Are you a job seeker on the hunt for a new job? Sick of your current boss? Need a fresh start? Would prefer a hands-on position?
Do you need a federal position? A high-end establishment position, full-time and part-time position, or full-time entry-level positions?
Maybe you’re an executive chef that wants to find a better restaurant to don your chef’s hat or you have a dream career that you have put off for years.
Have you spent the last 6 months attending virtual career events that have been a waste of time? Seen a slowdown in career growth opportunities and career opportunities?
If so, as a job seeker you should check out our list of what are the best places to search for jobs.
Of course, the Want Ads are always available and perhaps considered old school by some thanks to the Internet, but the Web is the most popular way to look for a job for most job seekers.
If you’re curious about where the best job search sites are for your industry keep reading for the places where you as a job seeker can begin hunting and find a job within your specific field.
What Are Job Websites
These are the modern version of classified ads by compiling and listing available telecommuting jobs as well as local and worldwide openings for job seekers.
Filled with millions of listings and other resources such as career coaching, resume tailoring, and career blog posts with helpful tips, using a job website is one of the best and most efficient ways to search for and apply to opportunities.
Once you start searching these sites you will see everything from jobs in the healthcare industry to HubStaff talent, digital talent, federal positions, food service, civilian careers, and perhaps even US Air Force listings.
How Do Job Websites Work?
Most job sites are free to browse for job seekers, just type in your desired job title and your zip code to search for opportunities in your area. However, some job sites require upfront payment for full browsing and application privileges. Even with paid job boards such as FlexJobs, there is no guarantee that you will get a position through the site, though.
Once you’ve applied for a job through a job site, the hiring manager will usually review your information and make contact if interested. Certain platforms, like LinkedIn, let employers reach out to qualified candidates whether or not they’ve applied for an open position with the company.
Most job websites will have a customer service number to help you with any questions you might have in terms of payment to the site if required.
Is Using a Website to Find Jobs Worth It?
Although you can find opportunities via word of mouth, social media platforms, or company websites, it’s OK to expand your search across as many channels as possible. You never know where your next opportunity will come from, and job sites today offer thousands of openings in one place.
They may also introduce you to positions and companies that you may not have heard about.
While more specialized job sites might not be for every candidate, larger job sites cater to every industry, skill level, and zip code; and most are free to try.
Here are some of the more popular sites for job hunting, but there are plenty more out there, of course.
And hiring a talent agency or professional recruiter is also an option for those who don’t want to DIY.
It all depends on what your career expectations are as well as what kind of career path you’re in search of.
Additionally, you have to determine what level you are at in your life and what job search process you’re willing to take be it entry-level jobs, a company career, a dream job, a full-time entry-level position, a federal position, a hands-on position, or high-end establishment positions, etc.
You should also determine if you want to be a team leader, what kind of annual salary you need if you want to be part of an extraordinary team, and if you have an Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or higher.
Indeed
Indeed, has been around since 2004 and its mission is to assist people in finding jobs.
It reports it has more than 250 million monthly users with around 10 new job listings added every second.
Indeed, posts listings for job seekers in all industries, and levels from executive entry, and lifestyles (freelance, part-time, internship, full-time).
Job seekers search by job title and location, salary range, date posted, and experience level from entry-level to executive and senior-level jobs.
Indeed is 100% free for job seekers and no account is required, however, by signing up for an account you get email alerts when new jobs are posted, upload your resume to complete applications faster, and receive messages from recruiters and prospective employers.
Indeed, lists salary information and offers a company reviews section on prospective employers before applying to a role or accepting an offer.
Monster
Yes, Monster is still around and has been since 1994 and still helps bring talent and companies together.
Stats suggest 29 resumes are uploaded and 7,900 job search queries are entered on Monster every minute.
Similar to Indeed, Monster helps job seekers from all experience levels and work styles (freelance, temp, part-time, full-time, etc.) and its job search tools are free.
You’ll need to create an account with your email address to apply to some job listings on Monster. Jobs that link to another website for applying don’t require an account.
Once you have an account, you’ll save job positions and search queries, and sign up for email alerts when new jobs are added in the fields you’re interested in.
Job seekers can search for jobs by location, company, and title, but there is no option to search by salary or experience level. Monster also provides salary research and comparison tools and offers makeovers for premium resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters for $129 to $349.
Source: thebalancecareers.com
FlexJobs
If you’re looking to work remotely or continue to work remotely you might want to check out FlexJobs.
FlexJobs was created by Sara Sutton in 2007 and has become the largest site for hand-screened remote jobs, with more than 30,000 active listings from around 6,000 companies across the globe.
FlexJob members get access to professionally vetted listings across more than 50 categories ranging from entry-level to executive. Members also have access to discounts and deals on products and services such as Intuit QuickBooks, Dell laptops, and professional career coaching.
