Finding a job can be challenging in today’s competitive job market. With so many job boards and websites out there, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out the best places to search for jobs. Indeed is one of the most popular job search sites, but it is not necessarily the best option for every job seeker.
Problems with Using Indeed for Job Search
While Indeed is a top job site in terms of traffic, it has some drawbacks that job seekers should be aware of:
- Too broad – Indeed casts a very wide net, indexing job postings from all over the web. This can make search results overwhelming and full of irrelevant postings.
- Duplicate listings – Employers often post a job on multiple sites, meaning you see the same job repeated in Indeed search results.
- Spam & scams – With so many unvetted postings, scam job listings can slip through on Indeed.
- Outdated listings – Indeed relies on employers removing old job posts, but often outdated listings remain indexed.
- Lack of screening – Unlike niche job boards, Indeed does not vet or screen employers, so company legitimacy is not guaranteed.
- Emphasis on applying, not strategy – Indeed is designed for high volume applications, which is not always an effective strategy.
While Indeed can be part of a multifaceted job search plan, relying solely on Indeed and applying broadly is rarely the best approach for finding a good job match.
Alternative Job Sites to Use Instead of or in Addition to Indeed
The good news is there are many alternative job sites beyond Indeed that can help make your job search more focused and effective. Here are some top options to consider using in addition to or instead of Indeed:
Industry-Specific Job Boards
Rather than using a broad site like Indeed, industry-specific job boards allow you to zero in on openings suited to your unique skills and interests. Some top industry job boards include:
- Dice – Technology and engineering roles
- Idealist – Nonprofit and social impact jobs
- HigherEdJobs – Higher education and academic careers
- Mediabistro – Media, journalism, PR & communications jobs
- IASA Job Board – Accounting and finance roles
Searching industry-specific boards ensures you see jobs that are an exact match for your background and goals.
Company Career Sites
Rather than only searching job boards, you can go directly to the career sites of companies you are interested in. This allows you to learn about opportunities, company culture, benefits, and values. Some top company career sites include:
- Google Careers
- Apple Jobs
- Microsoft Careers
- IBM Careers
- Mayo Clinic Careers
Focusing on company sites helps you target organizations you are excited to work for.
Local and Regional Job Boards
Searching locally focused job boards can help uncover openings in your city or region that may not be advertised more broadly. Some top local/regional boards include:
- Bay Area Jobs (San Francisco)
- NJTechJobs (New Jersey Tech)
- GulfTalent (Middle East Region)
- BostonJobs.org (Greater Boston Area)
- NYC Jobs (New York City Metro)
Using local sites allows you to find roles without needing to relocate.
Professional Networking Platforms
Sites like LinkedIn and Behance allow you to connect with professionals in your industry, join relevant groups, and uncover job opportunities through your network. You can also build your professional profile and personal brand on these platforms.
Job Search Engine Sites
Meta job search engines like SimplyHired, ZipRecruiter, and Jooble index postings from many sites, allowing you to search 100s of jobs in one place. The key is filtering carefully for quality results.
Freelance & Gig Work Platforms
Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer can be great sources of freelance, contract, and remote work opportunities. This can help fill employment gaps or provide income between roles.
4 Key Strategies for Using Alternative Job Sites
To get the most out of using other job sites beyond or instead of Indeed, keep these tips in mind:
- Focus your search – Target sites and roles tailored to your goals, skills, experience, location preferences, etc.
- Explore company sites – Research companies you admire and look for openings on their career sites.
- Leverage networks – Connect with contacts about unposted opportunities and follow companies on social media.
- Use search alerts – Set up alerts on key sites to be notified of new relevant listings.
Taking a more focused approach helps you find better fitting roles than just applying broadly on Indeed.
Pros of Using Specialized Job Sites Over Indeed
Here is a summary of the main advantages specialized job sites tend to offer compared to broad mega-sites like Indeed:
Pros | Details |
---|---|
Relevance | Listings are tailored to your skills, interests, location, etc. |
Targeted Search | Less sifting through irrelevant postings |
Quality over Quantity | Emphasis is on finding the best roles for you, not just applying to everything |
Professional Networking | Opportunities to connect with experts in your industry |
Build Your Brand | Showcase your skills, experience, and professional profile |
Insider Opportunities | Access unposted jobs through your network and connections |
The bottom line is specialized sites allow for a much more targeted, strategic, and effective approach to finding the right jobs.
Should You Still Use Indeed?
With so many alternatives, is Indeed still worth using in your job search? Here are some things to consider:
- Can supplement other sites – Though not ideal on its own, Indeed can still be useful for casting a wide initial net along with other resources.
- Provides employer research – You can research and identify interesting companies hiring through Indeed postings.
- Some unique listings – Certain employers may exclusively post on Indeed, so you can still uncover some opportunities not found elsewhere.
- Job search tracking – Indeed’s tools allow you to organize and track jobs applied for across multiple sites.
So while not the top choice for actually applying to jobs, Indeed can still add value as part of a multifaceted search strategy.
Top 5 Alternatives to Indeed for Job Search
If you are looking to move beyond or supplement searching on Indeed, here are 5 top alternative job sites to focus your search efforts:
- LinkedIn Jobs – Huge database of jobs searchable by title, company, location, etc. plus access to your professional network.
- Company career sites – Going directly to a company’s website allows you to learn about their culture and values while searching for openings.
- Industry-specific job boards – Target sites like Dice.com and HigherEdJobs.com that specialize in your specific field or industry.
- Local job search engines – Sites like BayAreaJobs.com and BostonJobs.org uncover openings in your metro area.
- Professional associations – Organizations like APHA and IEEE often list exclusive job opportunities on their sites.
Conclusion
Although a popular source for job postings, Indeed has some significant limitations when used on its own for your job search. Taking a more targeted approach by using industry-specific boards, company career sites, networking platforms, and local resources can help you access more relevant opportunities. Indeed can still add value for research and tracking, but specialized sites should form the core of your search strategy. By focusing your efforts, you can connect with the best roles for your skills, experience, and interests.