Free Job Search Websites: Best Search Engines & Strategies

The days of going door-to-door looking for jobs in-person have gone the way of the landline and video rental stores. Today’s job market is almost completely digital, with a few rare exceptions. For as competitive as the job market can be, it’s crucial for job seekers to use free resources that can help them bolster their resume and strengthen their skills for better opportunities.

These are some of our favorite tools, including free job search websites, job boards, and strategies for improving your resume and prospects.

Best Job Search Engines and Aggregators

Indeed

Indeed is tried, tested, and long considered one of the best websites to find jobs for free with minimal activity requirements. It’s helped millions of people find their dream careers. It’s also one of the job listing websites that employers trust the most to help them find potential candidates.Some of the key features that make Indeed one of the most popular job search sites on the market today include:

• Advanced search filters that help people search for the perfect job for them based on their exact parameter
• Job alerts that notify users of jobs that may be relevant to them
  
• The ability to easily upload resumes and personalized cover letters
  
• Tips for maximizing your job search efforts to get the job you’re looking for quickly

Google Jobs

Google’s search function has a specialized job-searching feature that pulls results from some of the top job listing sites and post announcements to help you find the most relevant jobs for your skill set and career goals. It also uses some of Google’s unique filters to pull information such as:

• Commute times
  
• Salary ranges
  
• Company ratings
• Work type
• Industry
• And more

Like Google’s main search engine, its job finder relies on keywords to pull the jobs it thinks best match the type of work you’re looking for. From there, you can adjust the filters to pare down the results to the exact types of job opportunities you’re looking for.

LinkedIn Jobs

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that doubles as a good job search site. Not only does it help you stay up to date with all the latest news in your industry and professional network, but it also allows you to join groups for additional networking opportunities.

LinkedIn’s search filters offer the same refined functionality as other major job search engines. However, on top of that, LinkedIn also provides recommendations and tips for using it to better enhance your job search.

SimplyHired

Like other types of job search engines, SimplyHired aggregates job listings from multiple sources around the web, including company job pages, job boards, and other digital resources.

SimplyHired allows users to search based on their specific job needs and set up alerts for new jobs that they can receive by email. It also recommends career advice to help people better understand how they can improve their job prospects and reach their career goals over time.

Popular Job Boards

ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter has long been utilized as a job-hunting tool for its user-friendly interface and ability to apply with just a few clicks. However, in the years since the job board was launched, it’s become smarter and even more refined than before.

What makes ZipRecruiter unique as a job board is its unique, AI-based approach to helping people find the most suitable jobs for them. Using proprietary AI tools, it helps people find jobs that suit their working style, preferred environment, and more. It also helps you find ways to optimize your profile and refine your job search over time.

Glassdoor

In addition to providing salary insights for various jobs and industries, Glassdoor also allows employees to review the companies they have worked for. This can give you an honest, transparent view of what it’s like to work for a company that’s interviewing you—after all, they’re advertising themselves to you as an employer just as much as you’re advertising yourself to them as an employee.

These features make it easier to get a clear picture of what you can expect, down to the type of position each reviewer held when they left their review. This can make it easier to prepare for upcoming job interviews and negotiate your salary during the hiring process.

Monster

As one of the most popular digital job boards, Monster has expansive job listings that offer everything from entry-level to senior positions. However, it’s also been a mainstay of job hunters for decades because of its career advice and resume-building tools.

However, Monster is best suited for entry-level and junior positions. These positions are more likely to yield fruitful results through Monster for both potential employers and employees.

SkillUp

Oh hey, it’s us!

SkillUp is a free job search website with minimal amounts of disruptive ads and focuses on helping people find jobs and change careers without needing to get another college degree. While we connect people with the job opportunities they’re looking for, we can also connect them with the training tools they need.

However, that doesn’t mean we’re a catch-all job board. We only list jobs that are relevant to the people we serve, including programs that work with the skill-building courses we connect people to. Our job listing only include those that offer the minimum livable wage in each location, are full-time, offer benefits, and have growth opportunities.

We work with organizations and skill-sharing groups to help people get the certifications they need to find new, higher-paying jobs. SkillUp’s job filters also allow users to filter by their preferred work style, whether or not the job is remote, and if the job has earn-to-learn or growth opportunities. It also highlights the types of skills you’ll need for each role in a short, bulleted list-style summary.

In short, SkillUp is an excellent choice for people who are looking to change careers or bolster their work experience directly on the job.

Strategies Beyond Job Search Tools

When you’re using free job finders, it also helps to take extra steps that can help you get in front of potential employers. To supplement your presence in your industry and establish yourself for prospective employers, we recommend:

• Networking events and groups: Meeting industry professionals at networking events or in digital groups can help you introduce yourself to potential employers and industry experts, who in turn can connect you with job opportunities that are right for you.
  
• Professional associations: Chances are, there are local, state, or national professional associations for your industry or job title. Joining these associations can help you sharpen your job skills and connect with other professionals looking for your type of talent.
  
• Freelance platforms: For some types of jobs, especially graphic design and web development, it can be helpful to build your professional portfolio and experience by using freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to find potential work.

Tips for Effective Job Searching Online

We like to break these recommendations down into different subcategories based on the different facets of the job search. They include:

• Resume building: Your resume is the first impression your employer will see from you when they’re learning more about you. Make sure your digital resume is compelling and speaks to your exact level of experience and skills.
• Setting up job alerts and notifications: This can make it easier to find a compilation of the best possible jobs for you based on your viewing history on sites like Indeed or LinkedIn.
• Leveraging connections: One of the most understated ways of getting a job is through using your network and connections. Former colleagues, coworkers, and classmates can all act as referrals or references that can speak to your capabilities as a candidate.
• Staying organized: Chances are, you’re applying to multiple jobs at the same time. If that’s the case, it’s essential to keep track of the applications you’ve submitted. Some platforms, like Indeed and SkillUp, allow you to track applications you’ve put in through their site. However, you can also use something as simple as a digital spreadsheet to keep track of each position you apply for.