The 10 Best Job Search Engines
The internet is a big place and there are so many job search engines out there, it’s easy to get lost trying to figure out which ones are best. We know you have enough on your plate just writing cover letters and updating your resume, so we’ve done the research for you to help narrow down the 10 job search engines that are worth your time, plus 10 that are great for specific careers.
Remember that if you only rely on job search engines, your chances of landing a great job is limited. It’s always important to take your job search offline and rely on networking or consider getting help from a professional headhunter. But if used properly, the following online search engines can give your job search a powerful boost.
Our team of certified resume writers have created a library of resume examples to show you how to craft a strong resume. Study them to learn to write your own.
One extra step to impress a manager: A growing number of hiring professionals read cover letters to determine whether they’ll interview a candidate or not. Use our cover letter templates to craft a complete application that lands you the interview.
The Best Places to Look For Jobs Online
What to expect:
A lot. As in millions of job listings from thousands of different websites.
Pros:
If you aren’t 100% sure what kind of job you want, Indeed is the site for you. It’s a way to quickly cast a very wide net, and discover countless listings in a huge range of industries. The interface is user-friendly and submitting your resume is easy. You can search jobs by title and location and apply with a single click. Indeed allows you to get alerts when a new job listing opens up that matches your criteria, and you can research competitive salaries and learn about requirements and qualifications for many professions.
Cons:
Indeed is focused on one thing: job listings. So this isn’t the place to go if you want additional resources.
What to expect:
With more than 8 million job listings, ZipRecruiter is one of the major players in this field. The site allows you to search jobs by keyword and location. You can save time with their one-click application saves time, but customizing your resume for every resume you submit will definitely be more effective.
Pros:
ZipRecruiter is easy to navigate and has a vast range of job opportunities. It’s easy to use and has an intuitive and thoughtful user interface. You can message with employers and get notifications.
Cons:
Zip Recruiter does make an effort to stop it if they discover a scam but it can be difficult to cut through all of the spam that shows up on the site. You may also find that if you register, your inbox is inundated with jobs that might not exactly fit your skill level. Search capability isn’t as great as some of the other leading job search engines.
What to expect:
When it comes to job search engines, Monster is the 300 pound monster in the room. It is one of the largest and most popular job sites on the web and offers not only vast job listings but comprehensive career resources.
Pros:
Monster allows you to upload different resumes to your profile, and you can apply to multiple jobs at once with the click of a button. You can also link your Monster profile with your LinkedIn. If you’re employed but looking for a new job, Monster allows you to make sure your current employers won’t see your resume.
Cons:
For a one time fee, Monster offers a premium service, called MyResumeAgent, to send your resume out to powerful recruiters. Several users complain about the effectiveness of this. Monster also has a high spam rate.
What to expect:
CareerBuilder has been around for longer than most other job search engines, and their interface allows you to seek for jobs in a more detailed way, with a customizable search feature, so you only see listings for jobs you really want.
Pros:
CareerBuilder only features job listings they get directly from employers, as well as from local publications’ “help wanted” sections. That means unlike Indeed, which scours the web for job listings, every job posting you find here is really available. Careerbuilder also offers a personalized career test that can help you get insights about your career planning and make more informed choices. Their Hire Insider tool provides a free, detailed report so you can see how you compare to other applicants in terms of education, experience, and salary history.
Cons:
Ads. Lots of them. For some people, the fact that the interface is cluttered with ads, may be only a minor annoyance--but it can be distracting or downright annoying to be constantly peppered with marketing messages when you’re trying to focus on finding a job.
What to expect:
LinkedIn is first and foremost a social networking site for business. While it may take a little bit longer to learn how to use it as a job search, the benefits of using LinedIn for networking are worth the effort.
Pros:
LinkedIn does more than just feature job listings. It’s a good way to create networking opportunities by connecting with recruiters, classmates, or old colleagues, so you can build some rapport before asking for help getting a job. (Finding a good job is often more about who you know than what you know.) The site also offers an online course platform called LinkedIn learning, and allows you to reach out to decision-makers in a wide range of industries.
Cons:
About half of the jobs on LinkedIn offer “EasyApply” where you can submit your information with just a few clicks but that rarely ends in success. You won’t have much success with LinkedIn’s job search tool unless you invest several hours creating a really good profile that clearly highlights your skills, qualifications and abilities. Getting the most out of LinkedIn requires you spend even more time networking and building connections. For people who have the patience and understand the strategy behind the site, LinkedIn can be great but it’s not a quick or easy solution.
What to expect:
Glassdoor is different from most other search engines in that it allows you to see how employees really feel about companies they work for, what the work environment is like, and get insider information on salaries and bonuses. You can even find out what it’s like to interview with a specific employer ahead of time.
