For most roles, start with the big general job boards, then add a couple of niche or local sites that match your role and location.
Major general sites
These reach the largest number of candidates and usually offer free posts with optional paid boosts.
- Indeed: Very high traffic, good for almost any role; allows free postings plus paid sponsorship.
- LinkedIn: Strong for professional, white‑collar roles; 1 free job at a time, paid options for more reach.
- Google for Jobs: Your job appears in Google search if posted on boards that Google indexes and formatted correctly.
Free job boards to try
Several platforms let you post at no cost and still get good visibility.
- PostJobFree, Jobvertise, Job Spider, SimplyHired, and Hubstaff Talent offer free postings and often distribute your ad to other sites.
- Some services (like ZipRecruiter and Workable) give a free trial and then send your job to many boards at once.
Local, student, and niche options
Use these when you need specific types of candidates.
- Local: Craigslist tends to work well for local and hourly roles.
- Students/grads: Handshake connects you with students and recent alumni from many schools.
- Tech/startups and remote: Wellfound (startup/tech), Hubstaff Talent (remote/freelance), Levels.fyi (tech), and various freelance marketplaces fit specialized roles.
Where each site shines
Site| Best use case| Cost model (typical)
---|---|---
Indeed| General, high‑volume hiring| Free posts plus paid boosts 35
LinkedIn| Professional and leadership roles| One free job, paid promotion 3410
Craigslist| Local and hourly jobs| Low‑cost per listing 4
Handshake| Students and recent grads| Focused campus recruiting 34
Wellfound| Startups and tech roles| Free posts, paid upgrades 3
ZipRecruiter| Broad reach via distribution network| Free trial then paid plans
56
Quick posting strategy
- Post to at least one major board (Indeed or LinkedIn), plus one free board, plus a niche/local site relevant to your role.
- Use clear titles, simple requirements, and a short benefits section to improve click‑through and applications.
