The top 12 job search engines include Indeed, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, and more.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each so you can decide which job search engines YOU should use to get the most interviews.
After that, we’ll also cover niche job boards, which can help you find job postings in your specific industry with much less competition than the big job search engines.
By the time you’re finished, you’ll know where to post your resume online to get the best results.
Let’s get started…
The 12 Best Online Job Search Engines
1. Indeed
Indeed features millions of job listings from thousands of different websites.
They’re going to have more job opportunities listed than any other site we know, and job seekers usually report that it’s the fastest and easiest application process among the online job search engines.
For these reasons, it’s the #1 recommended job board on our list, and the place we’d recommend starting in terms of job boards.
Along with applying for jobs on Indeed, you can also set up job alerts to be notified when new jobs that match your criteria are posted, research and compare salaries, and much more.
(NOTE: We recommend only using job search engines and job portals for 20% of your overall job search effort. So we are not saying to go out and spend your entire job search on sites like Indeed. That’s not the best approach, and you’re better off also networking and applying directly to companies that interest you!)
But for the time you do spend on job boards (and again – we recommend 20%), Indeed is where we’d start!
2. CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has been online for more than 20 years and offers highly customizable search features so you can quickly see job postings that match exactly what you’re looking for.
Unlike Indeed, CareerBuilder gathers job postings directly from employers (they post their jobs directly to the site). CareerBuilder also partners with many local news organizations to be able to list their local job ads from their “classifieds” section.
This is why it’s a good idea to check a few job boards out – they gather data in very different ways, so you’ll see different jobs posted on different job search engines/sites.
Someone in one industry might find that Indeed works great for them, but CareerBuilder doesn’t.
Someone in another industry might find the complete opposite to be true.
So it’s all about testing and seeing which of these top 5 online job search engines get YOU the best results.
3. LinkedIn
LinkedIn offers a lot – networking, a great online course platform called LinkedIn learning, and yes – job searching!
In fact, LinkedIn has one of the best online job search engines.
Around 50% of jobs posted on LinkedIn offer “EasyApply” where you can submit your information with just a few clicks (and without needing a cover letter!)
You can also customize your searches to see the exact type of jobs you want.
Note that LinkedIn’s effectiveness for you will depend on the industry/field you’re searching in.
We’ve spoken with a lot of job seekers and people in tech jobs, engineering, etc., and they seem to report that LinkedIn works great for them as a job search website.
Unfortunately, people from a few other industries have said LinkedIn was not the best job search engine for them, so that’s why we recommend trying a few to see for yourself.
4. Glassdoor
Glassdoor started as a ratings/review site where employees could leave anonymous reviews for employers.
Since then, they’ve grown substantially and now offer a great salary research tool, and a job search engine that we’ve tested and definitely recommend.
You do need to register to begin searching, though.
But we feel it’s worth setting up a free account.
Glassdoor has millions of job listings that you can search for and apply to directly via their site, so it’s definitely worth the time to browse their site.
5. SimplyHired
SimplyHired has great search functionality and customization and allows you to save your specific searches as well so you can check back each week and quickly repeat your custom searches.
You can narrow employers down by all sorts of things including eco-friendly company culture, companies that promote diversity, employers that tend to hire veterans, and more.
6. GetWork
GetWork, formerly LinkUp, is a sleek, modern job search engine featuring verified, up-to-date job listings directly from employer websites. This means you’re a lot less likely to waste time applying for jobs that are already filled or on hold.
(Sometimes an employer will fill a position but forget to remove it from job boards, and other job search sites may continue showing those listings for weeks or months).
Along with their verified listings, the site offers an easy-to-use design and solid search features. You can search by job title, company name, or keyword, and you can narrow your results by city, state, or zipcode.
7. Snag a Job
SnagaJob is another large, popular job search engine.
They say you’ll get best results if you create a profile, but you can start to browse positions prior to doing this.
