How to set up Chrome for a job search

Although technology has put thousands of opportunities within our reach, it is imperative to optimize our job search for maximum efficiency. The more specific and intelligent our job search is, the better our chances of finding our dream job.

A good web browser can help you during your job search, and the way you set it up can make a big difference in the success of your job search. Since Chrome is a favorite among job seekers, this article covers tips and tricks to optimize Chrome for your job search.

1. Create a dedicated Chrome profile

To focus your job search, it’s essential to clear the clutter from your browser. For this reason, the first thing you should do is create a dedicated Chrome profile for a job search.

With your new profile ready, you can add extensions relevant to your job search, bookmark only the useful pages, and not let anything distract you while you search. Follow the steps below to create a dedicated Chrome profile:

1. Start Chrome.
2. In the upper right corner, click the profile menu.
3. At the bottom of the menu, click + Add.

4. Click on Log in.
5. Sign in with your email address and password.
6. Click on the yes i’m in button.

2. Make sure sync is turned on

Your browser settings should not be limited to one computer. Instead, you should be able to pick up your job search where you last left off, regardless of your location or device. By enabling sync in your browser, you can easily achieve this.

While Chrome prompts you to enable sync when you sign in, and you may have already done so if you followed the instructions in step one carefully, it’s worth double-checking. Follow the steps below to confirm that sync is enabled:

1. In the upper right corner, click three vertical dots and click Settings.
2. Then click Sync and Google services.

You’re ready to go if you see that sync is already enabled in the right pane. Otherwise, you must click the Turn on sync… button to enable it.

3. Install relevant extensions

Browser extensions make your browser more functional and help you be more productive. Here are some types of extensions that you should install:

• Grammar Checker Extension: The grammar checker extension ensures that your written communications remain error-free. Grammarly is one of the most popular grammar checkers, but you can also try other options.
• Email Signature Extension: Email Signature Extension allows you to create a signature containing your contact information and add it to your email platform. So the next time you send an email, the signature will be added automatically.
• password managerNote: Since you will be applying for numerous jobs on different websites, you will need a reliable password manager extension to keep track of your credentials. Among the popular extensions, LastPass is a good choice.
• Read Later Extension– A read later extension allows you to save any useful web content that you want to read later. Among the things you can save in this extension can include interview tips articles, a list of open jobs, and much more. You should check out Save to Pocket, a handy extension to read later.

4. Create dedicated tab groups

The convenience of having a dedicated Chrome profile makes managing your job search easier, but grouping your tabs by job search activity will streamline the process even more. For example, you can create a dedicated tab group that includes websites of those companies you have already applied to.

In the same way, you can categorize all job search websites in a separate group to keep things simple. This way, instead of having to remember each website and open them individually, you can open the group of tabs and browse all the websites within that group.

You can create a group of tabs by right-clicking on any tab and selecting Add tab to new group from the context menu. Then give the group a name, select a color and press Get into.

To add a new tab to an existing tab group, right-click the tab and select Add tab to group > [group name].

Check out our article to learn more about managing tab groups in Google Chrome and how to use them efficiently.

5. Add Specific Websites to Chrome Site Search

With Chrome’s Find Sites feature, you can search for information on a specific website directly from the browser’s address bar. Once you add the website to your site’s search list, you need to enter the assigned shortcut, press the space bar, enter the keyword, and Chrome will open the website with the relevant search results.

Let’s put Crossover, a recruiting platform, into Chrome’s site search to see how it works:

1. In the upper right corner, click three vertical dots and select Settings.
2. In the left sidebar, click the Seeker.
3. In the right pane, click Manage search engines and site search.

4. Beside site searchclick on the Add button.

5. In the Seeker field, enter “crossover.com“, “Cross” in the Shortcut field, and “https://www.crossover.com/jobs?search=%s“ in the last field.
6. After filling in the fields, click Add.

7. Enter “crossover” in the address bar, which you had set as a shortcut, and press the space bar. This will open the site search in the address bar, as shown below.

8. Enter your query and press Get intoand the website will direct you to search results on the added website.

6. Configure Web Clipper

During a job search, we often have to bookmark important pages, capture screenshots of relevant information, and copy and paste the job description to review later. While these tasks can be accomplished in the browser in a number of ways, a web clipper makes the process simpler.

For example, OneNote Web Clipper is simply an extension that allows you to perform all the tasks mentioned above in just a few clicks. In addition, it also allows you to save the desired information from within the extension, so you don’t have to spend time browsing your hard drive.

You can set up OneNote Web Clipper in your browser by following these steps:

1. Visit the OneNote Web Clipper extension page on the Chrome web store.
2. Click on the Add to Chrome option.

3. Then click add extension.
4. Click the extension and sign in with your Microsoft, school, or work account.

5. To successfully sign in, follow the instructions on the screen.

Upon completion of the login process, you will see four options when you click on the extension again. What each option does is the following:

• Full page: Captures an image of the entire web page you are on.
• Region: Capture a screenshot of your preferred region on the site.
• Article: Save the web page as editable text.
• Marker: Make a bookmark of the URL you are visiting.

To use either option, click on the extension, choose a relevant option, and select a location on your computer where you’d like to save the clipped information. Once this is done, press Shorten to capture and save the information.

Improve your job search with Chrome

Hopefully, the tips above will help you maximize the efficiency of your job search with Chrome. While these tips can help you improve your job search, choosing the right job search platform is just as important.

LinkedIn is a great platform for job seekers, but not many take advantage of the platform’s marketing tools. Use LinkedIn InMail, join LinkedIn groups, and other tools to take your job search to the next level if you haven’t already.