If you are a business owner, you are responsible for hiring new people to join your team, especially as your business grows.
To find new employees, you will need to post your job ad online. But where do you start?
Do you post it on a free site like Indeed? Should you invest in a “one-stop-shop” service through ZipRecruiter? Can you just use social media?
Getting qualified candidates for free is clearly appealing for all employers, as hiring new staff can be costly.
Many of the free job posting sites provide a similar experience to paid ones. Some free sites have also upgraded their services and can now filter candidates on your behalf.
But, there are limitations to using a free site vs. a paid one.
Here are some of the best places to post jobs for free and tips on reaching more audiences.
The Top 5 Places to Post Jobs for Free
As an employment specialist, I work directly with job seekers looking for work and employers looking to hire. Based on my experience, these are the top 5 places your job ad should be.
Indeed
Free, Paid Upgrades
Indeed is the topmost-rated free job posting site globally. Because it is used by more than 250 million job seekers each month, the high traffic makes Indeed the best free job posting site if you’re looking for exposure.
The site also offers a free applicant screening and tracking system, is mobile-friendly, and is overall easy to use.
You can upgrade your job posting for a fee to reach even more candidates, but only pay when someone clicks on your job to view it.
As of July 2020, Indeed has partnered with Glassdoor, a well-known company review site. Paid job ads on Indeed with now be posted on Glassdoor as well.
One potential drawback to using Indeed is that it does reach a lot of job seekers who can apply with the click of a button. So you might end up with an overwhelming amount of applications, many of whom won’t be qualified.
ZipRecruiter
Free Trial, Paid Upgrades
ZipRecruiter is not a free job ad posting site but has a free four-day trial. You can post one job ad in the trial period. After that, they will remove your ad unless you pay to keep it running.
However, with ZipRecruiter, your job posting is added to 100+ other job sites, including Jooble, Neuvoo, LiveCareer, and Job Hero, at no additional cost.
You can also do a lot more with your ZipRecruiter account than you can with many of the other job boards. It includes templates and suggestions for creating your job ad, has a resume database for employers to search through, screens candidates, and even invites qualified candidates to apply for your job.
With over 110 million people using ZipRecruiter, your job ad will reach a large number of job seekers. But its targeted approach will help you reach suitable, qualified candidates.
Google for Jobs
Free
Google for Jobs is not exactly a job board, but more of an enhanced Google search that focuses on job openings. It searches for job postings on employer’s career pages and job boards and displays the results for your search right in Google.
From a job seeker’s perspective, all they have to do is search for whatever it is they are looking for, such as:
- jobs near me
- accounting jobs in Calgary
- work from home tech support jobs
- jobs for accounting majors
Since people use Google every day, you want to make sure they pick up your job posting so that it appears in searches.
It looks something like this:
Free
Facebook is the ideal platform to advertise your job due to its high number of users. If you don’t already have a Facebook page for your business, create one and post your job ads for free.
It’s as simple as going to your page and selecting “Job” underneath the “Create post” option.
However, you can also decide to pay for an ad on Facebook and target more audiences.
Twitter, Instagram & Other Social Media Sites
Free
Twitter is also an effective social media platform for employers. You can make tweets with your job description, including a link where they can apply, and post them for free. Some hiring managers will pin their current job ad to the top of their profile for all their followers to see.
Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media platforms can also be effective when posting your job ads. Instagram stories are popular, especially if you have a large following.
TikTok is currently beta testing a video resume program called TikTok Resumes.
Social media is one of the more effective ways to reach your target audience, so you want your job ad to be on social media.
Other Great Options to Post Jobs for Free
If you really want to reach as many candidates as possible, here are other great options where you can post your jobs for free.
JobInventory
Free
Like Google for Jobs, Jobinventory is a simple indexing job site that takes job ads from different job boards, employers, and recruiters. Employers can submit their feed to have their jobs added to their site automatically.
They have a verification process that ensures businesses are legit, making job seekers trust their services compared to other sites.
JobSpider
Free
JobSpider is a completely free-to-use job board modeled after Craig’s List that makes money through ad revenue. You can search through candidates’ resumes and contact them for free.
The major job search aggregators will also index jobs posted here.