They’re worth a look for sure. Like most job boards/search engines, you can filter by location and keywords.
8. Facebook Job Search
This is one that not a lot of people are aware of, despite using Facebook each day.
Facebook Jobs will show you opportunities in your area and provides a button to apply right from your Facebook profile.
This could be good or bad depending on what’s on your profile.
You may not want to put a ton of professional details on Facebook, given the recent privacy concerns. So we actually prefer LinkedIn’s job search engine (mentioned at #3 on this list), since your profile is likely to already contain the info you need to apply for a job.
9. Zip Recruiter
ZipRecruiter lets you search jobs by keyword and location, and they also recently came out with a new “Get Recruited” option where they claim companies will reach out to you (after you enter your name and email address).
We haven’t had a chance to test this out yet, but in our experience, it’s rare for a recruiter to have the perfect position for you and think to reach out (since they probably have 1,000 other resumes/CVs in their computer, too).
10. Robert Half
Finally, Robert Half is another massive job search website with thousands of listings that you can filter through.
You can filter the search results by location, industry, job type, and job title.
Many jobs shown via the search engine display the starting pay range, too, which we think is great. (Nobody wants to apply for a bunch of jobs without knowing if they even pay enough, right?)
11. Idealist
Idealist.org is a non-profit based on New York, offering internships, volunteer opportunities, and of course full-time job listings.
While they’re better-known for their volunteering and internship opportunities in some circles, they’re still one of the best job search sites to use.
You’ll find a great interface that’s easy for job seekers to navigate, plenty of job search filters to refine the job postings you see, and quality job results that are on par with all of the other job search websites we’ve looked at above.
Idealist is certainly a job website worth visiting, and you’re likely to find job openings from quality companies in high-paying, growing industries.
12. Angel.co
Angel.co has a job board specifically for startup jobs. It’s one of the best job search engines, if not the best, for people trying to break into a tech startup or other growth-stage company with high upside potential.
And in general, growth-stage companies are my favorite type of company for people in their 20s and 30s.
They offer more opportunities to be promoted, try new responsibilities/areas, earn stock/equity, and more.
So if you’ve been wanting a startup job but have seen mostly larger corporations on the job search websites above, then Angel.co will provide you with a different type of job opportunity that may be more interesting.
Download Our Best Job Search Engines Infographic or Save It To Pinterest For Later:
Now that we’ve looked at 12 big job search engines, let’s talk about niche job boards…
These are another good way to find relevant job postings with much less competition than the big job boards.
Niche Job Boards
It’s also worth looking into niche job boards or industry-specific job boards/job search engines.
For example, Dice is a large job board specifically for tech jobs. We have a list of 55 tech job boards here if you’re in this field.
Many job seekers are realizing that niche job boards or industry-specific job boards are very valuable to use.
You’ll have less competition because fewer people are browsing these sites, and you’ll see more relevant job postings with less “junk” to sift through.
To get started, we’d recommend searching Google for job boards relevant to your specific industry or niche.
You could search for things like:
- Creative job boards
- Sales job boards
- Healthcare job boards
- Etc.
You should be able to find job search engines dedicated to specific industries (like tech, pharma, etc.), and specific types of work (like writing, design, sales).
There are even job boards dedicated to specific types of work, like remote jobs.
Best Job Search Engine for Government Jobs
If you’re specifically looking for job search sites for government jobs, we recommend USAJobs.gov, the official job site of the US Government.
Job seekers can view thousands of positions, save job alerts and job listings, and upload your resume and make it searchable by government agencies who are hiring.
You can still use other sites to try to find government jobs, too, but this is the first job search site to try when job hunting for government roles.
Best Job Search Engine for UK Jobs
While most of the above job search sites are US-focused, we recommend reed.co.uk for our UK readers, or those looking for job search websites with UK-based listings.
Reed is one of the largest, and best job search websites in the world, but focuses on UK positions mainly.
