7 Powerful Job Search Sites for College Students

Trying to find your first real job after graduation? Looking to snag your first internship? I can help.

Job searching can be daunting, especially for college students with little experience.

But no one wants to graduate and go back home to live with their parents. Finding a job means finding financial independence – your own car, apartment, and life.

So where do you find those jobs?

Well, job search sites, of course. There are dozens of sites out there,and some are better than others. 

Luckily, we’ve done the hard work and compiled the best ones for you. Keep reading for my list of the seven most powerful job search sites for college students:

Indeed

Indeed is one of the biggest job search platforms online. It lists jobs in every industry, so you can find work in any field and at every level. Whether you’re an executive with years of experience or a rookie looking for an entry-level gig, you’re sure to find something on this site. 

One of the best things about Indeed is that it includes a feature for resume matching. 

All you have to do is upload your resume. Then, you’ll receive a customized list of jobs that pair with your interests and qualifications. Even if you miss a new listing, the opportunity will find you!

Subscribe to Indeed updates, and you’ll receive daily alerts for job postings. It’s a great way to stay on top of new listings in your field.

LinkedIn

When it comes to job hunting, the best way to find opportunities is to tap into your network. That’s precisely what LinkedIn is all about.

This site allows you to make the most of your connections, whether they be friends, family members, or former coworkers.

Networking through LinkedIn is just one of the ways they make it easy to find a gig. 

The website also includes a search section with thousands of posts from companies around the world. You can browse jobs by keyword, location, or company.

If you know someone who works at a hiring company, LinkedIn will notify you. That way, you can call up your connect and ask them to put in a good word with their boss!

ZipRecruiter

With their convenient app, ZipRecruiter makes it easy to apply for jobs when you’re on the go.

Like other sites, it allows you to search by keyword, industry, job title, or city. Unlike comparable platforms, however, this site focuses mostly toward office jobs.

Another thing that sets ZipRecruiter apart is its use of artificial intelligence. ZR uses AI to match employers with potential employees – so in addition to searching for jobs, companies can search for you.

This is a useful feature, especially for recent college grads. Many managers use ZipRecruiter to find new talent coming out of universities!

SimplyHired

Much like Indeed, SimplyHired has a huge database of job listings in all sorts of industries.

You can search by title, experience level, city, and other criteria to narrow your search results. You can also make use of the salary feature to find top-paying opportunities in a variety of different positions.

In other words, they make it easy to find exactly the types of job listings you’re looking for.

SimplyHired also features lots of remote jobs and telecommute positions. It’s a great search engine for anyone seeking legitimate work-from-home jobs.

Glassdoor

Glassdoor is known as the site where people go to review their employer. But it’s an excellent resource for job listings, too!

If you find a position you’re interested in, you can read the company’s reviews to see how their employees feel about working for them. These reviews discuss everything from salary and benefits to the company culture.

All reviews are anonymous, so they give you an honest opinion of what working at the company is like. Sometimes, they’ll make you excited about applying, but other times they’ll send you running in the opposite direction. It’s kind of like having a friend on the inside!

CareerBuilder

CareerBuilder is another search engine that simplifies the job application process. Upload your resume and cover letter, and you can send it out to dozens of companies at the click of a button!

This platform is designed specifically for people with college degrees, so you won’t see any minimum wage or temp listings. Obviously, this is great if you’re fresh out of college and trying to find your first long-term position.

Idealist

Idealist is unique because it caters to non-profit organizations. Whether you’re looking for a job in the arts, environmental sector, or education field, there are plenty of relevant listings here. It’s the perfect website for anyone looking for a job they’re passionate about.

Idealist’s search engine is just as powerful as the ones on Indeed and CareerBuilder. You can narrow your search by title, location, experience, and other criteria to find the specific jobs you want.

More Popular Job Sites

Above, I listed some of the best sites out there. However, the internet is big, and there’s no shortage of job-hunting platforms.

Here are a few more you might like:

Internships.com

Looking for real-world experience while you’re still in college? Internships.com is one of the largest resources for finding internships around the country.

It’s the perfect place for college students to get some work experience on their resumes! 

Monster

Monster is one of the oldest and most reliable job search sites on the web. It’s been around for over 20 years!

USA Jobs

USA Jobs lists a variety of jobs and internships in the federal government. Want to work in the White House? Use this site to get your foot in the door!

Mediabistro

If you’re looking for work in the sales, marketing, or creative industries, check out Mediabistro. This site caters specifically to people in media-related fields.

CoolWorks.com

Love to travel? CoolWorks.com has a large database of seasonal openings at places like summer camps, theme parks, and ski resorts.

AfterCollege.com

AfterCollege was designed for recent college graduates. It lists jobs and internships and even connects you with employers in your college’s alumni network.

CollegeGrad.com

If you’re still trying to find your career path, CollegeGrad.com is a great resource. This site offers tips on resume writing, interviewing, and finding the perfect career.

Conclusion

No matter which industry you work in, there are plenty of search engines to help you find the job of your dreams. My suggestion is to try out a few different sites to see which one works best for you.

Make sure to sign up for alerts so you’re always abreast of new posts. Create a great resume and apply to as many positions as you need to. You’ll be interviewing for jobs before you know it!

Ready to start your hunt? Now that you know where to look, it’s time to get started! 

Author bio:

Ryan Sundling is a Group Marketing Manager at Cardinal Group Management where he leads the marketing efforts for student housing communities like The Union at Auburn.