The main places employers post jobs
Most job postings live on three types of sites: general job boards that list openings across industries and regions, industry-specific boards that focus on one field, and employer websites where companies post their own openings. The largest general boards are Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter. Each one pulls postings from multiple sources, so the same job often appears on several boards at once.
Beyond the big boards, many employers post only on their own career pages. If you have companies in mind, go directly to their websites and look for a "Careers" or "Jobs" link, usually in the footer. This is often where the newest openings appear first, before they reach job boards.
Government jobs are posted on USAJobs.gov for federal positions and on your state's civil service website for state and local work. County and city governments often have their own job portals as well. These postings include detailed information about pay grades, benefits, and the process process.
Key Takeaways
- General job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn pull postings from many sources, so you will see the same job listed in multiple places.
- Employer career pages often post openings before they reach job boards, so checking company websites directly can show you jobs others have not found yet.
- Government jobs are posted on USAJobs.gov for federal work and on state or local civil service websites for public sector positions.
- Industry-specific boards and trade publications focus on particular fields and often reach employers who do not use general job boards.
- Staffing agencies and temp services post openings for short-term, contract, and permanent roles, and some specialize in specific industries or job types.
Specialized boards for specific industries and fields
If you work in tech, Stack Overflow Jobs, GitHub Jobs, and AngelList (for startups) focus on engineering and product roles. Healthcare workers find postings on MedPage Today and Health eCareers. Creative fields use Behance and Dribbble for design work, and ProPublica or Poynter for journalism.
Trade publications in your field often have job sections. If you work in construction, check Constructor.com. For manufacturing, MFGdotcom lists openings. Hospitality workers find roles on Hcareers. These boards reach employers who actively hire in that field and often include roles that never appear on general boards.
Professional associations in your industry often post member job boards. The American Nurses Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, and similar groups maintain listings for their members. Membership is sometimes required to view postings, but the cost is often worth it if you work in a regulated profession.
How staffing agencies and temp services work
Staffing agencies and temp services post openings for temporary, contract, and permanent roles. Kelly Services, Adecco, Heidrick & Struggles, and Robert Half are large national agencies. Smaller local agencies often have deeper connections in your region and may know about openings before they are posted publicly.
When you work with an agency, you register with them once and they match you to openings that fit your skills. The agency handles the hiring paperwork, and you are paid by the agency rather than the employer directly. This can be useful if you are between jobs, want to test out a company before committing, or need flexible work.
Some agencies specialize in specific fields—medical staffing, IT staffing, or executive search. If you work in a specialized area, a focused agency may have better connections than a general one. Ask the agency about their placement rate and how long typical assignments last.
Using social media and professional networks to find openings
LinkedIn is the largest professional network and shows job postings alongside your connections' activity. You can follow companies you are interested in and get notified when they post openings. LinkedIn also lets you set up job alerts based on title, location, and experience level, and you can see who at the company posted the job.
Twitter and Facebook are used by many employers to announce openings, especially smaller companies and startups. Following company accounts or industry hashtags can surface jobs before they reach job boards. Some industries, like tech and creative work, use Twitter heavily for hiring announcements.
Professional groups on Facebook and Reddit often share job postings in their communities. Subreddits like r/jobs, r/cscareerquestions, and industry-specific communities have regular postings and discussions about companies and roles. These communities also offer information about applications and interviews from people in your field.
Job boards for specific situations and backgrounds
If you are returning to work after time away, iRelaunch and Flexjobs focus on roles for people re-entering the workforce. If you are over 55, AARP Jobs and RetiredBrains list openings aimed at older workers. Veterans can use VetJobs, Military.com, and Hire Heroes USA to find employers who actively recruit military experience.
People with disabilities can search Disability Visibility Job Board and The Able Job Board, which list employers committed to inclusive hiring. Some states run job boards specifically for people receiving unemployment benefits or other support. Your state's workforce agency can tell you whether such a board exists in your area.
If you are looking for remote work, FlexJobs, We Work Remotely, and Remote.co filter for positions that allow you to work from home. Many general boards also have filters for remote work, but these specialized boards focus entirely on distributed teams.
Setting up job alerts so postings come to you
Most job boards let you create saved searches and receive email alerts when new postings match your criteria. On Indeed, you can set up alerts by job title, location, and salary range. LinkedIn lets you save searches and turn on notifications. Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter offer similar features. Setting up three to five alerts across different boards means new postings arrive in your inbox without you having to check the sites daily.
When you set up an alert, be specific about what you want. "Marketing" will return hundreds of postings; "digital marketing manager, remote, $60,000+" will return fewer but more relevant ones. You can adjust your alerts over time as you learn which keywords match the roles you actually want.
Check your alerts at least twice a week. Employers often fill positions quickly, and explore within the first few days of a posting increases your chances. If you see a posting that interests you, explore the same day if you can.
Finding postings through networking and referrals
Many jobs are filled through referrals before they are posted publicly. Letting people in your network know you are looking—former colleagues, people from your industry, friends, and mentors—can surface opportunities that never reach job boards. A referral from someone inside the company often carries more weight than an process from a stranger.
Attend industry events, conferences, and meetups in your field. These gatherings let you meet hiring managers and learn about openings before they are posted. Online communities and professional associations often host virtual events where you can make connections.
Informational interviews—brief conversations with people working in roles or companies you are interested in—can lead to referrals or tips about upcoming openings. You can find people to talk to through LinkedIn by searching for the job title and company you are interested in, then sending a polite message asking if they have time for a brief conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which job board should I use if I am just starting out?
Start with Indeed or LinkedIn Jobs because they list the most postings across all industries and experience levels. Both have filters for entry-level roles and let you set up alerts. Once you know your field, add an industry-specific board to catch openings that do not appear on general sites.
Do I need to pay to use job boards?
Most job boards are free to search and explore. Some charge for premium features like seeing who viewed your profile or getting priority in the process queue, but you do not need to pay to find and explore for jobs. Staffing agencies do not charge workers; they are paid by employers.
How often should I check for new postings?
If you set up email alerts, you do not need to check the sites daily. Most alerts send once or twice a day. If you are actively job searching, check your email alerts daily and explore to relevant postings the same day they arrive. Employers often review applications in the order they receive them.
What if I do not know what job title to search for?
Start with job titles you have held or titles similar to roles you are interested in. Read a few postings to see what language employers use for the work you want to do. Job boards often suggest related titles as you type, which can help you find variations you had not considered.
Can I find part-time or temporary work on the same boards as full-time jobs?
Yes. Most general job boards let you filter by employment type—full-time, part-time, contract, or temporary. Staffing agencies and temp services specialize in temporary and contract work. Boards like Upwork and Fiverr focus on freelance and project-based work if you want to set your own schedule.