Their job board allows you to search by job type (such as “software engineer”) and also location (town, postal code, etc.)
You’ll find it comparable to other large job sites, but with a UK focus.
Best Job Search Engine for Freelance Jobs
If you’re job searching for freelance positions in particular, and simply trying to find new clients as a freelancer, we recommend Upwork.com.
It’s not perfect, and it’s not without its flaws/complaints, but in our experience, it has the greatest number of high-quality, high-paying clients. The job search interface is also easy to use, allowing you to set and save search criteria and quickly apply to relevant job openings as you find them.
Upwork is one of the best job search websites for freelancers, and in fact, it may be the only freelance job portal you need to launch your freelance business.
This Upwork review explains more, but by splitting your time across multiple job search engines, you may simply take longer to master any, and you’ll also be splitting your reviews across the platforms, which isn’t idea.
Warning: Don’t Rely Too Much On Job Search Engines
We mentioned this earlier, but you should really only be spending 20% of your time on job boards (this includes the top 12 job search engines we mentioned at the beginning of this page, as well as niche job websites).
The rest of your time will be much better-spent networking, and applying directly to jobs that interest you (find employers on LinkedIn, via searching Google, via your network, etc.)
This is how you get more interviews quickly.
But as long as you’re spending most of your time using those methods, it can be beneficial to spend 20% of your time on online job portals, using the steps above.
Additional resources:
- The best tech job boards
- Remote job boards
FAQs
What is the #1 most effective job search method? ›
NETWORKING Networking is the most effective way to learn about careers and ultimately to land a job. Research consistently shows that networking leads to a job far more often than other job search methods such as responding to postings, attending job fairs or sending out unsolicited resumes.
How do I find a new job in 2022? ›- Do your research on the job market. ...
- Update your resume using our expert tips. ...
- Keep your mind open to new possibilities. ...
- Broaden your search beyond online applications.
- ZipRecruiter.
- Indeed.
- Monster.
- Glassdoor.
- CareerBuilder.
- SimplyHired.
- Ladders.
- Handshake.
Your Most Important Job Search Tool is Still Your Resume.
What is the best way to search for new jobs? ›- Networking.
- Referrals.
- Job Boards and Career Websites.
- Job Fairs.
- Company Websites.
- Cold Calling.
- Head Hunters and Recruiters.
- Temping or Internships.
- Best Overall: Indeed.
- Runner-Up, Best Overall: Monster.
- Best for Employer Research: Glassdoor.
- Best for Remote Jobs: FlexJobs.
- Best for Experienced Managers: Ladders.
- Best for Startup Jobs: AngelList.
- Best for Connecting Directly With Recruiters: LinkedIn.
- Recruitment consultant (332.12% increase) ...
- Customer service associate (285.65% increase) ...
- Full-stack developer (141.39% increase) ...
- Project manager (135.08% increase) ...
- Medical administrative assistant (131.74% increase) ...
- Accountant (128.04% increase)
Competition and limited amount of workforce (especially if you are looking a new job in tech where there is a lot of competition but at the same time a lot of ways to build your resume and your projects to shine and win) make the situation even more difficult and thus looking for a job in 2022 is one of the most hard ...
What is the best app for finding a job? ›- Indeed.
- Monster.
- Careerbuilder.
- Glassdoor.
- Linkedin.
- Snagajob.
- Dice.
- Upwork.
- CareerBuilder.
- Indeed.
- LinkedIn.
- Job.com.
- Ladders.
- Glassdoor.
- Getwork.
- Monster.
Which online source is most used for job searching recruiting? ›
LinkedIn is the world's most popular social network for professionals. It's fast becoming a place to post jobs due to its enormous reach and growth in active users. LinkedIn mostly caters to professional jobs and senior roles. With the rise of social recruiting, LinkedIn fulfills a prominent role.
