Online job banks

Online job banks are a good place to start your job search. You can quickly search and apply for job openings, and learn what employers are looking for. Keep in mind, though, that most jobs are found through networking, so be sure to try that and other methods in your search.

Most online job banks offer similar features:

• You search by keyword, location, job title, or industry—such as “construction” or “healthcare”
• You get a list of job postings that match your search
• You can filter your list based on type of job, location, shifts, schedules, and more
• You can select a job to see a more detailed description and apply 
• You can also post your resume so that employers can match you to open positions

Tips for using job banks

It’s good to try different job banks. CareerOneStop’s Job Finder provides free, trustworthy job postings that are updated daily.

You can also try other major national job banks such as LinkedIn, indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Monster, and Google Jobs. And you can search for specialized job banks for your field—for example, search for “IT job banks” or “healthcare job banks”.

Follow these tips to make the most of any job bank:

• Try several different keywords to make sure you see jobs related to your interest.
• Use filters to see just the results you want. Experiment with turning filters on and off to see how they affect your results.
• Try sorting the jobs from newest to oldest to see the most current openings.
• Scan postings in your field to learn about the skills employers are looking for, the typical pay, and other details about jobs in your field of interest. 
• Look for company reviews from previous or current employees. You might find complaints, but you might also find insights about what to emphasize in your application. 
• Keep a record of jobs you’ve applied for. Job postings may disappear once the application deadline passes, and you may want those details when you’re contacted for an interview.

Cautions when using job banks

Some job postings are scams or jobs that are not actually open. Protect yourself by following these tips:

• When you find a job of interest, find the employer’s website to see if the job is advertised there. Sometimes job banks have outdated postings that can waste your time.
• Never provide private information like your social security number, credit card, or bank account on an application.
• Never pay "up-front" costs. A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay for something before you’re hired.
• Look out for postings that ask you to do illegal activities like deposit checks from foreign countries or ship items from your home.
• Read more about job scams from Consumer.gov.

Try your state job bank

Every state has their own job bank. And state job banks are a great place to create a profile, post your resume, and search for jobs. They often have fewer fake or duplicate jobs than commercial job banks.

You’ll have to create a free account to post your resume on your state job bank, but you will never have to pay for an account. And your private information won’t be sold. Find your state job bank below.