Step Six: Finding Job Openings

Step Six: Strategies for
Finding Job Openings

We’re on step six of our Ten Part Series on Mastering Your Job Search in Ten Essential Steps. You can listen to previous episodes on steps one through four, along with an overview in the first episode.

Don’t miss out on the previous steps in Mastering Your Job Search in 10 Essential Steps.

Don’t Limit Yourself to One Site

Most people use one or two online job search sites to find openings. You can increase your chances of finding the right job by looking at multiple job search sites to broaden your search scope and provide you with a more comprehensive view of available opportunities.

Back in the day, 1990 and earlier, looking for position openings consisted of opening a newspaper or visiting your school’s job board to see what was available.

Believe me, I was there!

How far we’ve come!

Now we have hundreds of online job search sites, TV ads, billboards, pop-up ads… you name it. So how does a job seeker sort out where to look for positions that meet the needs they developed in step one: Define Your Path? Remember, you are not looking for whatever comes along, you’re looking for a position that meets your goals, whatever they may be.

So how does a job seeker sort through all of the noise and find positions that match what they are seeking AND the skills they possess?

Finding Position Openings

My favorite way to start with a client is to:

Open a browser
Type “job title (or career field) + job (or internship) + sites.”

Sites I most frequently recommend to clients:

Handshake: Designed specifically for college students and recent graduates, Handshake offers a tailored experience with job listings, internships, and career resources from top employers. If you are a current college student or graduate, check with your institution’s career center for access.

Indeed: With millions of job listings spanning various industries and locations, Indeed is a go-to platform for job seekers worldwide. Its user-friendly interface and advanced search features make it easy to find relevant opportunities.

Google Jobs: Harnessing the power of Google’s search capabilities, Google Jobs aggregates job listings from across the web, allowing you to discover opportunities directly from Google’s search results. Simply open your browser in Chrome or Google and type “jobs”.

LinkedIn: As the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn is a goldmine of job postings, networking opportunities, and career insights. Its job search feature enables you to filter listings based on industry, location, experience level, and more.

Here is a great post by Upwork on The 20 Best Job Search Sites for Finding a Job. Check it out.

Watch Video: Step Six: Strategies for Finding Job Openings

Step Six: Strategies for Finding Job Openings

Join host Laura in this episode of Authentic Career + Life Design as she shares Strategies for Finding Job Openings.

Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast player:

Industry-Specific Job Openings

Many industries have specialized job search sites for particular fields, like efinancialcareers.com for financial services and technology professionals and artjobs.artsearch.us for artists. These websites function similarly to traditional job search sites but with a focus on a specific industry.

Other specialized job search sites focus on freelance or remote positions such as flexjobs.com and remote.co.

Arts, Media & Entertainment:

Accounting, Business & Management:

Indeed Finance
Robert Half Finance & Accounting
Glassdoor Business Development
LinkedIn Jobs (search by industry/job title)

Data & Information Technology:

Education:

Engineering:

EngineerJobs
ASME Job Board (Mechanical)
IEEE Job Site (Electrical/ Electronics)

Environment & Sustainability:

Health & Wellness:

Social Services & Non-Profit:

Law, Government, & Public Administration:

Science Research:

Don’t Limit Your Search

Different job search platforms may have different job listings, so by checking multiple sites, you increase your chances of discovering a wider range of job opportunities.

Monitoring job listings across multiple sites can provide valuable insights into current market trends, including in-demand skills, emerging job roles, and salary trends within your industry.

Not all employers post their job openings on every job search site. Some employers only post their openings on their websites. We consider these unadvertised opportunities.

Many companies prefer to fill positions through referrals or internal promotions before posting them publicly. By proactively bookmarking and checking for job openings at a particular company, you increase your chances of uncovering hidden opportunities.

How To:

Think of an organization you might be interested in working for
Go to that organization’s website
Search for “careers” “employment” “jobs”
Pro Tip: Sometimes these links are listed at the very bottom of the page in the footer
Search openings and, if they have the option, sign up for job alerts, enter your resume for future roles, etc.

Being Proactive: Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you—take the initiative to seek them out. Reach out to companies you admire, express your interest in working for them, and inquire about potential openings. You never know where a simple conversation may lead.

Parting Thoughts

By leveraging the strategies discussed, you will be equipped to navigate the job market with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Don’t hesitate to explore various avenues, from online platforms to direct company inquiries, and remember that every interaction is an opportunity to advance your career.

Companion Worksheet

Use this worksheet to help you explore job search sites to expand your search.

Resources

See my Related Blog Posts