Is LinkedIn or indeed better? ›Job listings on each platform are similar, but the context for connecting with candidates differs quite a bit. Indeed is primarily a search engine while LinkedIn is primarily a social network. Job seekers go to Indeed to find information on available roles; they go to LinkedIn to foster professional relationships.
Which is the most commonly used source of job search Why? ›Advertisement is the most common method used for contacting the prospective candidates for various positions in business and non-business organizations.
What is the most popular selection tool for hiring employees? ›Interviews – whilst not always the most reliable, interviews remain the most widely used recruitment and selection tool. Phone interviews and face to face interviews should form some part of your recruitment process.
How do I find a new job at 40? ›- Think about the kind of career you would like and set a clear goal for yourself.
- Research the sector for roles that appeal to you.
- Find out what qualifications you will need and how to get them.
- Gain any necessary accreditation.
- Build a professional network.
ZipRecruiter: Best Overall Indeed Alternative
It also has a database of more than 30 million resumes that you can search, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted candidate matching, and job posting templates and widgets.
OCCUPATION | GROWTH RATE, 2021-31 | 2021 MEDIAN PAY |
---|---|---|
Nurse practitioners | 46% | $120,680 per year |
Wind turbine service technicians | 44% | $56,260 per year |
Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers | 41% | $24,440 per year |
Motion picture projectionists | 40% | $29,350 per year |
1 job on the list: Registered nurse.
What is the fastest career to get? ›...
High-Paying Jobs With Little Schooling Required
- Police Officer. ...
- Aircraft Mechanic. ...
- Mechanical Engineering Technician. ...
- Radiologic (X-Ray) Technologist. ...
- Welder. ...
- Diesel Mechanic.
2021 National Employment Matrix title | 2021 National Employment Matrix code | Employment change, 2021–31 |
---|---|---|
Cutters and trimmers, hand | 51-9031 | -2.3 |
Nuclear power reactor operators | 51-8011 | -1.3 |
Print binding and finishing workers | 51-5113 | -10.5 |
Watch and clock repairers | 49-9064 | -0.5 |
What to do if I can't find a job? ›
- Take a Break. ...
- Go Where the Jobs Are. ...
- Spruce up Your Online Presence. ...
- Get Skilled or Schooled—or Both. ...
- Change Your Mindset. ...
- Try a Temporary Job. ...
- Build Your Network. ...
- Review Your Resume.
- Travel agent. It amazes me that a travel agent is still a job in 2020. ...
- Taxi drivers. ...
- Store cashiers. ...
- Fast food cooks. ...
- Administrative legal jobs.
- 10 Ways to Find a Job. There's more than one way to find a job. ...
- Job boards and online vacancy sources. ...
- Employer websites. ...
- Making the most of your contacts. ...
- Events, talks and workshops. ...
- Social media. ...
- Industry news. ...
- Unadvertised jobs and speculative.
Employee referrals (81%)
Is indeed or ZipRecruiter better? ›Bottom Line. Both ZipRecruiter and Indeed are great places to find talent for your business. But if you're looking for a better bang for your buck, Indeed is the better option as you only pay when you sponsor posts and someone interacts with your listing.
What is the most used job board? ›ZipRecruiter is the top-rated hiring site in the U.S., with over 110 million people and more than 3.3 million businesses using the service for hiring. Four out of five employers who post a job ad typically receive a qualified candidate that same day.
Where is the easiest place to get a job in the US? ›Key Findings: North Port, Florida, Austin, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida, are the best cities for job seekers. Strong growth in jobs and wages combined with low unemployment put these cities at the top of the ranking.
What is the easiest way to get a job in USA? ›...
Apply for Visa in the USA
- Exchange Visitor Visa.
- Temporary Work Visas (Non-Agricultural)
- Temporary Worker Visas for Skilled Workers.
- Seasonal Agricultural Work Visas.
