How to minimize the effect of rising gas prices on your job search

It's never been a better time to search online for a job. Employers want to be where the job seekers go--and more than 30 million alone go to Snagajob. Because employers are flocking to job sites alongside job seekers, job openings are fast and easy to find from the comfort of your home, where you won't have to pay a pretty penny for gas if you decide to apply.

Here's Ayla's story:

Snagajob member Ayla recently shared her story with us: "I applied at soo many places and never heard anything. I wasted gas driving 20 minutes away trying to find a job because nobody was calling me back from where I lived and finally I received an email from the district manager at Wendys. Thank you Snagajob!!!!!"

If the employer requires you to come in to apply--say the company's holding a job fair (here's what to expect at a job fair) or conducting group interviews (here's how to stand out)-then there are some things you can do to get the most mileage out of your job search in the face of rising gas prices:

Do little things to improve fuel efficiency--according to a recently-aired interview with Rebekah Fleischaker, owner of California Automotive in Los Angeles, "If you added up the percentages: wash the car–2 percent more efficiency; air pressure–2 percent more efficiency; the air filters–those plug up to 25 percent; having the oil clean–up to 15 percent, you're already at 40 percent."

Keep the faith--last spring the price of gas was just as high, which had consumers spending less and employers slowing down hiring, but this time around analysts expect consumer spending to remain solid through the gas-price spike.

Use it to your advantage--in restaurants, guest traffic and a customer's willingness to spend are falling slightly, according to the latest Restaurant Industry Snapshot. If you apply to a restaurant job, be sure to tell the prospective employer that you're going to go above and beyond to please customers, increase traffic and spending, and help the restaurant minimize the impact of rising gas prices. And really mean it, especially if you apply to a restaurant that serves travelers such as Cracker Barrel, so you're able to keep your job and move up.

Apply online if at all possible so you won't have to pay more at the pump. And the added benefit of not driving around and walking in to apply is you reduce the risk that your application will be lost, mishandled or looked upon unfavorably by a hiring manager who is not thrilled you stopped by.