Pros:
Glassdoor literally has millions of job listings--they list every open job at every company they can. Their blogs selection offers good job seeking advice and they have a sleek mobile app. You can save the results of your search and get notified when something appropriate opens up. But the main advantage of Glassdoor over other job search engines is that you can read real reviews by employees so you get a much more honest and accurate sense of what it’s like to work for a particular company.
Cons:
Glassdoor isn’t great when it comes to advanced search options. And while you can set up a free account, you have to register before using the site.
What to expect:
SimplyHired offers one of the largest sets of job listings of any job search sites, allowing you to search from more than 6 million jobs in almost a thousand different occupations.
Pros:
SimplyHired gathers job postings from all over the web. That means you can visit this one site and see job listings from many other search sites, social media, and company websites--all in one place. To help you wade through this massive bounty of potential jobs, SimplyHired developed search algorithms optimized for over 500,00 keywords (you can search for jobs with good recycling programs or a diverse staff, for example).They also offer a helpful blog section and their mobile app has a useful one-click Quick Apply feature.
Cons:
Perhaps this is due to the enormous number of listings available on SimplyHired but some users have complained of receiving Job alerts for positions that don’t match their search or even for scam jobs that don’t exist. But this issue remains relatively rare.
What to expect:
Facebook has become a lot less cool among younger users even since their parents and grandparents started showing up. But did you know FB is still really useful for finding a job? That’s right. The world’s largest social networking site is actually good for more than just posting memes. In Jobs on Facebook, you can search jobs, select an industry or job type, or search by location. Through the job board feature, employers can post jobs directly to their company page or a specific jobs page and job seekers can apply to them immediately through Facebook.
Pros:
There are currently about 65 million businesses with Facebook pages. Facebook is the second most popular social network for recruiters. By sheer virtue of its size, you’d be remiss if you didn’t include Facebook in your job search plans. Facebook Jobs shows you what jobs are available near where you live, and you can apply directly from your profile.
Cons:
In a word? Privacy. Unlike LinkedIn, where your profile is obviously going to be entirely professional and buttoned-up, Facebook isn’t first and foremost a job search engine so it’s easy to end up in the awkward situation of a hiring manager accidentally video of you doing a headstand on a keg. Facebook says employers can only see the information you make public information. But let’s be honest--when was the last time you checked the privacy settings on those pictures you posted from spring break 8 years ago?
What to expect:
Job.com is different from all the other top job search engines in one important way. It uses blockchain--the same technology behind bitcoin--to help you find the job you want.
Pros:
Once you upload your resume, Job.com will instantly send you a list of jobs that match, and it allows you to communicate directly with employers.
Cons:
Some users have complained that the search engine turned up jobs that were far outside the applicant’s zip code. Others have reported getting an annoying amount of spammy email after registering with the site.
What to expect:
Snagajob is the site to check out if you’re looking for part-time or full-time hourly work. The website is easy to use and has been in business since 1999. Since that time, they’ve helped put over 50 million people to work.
Pros:
You know the old saying, go big or go home? Well, Snagajob if you’re looking for a part time gig, Snagajob is definitely the way to go big: with over 41,523 available job categories you can find everything here from work as a babysitter and yoga teacher to personal trainer and zipline instructor. The site also offers expert career advice and has an alert system that can come in handy so you don’t miss an opportunity when you’re rehearsing with your heavy metal band and a quick high-paying job as a bartender opens up.
Cons:
The application process can be tedious. First, you have to fill out a detailed profile, and then fill out even more applications for every job to which you want to apply. Making matters worse, there are ads all over the place, making the experience of using the website feel cluttered and distracting.
Search Engines for Specific Industries
The 10 search engines we listed above are great for a general job search. But if you’re only interested in one industry, here are 10 more to consider that target specific employment niches.
- 3
Marketing
http://www.talentzoo.com
5 Keys to Using Online Job Search Engines
- 1. Be selective
We’ve given you a list of the 10 best searches on the internet here. You could sign up and use all of them, but you will be buried in spam. So choose the two or three you find work best for you and remember, at the end of the day, you still need to network and pound the pavement the old-fashioned way.
- 2. Be discreet
Create a dedicated email account for your job search. It’s a nice way to avoid having your personal email bombarded with spam. Never use your current work email for your job search.
- 3. Be specific
Customize your resume for every job you want. We know, it’s so much easier to just hit that “one-click” application button. It’s also much less likely to succeed.
- 4. Be careful
Make sure your LinkedIn Profile and social media footprint are optimal for the job you want. Hiring managers will check. So even if your resume and cover letter are amazing, you’re undercutting yourself if you’ve got embarassing or unprofessional information about yourself online.
- 5. Be brave
Yes, the online search engines we listed above are all great in their own way. But sometimes you have to step outside the comfort of the digital world and pound the pavement to make your dreams come true. If you live close enough to a company you want to work for, just walk in! Bring a resume and cover letter and explain that you want to work there. We know, it sounds crazy and it takes nerves of steel. But for that reason very few people do it, and it will definitely make you stand out from the crowds who are sending resumes via email.