Top 17 Best Job Sites to Check Out if You're Looking for Employment
25 Job Search Sites, Starting With Ours
21 Free Job Posting Sites that are High Traffic and 100% Free
Twenty-six percent of job-seekers say finding a job is easier in 2022 than it was before the pandemic, while 23% of employers say hiring new employees is easier now. Twenty-one percent of both workers and employers don't see any changes in the degree of difficulty of finding a job or hiring employees.
What is the easiest way to find a job in 2022 5? ›
- Ask your network for referrals. If you are looking for a job, you should tell all your contacts to help them help you find mutual career contacts. ...
- Contact companies directly. ...
- Use job search platforms. ...
- Go to job fairs. ...
- Leverage social media. ...
- Inquire at staffing agencies.
It's still a great time to switch – with one caveat
As inflation has hit historic highs, a recent survey from Bankrate.com found 55% of workers say their incomes have not kept up with rising household expenses. The best way to negotiate a big pay increase often comes with a new position, experts say.
The average length of the hiring process is 36 days. 65% of companies communicate the importance of a mobile assignment to an employee's career. On average, 55% of the candidates believe it should take less than two weeks from the first interview to a job offer.
What jobs won't exist in 2030? ›- Travel agent. It amazes me that a travel agent is still a job in 2020. ...
- Taxi drivers. ...
- Store cashiers. ...
- Fast food cooks. ...
- Administrative legal jobs.
2021 National Employment Matrix title | 2021 National Employment Matrix code | Employment change, 2021–31 |
---|---|---|
Cutters and trimmers, hand | 51-9031 | -2.3 |
Nuclear power reactor operators | 51-8011 | -1.3 |
Print binding and finishing workers | 51-5113 | -10.5 |
Watch and clock repairers | 49-9064 | -0.5 |
Truck and Taxi driver: As at 2022, this job is one of the easiest jobs in the world in that the only requirement is driving skill, the driver's license, and some knowledge of road linkages.
What jobs will disappear in the next 5 years? ›- Data entry clerks.
- Administrative and executive secretaries.
- Accounting, bookkeeping and payroll clerks.
- Accountants and auditors.
- Assembly and factory workers.
- Business services and administration managers.
- Client information and customer service workers.
- General and operations managers.
- Engineers.
- Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Special Education School Teachers.
- Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades.
- Animal Care and Service Workers.
- Sports and Fitness Occupations.
- Lawyers, Judges and related workers.
- Natural and Social Science Professionals.
- Locomotive firers.
- Respiratory therapy technicians.
- Parking enforcement workers.
- Word processors and typists.
- Watch repairers.
- Motor vehicle electronic equipment installers and repairers.
- Telephone operators.
- Excel in your current position. ...
- Make professional connections. ...
- Build your skills. ...
- Take on new responsibilities. ...
- Research your current salary. ...
- Discuss internal options. ...
- Check job listings. ...
- Update your resume and apply.
Which jobs will be in demand in 2024? ›
The digital pool comprises of those working in new-age technologies such as AI, big data, IoT, cloud computing, cybersecurity, 3D printing, blockchain, AR/VR. The Future Skill Talent pool also includes web, mobile, and IT marketing technologies.
What month do people get hired the most? ›However, January and February are the most popular hiring months. Avoid the summer and holiday season when looking for a new job, since most companies slow down during these periods. The best time to look for a job is toward the beginning of the workweek and late mornings. This is when most companies update job boards.
What is the hardest time of year to find a job? ›The summer (more July and August than June) is generally one of the worst times to find a job. Managers and human resources personnel are more likely to take time off for the summer and this slows down the recruitment process. Businesses tend to avoid making key decisions and focus on the basics over this period.
What area is expected to show the largest job by 2022? ›Total employment in the U.S. economy is projected to grow by 15.6 million during the 2012–2022 decade to reach 161 million; this represents a 10.8-percent employment increase. Some of the fastest projected growth will occur in the healthcare, healthcare support, construction, and personal care fields.