While JobSpider does work with most applicant tracking systems (ATS), it doesn’t provide analytics on how well your ad performs.
Overall, its basic layout and site design make it one of the easiest sites to use.
Jobvertise
Free Limited Plan, Paid Upgrades
Jobvertise is also a high-rated job post site with over 1.5 million active users. The limited free plan allows you to view 3 resumes per day.
The paid plans, starting at $21/month, include more resume reviews per day, promoted job postings, email alerts, and resume filtering.
Jora
Free Limited Plan
Jora is an Australian-based free job searching site that “is proud to make job search easier all around the world.” It aggregates job ads from other sites and will redirect candidates to the original source.
It’s easy for both job seekers and employers to use.
Currently, you can post 10 job ads for free every month, and more features are coming soon.
Learn4Good
Free Limited Plan, Paid Upgrades
This popular site is designed to connect people with educational and career resources and reaches over 10 million users per year. Learn4Good allows you to post up to 20 jobs for free every 6 months. You can post all 20 jobs at the same time or post as needed.
In addition, the site has paid plans starting at $59 for 6 months, which gives you top job placements, additional job ads, and more resume views.
Mighty Recruiter
Free
With a free Mighty Recruiter account, you get free job postings and free hiring software, including screening tools, access to their database of 22+ million resumes, and can create a customized career page. You can also choose to promote your job on 29 other job boards.
As far as I can tell, the site is 100% free to use.
PostJobFree
Free, Paid Upgrades
As the name suggests, PostJobFree offers you a chance to post unlimited job ads for free. It is another site with a simple interface that will cross-post your ad to other job search sites.
PostJobFree, established in 2007, allows you to create resume alerts, search through resumes, and contact candidates all for free.
You can upgrade your account for as little as $29/month to access additional details and have your post shared on additional sites.
Simply Hired
Free Limited Plan, Paid Upgrades
You can post jobs and review resumes for free on Simply Hired, but there is a ‘pay-per-contact’ fee (starting at $10) to contact each candidate you’re interested in. This may be a better option for you, so you’re not paying monthly fees instead.
However, the free plan will share your job posting with 100+ other jobs sites in the Simply Hired network, which includes Indeed, CareerBliss, Kijiji, and GetHired.
Workable
Free Trial, Paid Upgrades
Get a 15-day free trial with Workable that includes a mobile app, job interview templates, automated tools, and access to over 400 million candidate profiles. It also integrates with 200+ free and premium job boards, including Indeed, Facebook, Monster, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter.
Paid plans start at $99 per job per month.
Where to Post Your Targeted Jobs for Free
In addition to the general job boards already mentioned, there are plenty of smaller, targeted job boards online. If you are hiring for a specific field or have specific criteria, you may have better luck attracting talent using one of these options.
AngelList
Free, Free Trial, Paid Upgrades
AngelList is a job search site for tech, remote, and start-up jobs. If you are hiring a developer or designer, this is the best place to advertise your job.
A free account offers the chance to post unlimited jobs, set up a company profile, and has limited access to their 2.3 million users.
There is a free 7-day trial for the paid pro account (which is $250/month otherwise). This plan gives you unlimited access to applicants, advanced search features, additional assessments tools, and templates.
Flexjobs
Free Limited Plan, Paid Upgrades
Flexjobs has become the leading job site for remote and flexible jobs. Although its employer membership fees start at $299/month, you can submit 5 job postings for free. However, there is no guarantee your jobs will be posted, as they have specific criteria that have to be met.
Handshake
Free, Paid Upgrades
Handshake is the best site to connect with over 6 million students and alumni from the United States. The site can help you hire interns at ease. It is also a perfect site for new employees who do not have job experience.
Because it is student-focused and connected to college career centers, employers will need each school’s approval before posting a job.
You can also create a profile page through the site, build campaigns, and host virtual events and interviews for free.
Their paid premium plan includes personalized company branding, advanced analytics, automated outreach, and enhanced candidate matching.
Homebase
Free, Paid Upgrades
Homebase helps small businesses hire hourly employees at ease by posting your job to the top job boards. The site is linked to other sites such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter and allows you to set screening questions.
