Search and ye shall find. (using search engines)(includes related articles on the Internet)

Learning to use search engines and review sites are critical skills that are beneficial for anyone using the Net. Because cyberspace is so vast, many sites are devoted solely to helping you find information. To make the most of the resources available, you have to know two things: what you are looking for and what tools are best suited for your needs.

What are you looking for?

This might sound like a simple question, but it's not. Let's say that you want to find a list of diversity training programs. If you plug those keywords into one of the larger search engines, such as AltaVista, you'll probably end up with a list of suppliers rather than a comprehensive list of programs. And even if you do stumble upon a list, it may not be geographically appropriate. Try to think about a search before you even log onto the Net. Write down key words and phrases that will help keep you focused. Think of alternative words or less-common spellings. With a little planning, you'll save yourself time and connect charges.

Yahoo! http://www.yahoo.com.

This is a great place to begin a search. It is a hierarchically arranged subject index and is particularly useful if you're not exactly sure what you want. In addition, the sites listed in Yahoo! are reviewed and updated daily by an editorial staff. The opening page contains such categories as News and Media, Business and Economics, and Reference. Each time you click on a subject, more specialized links are displayed. For example, subcategories of Business and Economics include …