How to Use Indeed to Find a Job

Indeed is a great resource used across the world to help match employees with jobs. But how exactly does Indeed work and how can you get the most out of it? In this article, we will take you through a step-by-step process of how to do just that. By the end, you should have all the right tools to be an expert Indeed job hunter!  

Don’t miss: 10 tips for finding your ideal job

How Indeed works 

Let’s start by taking a quick look at how Indeed works. Indeed is a job posting website designed to be used by companies to make their hiring process easier. Employers can choose to either post their jobs for free, or pay to post them, which helps keep their posting relevant over new postings. Indeed offers the chance to both look for employers and have employers look for you. After posting your resume to your profile, you’ll have options as to how your information can be seen by employers. The two options you have are laid out below.

The “searchable” option

By checking off this option, employers who pay to use Indeed’s services will be able to look through a database of resumes with all sorts of filters. If your resume pops up in their searches, they can save it and contact you if interested. 

The “non-searchable” option

If you would rather keep your resume private, you can make it unsearchable as well. This means your resume will only be available to the jobs you specifically apply to. You will be the one who seeks out companies and applies to the positions already posted.  

Getting started

Create an Indeed account 

Your first step might seem obvious, but we’re going to start here anyway. Start by creating your account! You can use Indeed’s website without creating an account, but you’ll miss out on key features.  Without an account you won’t be able quickly apply to jobs or save jobs to your profile to go back and look at later.  

Also see: How to land an internship guide

Build your resume 

Some jobs on Indeed allow you to apply directly for a position through your Indeed account. This means you won’t have to deal with any third-party websites or applications. Having your Indeed profile completely filled out and equipped with an updated resume could give you an extra edge to apply quickly to new job postings! 

Indeed can even help you build your resume with advice and tips from experts. They offer a step-by-step process where you can choose the style of resume you would like, and they’ll show you exactly how to build it.  

Set your features 

Indeed offers its users tons of various features to help you search for the right job. Knowing how to properly use these features will help you narrow down what jobs might be a good fit for you.  

Job type 

The job type filter allows you to select if you’d like to look for a full-time or part-time position, and remote or in-person work. If you know what type of job you are searching for, this is a great tool to use. If you’re more flexible with what you’re looking for, then leaving this area unspecified will simply yield you more search results. 

Read also: How to find online jobs for college students

Experience level 

With this feature you can put in what certificates you have, years of relevant experience and more. Experience level is a great tool to use to narrow down your search! However, even if some companies have experience requirements you don’t meet, it’s always worth throwing your hat in the ring and hoping for an interview. Even if you lack a year of experience or training in a specific area, a company may still ask for an interview if they like the rest of your resume and cover letter.  

Education  

Education is similar to the above area of experience. It is a great tool to use, but don’t let it immediately discourage you from applying for a job. Some people don’t have college degrees and may have entered the workforce instead of pursuing formal education. In that case, you might have quite a lot of experience that others in your applicant pool don’t. This section can also include certifications you have!

Obviously, for positions in healthcare and more rigorous fields, a degree will likely be non-negotiable, but for others, it may be something preferred and not required!

Date posted 

When applying for any job on Indeed, one of the first things you should do is look to see when it was posted. Some jobs may remain open on the site for a long time. Looking for more recent job postings may help you find a job sooner by yielding quicker response times from companies who are actively looking for new employees.  

Location 

The first thing you will put in when you search for a job is the type of job you’re searching for and where you are searching for that job. There is also the option to include a radius for how far outside that specified area you would be willing to look for a job.  

If you are looking for a highly specialized job, a larger search area may also help you see what is around you.  

Also see: How to find a job or internship with Handshake

Salary 

Last, but not least on the list is salary. Knowing your worth is a key aspect to finding a job that you will enjoy and be able to grow at as an individual. Indeed allows you to select a salary range that you are looking for or set a minimum salary that you will consider.  

In addition to setting a salary range, Indeed offers a whole page on its website dedicated to providing you with information about salaries. Under the “find salaries” tab on the homepage, you can look up what other people in your profession are making. You can also use their salary calculator to see how your salary compares to others! 

Related: Top 20 highest paying careers to consider

Download the app 

Indeed knows you aren’t always going to be looking for a job on your laptop or desktop computer. They offer a mobile app where you can browse and apply for jobs just like you would on their website. Having the mobile app may also allow you to communicate more readily with jobs that are contacting you!  

Scams on Indeed

Last but not least, it’s important to be aware of the fact that not all job postings on Indeed are legit. While Indeed does have employees who attempt to monitor fake job postings or scams, some will still slip through. So, here are some things to look out for:

• Salary ranges that are far above normal for similar posted positions
• Unprofessional communications, such as poor grammar
• Any postings that ask for payment of sorts to apply, or personal information like your social security number
• A quick search of the company yields no results, or there is no contact information associated with the post

There are more things to look out for than these things above, but for now these should at least give you an idea of things to look for. If you do come across something suspicious, be sure to report that posting so that Indeed can look into it! 

See also: 10 tips for when you can’t find a job after graduating college

Key Takeaways

• Indeed offers lots of great tools to help you explore jobs, take advantage of all of them by conducting various searches with different filters 

• Salary is an important aspect to your potential job, which means knowing your worth and what other similar jobs are paying is important 

• To take full advantage of Indeed as a resource, you should fully set up your account with a resume and all necessary up to date information 

• You may not always look like a perfect candidate on paper, but if there is a career you are passionate about pursuing, try applying anyway, knowing that at the end of the day, it’s about the efforts you’re making 

Frequently asked questions about using Indeed to find a job