're two of the more aesthetically pleasing, easily navigable, and informative sites out there—they deliver and then some. The only downfall with their brand recognition? They're two of the most widely used sites by job seekers, diluting your chances of finding the perfect position.

 

Collegegrad.com is an excellent tool for college students and recent graduates who are looking to land their first internship or paying job. As the "Number One Entry Level Job Site," the site is obviously geared toward the lower rung of the career ladder. But hey, you have to start somewhere!

 

It's not just for finding a place to live: Craigslist.com also has a plethora of job openings across every key industry and in every major (and even not so major) U.S. and international city. But buyer beware: the (unvetted) accessibility of the posts on this site can lead to a much higher incidence of false or misleading job advertisement. Craigslist's biggest strength is its listing of jobs found in the service industry (bartending, waiting tables, managing, etc.)—always a good way to make quick cash, especially during an economic downturn.

 

Finally, don't rule out going directly to companies' websites: it may just be your bet for researching specific people to reach out to, as well as getting the quickest response, and potentially a higher salary and better benefits.