Here’s Where to Post Jobs for Free & Find Qualified Candidates With No Budget

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of job openings was at a series high of 11.5 million in March 2022 — the same month the number of quits was at a record high of 4.5 million. The Great Resignation, an ongoing trend that sees employees voluntarily resigning from their jobs, is in full swing, meaning that people are looking for work elsewhere en masse. With so many organizations looking to attract qualified talent, it’s more important than ever to promote your job listing so the right people can see it.

But how? Well, there are numerous sites that let you post jobs for free, which can be just as effective (and maybe even more so) as paid job boards. Gone are the days of having to spend money on finding the right candidate. With the help of the best free job posting sites we’ve listed below, you can easily find great potential hires without having to spend budget you don’t have. You may even be surprised to learn about some of the additional features that set each apart from the rest.

Best Overall: ZipRecruiter 

ZipRecruiter makes it easy to send job listings to 100+ job sites. Using its customizable job description template, organizations and recruiters can write their job listings in no time. Then, using its smart matching technology, ZipRecruiter finds the right candidates. Employers should then invite candidates to apply, which works by finding qualified candidates for open roles even before they submit their application. It then presents those job seekers to employers and shows employers detailed information about the candidate, including previous job titles, years of experience, education, etc. Lastly, as you receive applications from qualified candidates, you can manage and rate them in ZipRecruiter’s dashboard. Additional features include the ability to add screening questions to your job post, allowing you to only see qualified applicants.

Best for Company Integration: Indeed 

As one of the world’s biggest recruitment sites, Indeed is a great option if you’re looking for qualified candidates. All you have to do is create an account and enter your job description to post jobs for free. They also have the added feature of paying to promote your postings as sponsored jobs to hire faster, appear for longer than non-sponsored jobs, and give you access to candidates right after posting. You’ll also be able to manage jobs and candidates from your Indeed dashboard where you can review applications and schedule interviews as well.

Best for Social Recruiting: LinkedIn

As a professional networking site, LinkedIn goes above and beyond. With its huge user base and features, job seekers and employers alike use this platform to find candidates and job opportunities. For employers, it’s free and easy to post a job on LinkedIn. All you have to do is go to its recruitment page, enter your job description and skills needed, and then specify how you’d like to receive applications and if you’d like applicants to answer any screening questions. Like Indeed, you can also pay to promote positions and if you use LinkedIn Recruiter or Recruiter Lite, you can access additional features such as skills assessment filters.

Best for High-Paying Jobs: Ladders

According to Tech Radar, Ladders may be a site typically used for high-paying jobs and executive roles, but recruiters can still post jobs for free. And it’s simple: just create an account and you can then post a job after you complete the job description, salary, benefits, etc. A free recruiter account on Ladders allows you to post ten jobs per month, view ten resumes per month and get ten emails per month through the site, and you can save searches. They do have the option to upgrade to a different plan, however, if you find that its free basic access doesn’t suffice.

Best for Freelancers: Upwork

If you’re looking to find freelance talent, Upwork is a perfect choice. With this platform, you’re able to search for freelancers in every field and the site verifies them beforehand to ensure legitimacy. Plus, it’s free. Using its straightforward process of adding the job description, skills needed, and rates, you can find a freelancer in no time at all. And once the job listing is up and running, Upwork even suggests likely talent. While the site is free, it also offers Upwork Plus for additional costs and features.

Best for Startups: AngelList

AngelList is designed for employers at startups. It’s free to post a job on AngelList with its Recruit-Starter package, but they also have other plans for additional costs. With the Recruit-Starter package, employers can source from 8 million profiles, post an unlimited amount of job listings, and access unlimited messaging. It also offers a free applicant tracking system or ATS integration, the ability to build your company profile, using your own branding, and options for embedding jobs on your site. It does however give you limited candidate profile views, but only when using the free plan.

Best for Finding Passive Candidates: Facebook

You may not think of Facebook as the go-to site for job posting, but trust me when I say you might want to reconsider. As one of the biggest social media platforms, Facebook has millions of users, with some on the job hunt. For employers looking to promote their job listing here, you’ll need to first create a Facebook page for your company. Then, you can list a new job by entering the job description, the location, salary, etc. You can also add screening questions and specify if applicants need to send a resume. Like some of the others above, you can pay to promote your listing if you want to attract specific candidates.

This article was created by BlogHer for ZipRecruiter.