Finding a new job can be a job within itself as there are many ways to start your search, let alone how you go about applying.  Some people utilize their personal network of contacts to find opportunities within their current industry. (Did you know 85% of people get jobs through networking?) Some people might apply in person at a company they have had their eye on regardless of knowing what roles are open.  The most efficient way of researching and applying can be through job search websites.

However, you will quickly learn that not all job search websites are created equal.  As a job seeker, it is crucial to know the best websites to search while applying online for your next role.  Are you fresh out of college ready to start your career?  Are you recently laid off and looking for the next role based on your current career path?  Are you looking to pivot industries and apply your current skills to a new career path?  No matter your situation, finding the right job search website is the first step.

1. Company Direct Websites – If there is a company you have always wanted to work for, go to their corporate webpage to find positions that are openly posted and apply for jobs directly from there.  
2. Indeed – This is the largest job website in the world with over 250 million users with 10 new job listings added every second.  Job listings are posted for every industry, every level and every lifestyle and they can be searched by job title, location, salary range, date posted and experience level.  It is free of charge for job seekers and if you sign up, it will allow you to receive email alerts, upload your resume and receive messages from recruiters and employers.  It also provides a salary comparison tool and company review section. 
3. Monster – Every minute, every single day, 29 resumes are uploaded and 7,900 job search queries are entered on Monster.  This site caters to job seekers from all experience levels and work styles and is free to use but will be asked to create an account with your email address to apply to any job listing.  You can search jobs by location, company, and title. You can apply for jobs through their site.
4. Glassdoor – This website was established to bring about salary transparency and honest company reviews which are submitted anonymously by individuals who are current and past employees of companies.  They have 1.9 million employers in their database, 100 million company reviews and insights, and over 11 million job listings.  While searching for jobs, a jobseeker can also look at company reviews, benefits, salary data and company culture.  There’s also a section about interviewee experiences.  After creating a profile, you can upload your resume and sign up for email alerts and browse active listings. You can apply for jobs through their site. 
5. FlexJobs – Looking for something specifically remote?  FlexJobs has nearly 30,000 active listings from almost 6,000 companies across the globe.  As a member, you get access to professionally vetted listings across over 50 categories at all levels of experience.  There is a tiered membership fee and the proceeds are used in their research and vetting process to ensure legitimacy in every listing.  
6. Ladders – This job search website is for serious job seekers seeking out a salary of $100K+.  It provides vetted job listings, a career newsroom, and a networking platform.  Job listings include multiple sectors including finance, software engineering, digital marketing, human resources, data science and industrial engineering for major firms.  There is a monthly tiered membership fee that unlocks access to all job listings, sends curated job matches to your inbox and places you top of list for recruiter candidates.
7. Linkedin – The world’s largest professional networking platform is also a great website for job searching.  Most significantly, it can put you in direct contact with recruiters across all industries.  Your profile serves as your digital resume and allows you to set your status as #OpenToWork to let recruiters know you are looking.  Setting up a profile is free and you can search and apply for listed jobs while openly communicating with connections.  The LinkedIn Premium account allows you to send messages to people you are not connected with yet, see who has viewed your profile, and provides detailed insights on the other applicants who have applied to the role you’re interested in. 
8. Handshake – This job search website is great for college students and alumni with little to no experience looking to enter the workforce.  Handshake partners with universities and employers to streamline and simplify the recruiting process.  Once you set up a profile, you can experience a simple job search with many customizable options to find the right jobs and internships.  You can save favorite job searches and companies to be notified when new jobs are posted matching your preferences.  You can apply for jobs directly through the website and see employer reviews from other students.  There is also a place to register for job fairs, information sessions and other recruiting events while being able to schedule on-campus appointments and interviews.
9. Snagajob – Specifically for hourly job searching, Snagajob is a free job search website with more than 100 million registered hourly workers at over 700,000 employer locations.  There’s an option to filter listings that are labeled “Urgently Hiring” for those looking for work quick. Clicking APPLY NOW will link you directly to the company’s website where you can begin the application process.
10. Niche Job Boards - Niche job websites are both search engines and databases for open jobs in a particular industry or that cater to a specific lifestyle. Niche job sites can help candidates find and apply to open roles, regardless of education level or experience. 

These are just a handful of job search websites that exist.  The most important thing to do when applying for jobs online is making sure you are consistently visiting the sites as updates are made daily.  You should set up and save job search criteria where applicable so that you will get notified when the when jobs matching your criteria are made available. 

If you like comparison charts, check out this Job Board Comparison Chart on the most used job board sites to see which one will fit your needs best.

Check out Jobtrees.com for more information about career resources to help you in every step of your career search from finding roles and pathways you may be interested in to accepting a new job offer.

If you are looking to discover more careers or see how others got to and from their careers, check out Jobtrees.com career pathways.