What is a job board - how to use job search sites

In theory, job boards are great. You can search for your dream job and get a list of options. You can upload your resume and cover letter, and then submit. As part of your job search, it's a smart move to include some research on and applying through job board postings. It’s good practice to become familiar with how to apply through job boards and orient yourself to the requirements for your next level job, new industry, or re-entry type of role.

What is a job board?

They're websites with a focal point on hiring—where you can upload your resume and apply to open job vacancies within your:

Preferred job sector or employment type
Preferred location
Skill sets
Experience levels
Type of work (like remote, freelance, contract, temporary, part-time or full-time positions)
Salary expectations (sometimes).

Some require job boards require you to register to use their platform. Most are broad platforms that host a wide variety of job opportunities across various locations and types of employment; however, some specialized job boards may only host niche posting specific to certain industries. Some may also host postings specific to unique career positions or type of work, and even experience levels. Broad job boards offer diverse job vacancies while niche job boards are more filtered and employment sector focused.

When is a job board useful?

Job boards can be very useful for certain types of jobs, primarily for entry level, manufacturing, and service industry jobs. Keep in mind though, they may not be an accurate representation of all available jobs for seasoned workers or corporate office jobs.

While job boards can have the advantage of seeing many listings in one place, there's also the disadvantage of potentially being one of hundreds of applicants. Job boards can also be extremely crowded places, so be sure to use them with reasonable expectations and line up your efforts accordingly. Instead of a guaranteed, one-stop shop for your next job, you could use job boards as a tool or even an aspect of your job search strategy to explore different organizations and determine the best roles for you.

Conversely, be careful not to be swayed by the numbers. The heavy-hitter job boards may advertise an impressively high success rate; keep in mind you'll need to use the approach that’s best for you and your goals. That’s why it’s important to understand what kinds of jobs are most likely to consider you, as well as orient yourself to job requirements.

3 Tips for using a job board

Remember, a wide variety of job boards are available. Here are some tips to make the most out of job boards:

1. To boost your application’s chances of getting noticed, make sure you’ve optimized your cover letter and resume to the position.

Include relevant keywords. Employers may use software to scan resumes. If certain keywords don’t appear, that resume may not even be read by a person. To increase the odds of passing an applicant tracking system, review the job listing and try to include some of the keywords within your application.
Include career goals and a personal summary. This can personalize your application and help hiring managers make a quick assessment of your suitability. If your career goals show that you’re interested in a long-term career with the organization or in the industry, that could score some bonus points.
Simplify your resume format. Dramatic departures from the standard format can create awkward mismatches when an applicant system is auto populating your application. Keep your work experience straightforward with job title, organization, and key highlights on separate lines.

2. Remember, a wide variety of job boards are available.

It's sensible to become familiar with several job boards and see how they differ. Not all job boards have the same job vacancies listed. Don't limit yourself to only one job board.

What is a job board?

Key takeaways