Applying for a job through a gigantic online job portal can feel like floating your resume into an empty black hole. Applying for jobs on a company’s Web site sometimes doesn’t seem much better, especially since many computers weed out resumes that don’t contain specific keywords before humans even have a chance to review the resumes.

A strategy that is working for job hunters in these employment-challenged times involves placing a resume on an industry-specific Web site. According to a survey by Weddle, an employment resource center, 41 percent of employers use online jobs sites as part of their hiring process. This means that if you’re a job seeker, instead of posting on a generic job site, try posting your resume on sites dedicated to your industry.

FreshGigs.ca, for example, is a Canadian Web site specializing in marketing, communications and creative jobs. “I love being able to access a site that focuses on marketing, creative and communications jobs,” says Janet Mitchell, Director of Communications and Public Education for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. “I can find candidates whose experience is truly relevant to what I'm looking for.”

Industry-specific job sites provide a refreshing alternative to the feeding trough approach of companies like Monster or Workopolis for employers seeking workers. In fact, 54.1 percent of employers who hired from an industry-specific website said that the quality of the workers that they found was above average or that the workers that they hired were among their best employees.

Only 11 percent of hiring managers said that they posted jobs on their own company’s site, and only 5.4 percent posted jobs through social media. Nearly 70 percent of job applicants expect to find their next job online, and trends suggest that job seekers should focus on sites specific to their industries.

Web sites like CallMeStaffing.com specialize in jobs for the call center industry, while others like 86Network.com focus on jobs in the restaurant industry and MediaBistro.com caters to applicants in communications. A Web site exists for nearly every industry that can open the door to a much more successful job search.

PwC recruiting leader Holly Paul suggests also creating a strong LinkedIn (News - Alert) profile to make yourself more industry-specific. “[It is like] having a business listing in the yellow pages,” she said. “It shows you are proactively taking part in the professional community.”