Job search: where to look, and how to keep going
I like to search on Google, then go to the company's own website and apply there. Job boards are great for finding things. The company site is usually where the posting is freshest.
The truth is blind resume applications are brutal. You've got to know someone and get a foot in the door. If you don't know anyone, do your best with blind applications, but don't get frustrated when you keep getting rejected.
All you need is one yes. They might have pulled the posting. They might have already had someone in mind when you applied. It's ok. You're looking for the one right fit.
- Free resources
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- Links checked
- Sept 2026
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- The free stuff
A search routine that works
- Search Google for the job title plus your city, or "remote." Google pulls listings from lots of job boards into one list.
- When something looks good, find the company's own careers page and apply there.
- Set alerts on one or two boards. More than that and you're just managing email.
- Track what you applied to in a spreadsheet or a free tracker, with the date and anyone you contacted.
Pair applications with people
For the jobs you want most, look for one person at the company: someone on the team, a recruiter, a former classmate. A short, friendly note gets your name in front of a human, which is what the blind application can't do. The networking page has how to ask without it being weird.
Watch for scams
Real employers don't charge you to apply, don't interview only over text chat, and don't ask for bank details or send you a check before you've started. If a job looks too good and moves too fast, slow down and look the company up on your own.
Give it hours, not your whole day
Searching all day, every day, burns you out and makes the applications worse. Pick your hours, do the work, then stop. There's research behind this on the stress and burnout page.
The free stuff
Start here7
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Google job search
Search a job title and Google shows listings pulled from many job boards, with filters and free email alerts. Then go apply on the company's site.
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USAJOBS
The official site for federal government jobs. Every federal opening is posted here.
The catch: You need a free account to apply.
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CareerOneStop job search
The Department of Labor's job search, plus local career centers, training and unemployment help in one place.
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Idealist
Nonprofit and mission-driven jobs, plus volunteer work. Free for job seekers.
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We Work Remotely
One of the largest remote-only job boards. No paywall.
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Remote.co
Remote and hybrid listings with no subscription.
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Teal job tracker
Free, unlimited job tracking with a browser extension that saves postings in one click.
The catch: The AI writing features are paid. The tracker is free.
Skipped on purpose
- FlexJobs. Well known for remote work, but there is no free tier for job seekers. We Work Remotely and Remote.co cover the same ground for free.
Questions people ask
How many jobs should I apply to?
There's no magic number. A few careful applications, each paired with a note to someone at the company, usually do more than a pile of blind ones.
How do I find remote jobs I can apply to?
Search Google for the job title plus "remote," and check remote-only boards like We Work Remotely and Remote.co. Read the location rules in each posting, since many remote jobs are limited to certain states or countries.
How do I get a job with no experience?
Show what you can do instead of where you've worked: projects, classes, volunteering, a free certification. Then lean on people. Entry-level jobs are where a referral helps most.
Why do I keep getting rejected?
Often it has nothing to do with you. The posting got pulled, the budget moved, or they already had someone in mind. Keep going. You need one yes.