FlexJobs charges $9.95 for one week, $24.95 for a one-month membership, $39.95 for a three-month membership, or $64.95 for a year-long membership to apply to listings and unlock member savings.
FlexJobs uses the proceeds from its subscription model to conduct the research required to vet each opportunity it adds to its database. As a result, every listing on FlexJobs is legitimate, providing job seekers with a safer experience. Also, FlexJobs will refund your subscription cost within 7 days if you are not satisfied for any reason.
Source: thebalancecareers.com
Ladders
A good place if you’re seeking a manager-level job and if you’re-experienced in the field is Ladders.
Ladders was founded in 2003 and its focus is on providing vetted job listings for positions that pay at least $100,000 per year.
Ladders describe itself as a job website and has a career newsroom, and networking platform.
It is mainly for experienced managers as its focus is on connecting job seekers to high-paying opportunities.
Ladders provide job listings for various sectors, including finance, software engineering, digital marketing, digital talent, human resources, data science, and industrial engineering for major firms including Morgan Stanley, Google, and Cigna.
Once you sign up for Ladders, you’ll be asked to list the job titles you’re interested in. Your Jobs tab on Ladders presents you with job listings that match those titles. Some listings are free to apply to, but others require a paid subscription to the platform.
Ladders offer a basic membership free of charge. For premium membership, Ladders offers a few different subscription options. A paid subscription gives access to all job listings, curated job matches sent to your inbox, top placements on recruiter candidate lists, and details about other candidates who have applied to the jobs you’re interested in.
AngelList
Looking for a start-up job? Try AngelList founded in 2010 and is a site that is trusted by more than 130,000 startups of all sizes (including Spotify and Slack). AngelList also provides plenty of transparency by providing candidates with salary ranges and equity options upfront, and information about key figures in the company.
AngelList is best for remote and local job seekers in a variety of tech sectors, such as online publishing, health, and beauty apps, and fintech.
To apply for roles on AngelList, create a login and complete your profile. Your AngelList profile serves as your resume for any jobs you apply to. You can browse open positions by job title, location, and time commitment (full-time, part-time, internship, etc.).
For every job you apply to, AngelList gives the name and title of the person who will see your submission materials (for small startups, it’s often the CEO of the company). You’ll need to write a short cover letter detailing why you’re a fit for the position. All cover letters must be written in the text box provided by the platform, as AngelList does not allow candidates to upload external files like PDFs or Word documents.
AngelList is completely free for job seekers to use and is a good way to begin conversations and network with early-stage startup founders.
LinkedIn was founded in 2003 and is now considered to be the world’s largest professional networking platform, with 810 million registered users from around the world and across all industries.
LinkedIn is a database for open opportunities, a digital resume platform, and a social networking tool. LinkedIn lets you add recruiters and other people of interest to your virtual network, making it an excellent website for connecting directly with recruiters and it’s a good site for finding your dream job.
A LinkedIn profile serves as a public digital resume and portfolio and is sent to recruiters once you’ve applied for a role, so it’s important to be detailed, accurate, and optimized for search. It’s free to create a LinkedIn profile and browse opportunities, but LinkedIn offers a premium membership option that lets you see who viewed your profile, detailed insights on the other applicants who applied for the listings you’re interested in, and the ability to send messages to people you’ve not yet connected with.
Once you’ve filled out your LinkedIn profile, you can use it to apply to open positions and send connection requests to grow your professional network. If your profile is well-optimized for search, recruiters may message you directly about applying for specific opportunities.
Recruiters and Talent Agencies
If you’ve exhausted all your possibilities in looking for a job online, it may be time to seek out a professional recruiter and/or talent agency to aid you in your search.
These are both places that invest a lot of time and energy into finding you exactly what you’re looking for in a job. Also, they may have personal relationships with companies, HR managers, and CEOs, as well as know about unadvertised employer websites, executive and senior-level jobs, better rates by industry, more full-time and part-time positions, and the like that are not listed via any of the websites or board searches mentioned here.
Overall, serious candidates need a dream job search site that a recruiter or talent agency might be able to offer as these professionals take on the search and do all the heavy lifting when finding you a job.
If you’re someone who doesn’t have the time, patience, or wherewithal to spend days, weeks, and maybe months searching for a position, perhaps a talent agency or recruiter is your best bet.
Recruiters and agencies have their own lists of fees, requirements, and other costs as well as what they offer and how they work. It’s best to contact several to determine which one is good for you.
Finding a new job or contemplating a different career path, saying goodbye to your current team, and/or if you’re simply tired from the career game in general, it’s time to snap out of it and get busy by hunting the job sites or enquiring about a talent agency or recruiter who can help you land you your dream job sooner than later.