With a free account, you can also use their additional services such as scheduling, onboarding, time tracking, and messaging. You only pay if you want to boost your job post.
There are paid plans starting at $14/month, including performance management tools, auto-scheduling, and employee performance reports.
The Ladders
Free Limited Plan, Paid Upgrades
The Ladders have a free plan for single users, including 10 job posts and 10 resume views per month. Their monthly paid plans start at $159 per month.
The site is dedicated to advertising positions that pay $100,000 or more and require candidates to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
So if your position pays less than $100k, your posting will likely be rejected.
ReliefWeb
Free
ReliefWeb is a free job posting site provided by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It is a smaller site that focuses on humanitarian jobs only.
If your organization deals with humanitarian jobs, you can post unlimited jobs on the site for free.
Where to Post Freelance Jobs for Free
Fiverr
Free, Service Fees
Fiverr is one of the most popular platforms for freelancers.
As a freelancer, sign up for free, set up your profile, name your price, and start selling your services like logo design, digital marketing, and voice-overs. Buyers will search through the marketplace and place their orders directly with you. Fiverr keeps 20% per completed transaction.
As a business owner looking to hire a freelancer, simply search for the service you need and sort through the different freelancers and gigs available. You only pay when you hire a freelancer and they have completed the work.
Guru
Free, Service Fees, Paid Upgrades
Guru has a large pool of professional freelancers who specialize in technical and design jobs. Therefore, you can post your job ad and receive numerous quotes from experts.
Posting a job ad on Guru is free, but there are handling fees (2.9%) per invoice paid. You can also pay $30 to upgrade to a featured post for 30 days.
Freelancers can create free accounts or can pay membership fees to get additional bids, search boosts, and lower service fees.
Hubstaff Talent
Free
Hubstaff Talent is a new platform in the freelance world, focusing on remote jobs. The site is 100% free for both business owners and contractors to use.
The company makes money off its main product, an all-in-one time tracker and team management tool, which you can try free for 14 days.
Upwork
Free, Service Fees
Upwork is another popular site for freelancers. You can post your job for free and be assured that you will get a skilled professional because you collect proposals from the candidates and choose from them. You only pay when you hire someone.
Alternatively, you can browse through the profiles and hire someone directly, like you can on Fiverr.
Freelancers can create their own profiles and accept orders or can search the job board and submit proposals. Upwork charges a service fee for completed jobs ranging from 5% – 20%.
Where Not to Post Your Jobs
Unfortunately, there are many scam jobs out there that job hunters (and employers) need to be on the lookout for.
Falling for a job scam can cost you money, ruin your credit rating, and result in having your identity stolen. It can even lead to felony charges and jail time in extreme cases.
As a business owner, if you’re suspicious at all or see any red flags with the online job board, don’t risk it.
One example is Jobxoom, where you can post up to 10 job ads for 30 days for free.
Although Jobxoom appears to be a legit US-based business, I can’t say for sure. The site is very small, has broken links, is full of typos and grammatical errors, is not user-friendly, and has virtually no social media presence or reviews. They also have mixed messaging as to whether the free trial is 30 days or 90 days. Their paid services are also amongst the highest I’ve seen at approximately $100 per month.
To be clear, I’m not saying they are a scam site, but as someone looking for a job, I’d be leary about posting my resume or applying for jobs through this site.
So, as an employer, I’d skip this one. There are much better free options available. (If you have used this site, I’d love to hear your thoughts!)
Quick Tips to Make the Most of Your Free Job Posting
There are a few things you need to keep in mind if you want to successfully attract the right people to apply for your job vacancies:
- Follow the rules of the job search site (otherwise, your ad won’t be published)
- Ensure your job postings are enticing and target the right candidates
- Be accurate with the job duties and responsibilities
- Be clear as to what qualifications are mandatory vs. preferred
- Include details on the rate of pay and other benefits
- Make it easy for candidates to apply
- Use keywords in your job ad, job description, and marketing efforts
- Use social media wisely and efficiently to promote your job
- Target sites that are linked to many job boards
- Post your job ads on as many free sites as possible
You want to hire the best employees who will help your business grow. By following these tips and posting your job on these free (and free trial) websites, you will end up with a strong pool of qualified candidates to choose from.
Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.