Joshua Coller 
To get ahead in your job search, these tools are all you need
Back in the day, if you were looking for a job, you'd print a stack of CVs and start knocking on doors. But the world has moved on and much of the job search now happens online, thanks to a number of job search sites.
And these job sites aren't just noticeboards full of vacancies to choose from. Many provide you with strategies to market yourself to companies and recruiters. On most job sites, you can upload your CV and let the HR Managers come to you.
You can also use job boards to get an idea of what skills and experience you might need to land your next job, so that you have a grasp on what employers are looking for.
There are a lot of different options out there when it comes to UK job sites, so where do you start? Check out the list below for an overview of the best job sites for the UK and EU, with an explanation of the tools and features each site has available.
Adzuna
Adzuna is simple to describe: it's a search engine for job listings. Using their smart search filters and algorithms, Adzuna collects job opportunities from all around the web and presents them to you in an easy-to-read and simple-to-search format. You can sign up for an account, create the job searches you want, and set up email alerts to notify you about new jobs that match your criteria.
Adzuna's tech also allows them to collect and analyse trends in the job market, to help job seekers. The Salary Stats feature, for instance, allows you to search and compare salary data from around the UK.
Adzuna has worked with the UK government's Department for Work and Pensions' "Find a Job" service, so you know they've got a solid reputation.
Areas served: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, UK
CV-Library
CV-Library was one of the UK's first online job boards – and it's still going strong. You can search for jobs, as well as upload your CV so that potential employers can search for you. The site hosts millions of CVs in their library and thousands of companies search the site every day for candidates that could be the right fit for a role.
You can also sign up for job alerts or join affordable online courses to help you to expand your skill set and become more desirable to employers and recruiters. There's even a Career Advice section with videos, guides, and blog posts to help you through your job search.
Areas served: US, UK
Escape the City
For those looking to make a change, Escape the City offers more than just job vacancies. There are courses to help you to learn new skills and enable you to transition into the career of your dreams. There are also tips and tools for starting your own business, advice on how to change your career, and a calendar of interesting events for job seekers.
Escape the City focuses on meaningful jobs to help people to build fulfilling careers. They provide a list of the 100 top companies to escape to, judged against six criteria: impact, planet, mission, people, innovation, and B-Corp.
Areas served: UK, with some European and worldwide jobs
Glassdoor
Everyone presents their best face to the world and potential employers are no exception. So how is a job seeker meant to know what company will suit them best?
Glassdoor offers assistance by collecting reviews from former employees, so that you can get a first-hand account of what it's like to work there. Former candidates can also share details about their interview processes, so that you know what to expect in your interview and can prepare accordingly. You can research salaries to get an idea of your market value, which is helpful for salary negotiations.
Areas served: UK, Europe, North America, South America
Reed
If you've been to London, no doubt you've seen ads for Reed plastered all over buses and tube stops. Reed bills itself as the Number 1 site for job seekers in the UK. The site provides job search and career advice, as well as courses covering careers across several industries, all to help get you started on the right track to your dream career.
As a company, Reed is more than just a job site. They're a recruitment company and they also offer HR consultancy and training. They've been doing it for years and they know what they're about.
Areas served: UK, with some European and worldwide jobs
Totaljobs
Totaljobs has searches for both job vacancies and companies hiring. You can look through the many companies that are recruiting across different industries and get a better idea of what's out there.
Job seekers can register a CV, set up notifications, and save their favourite jobs to look at later. Totaljobs also has an app that you can download to your Android or iPhone, so that you can get notifications on the go and search the latest jobs from your pocket. You can sync your settings across devices, so you can be fast with your applications and get in first on new opportunities.
Areas served: UK, with some European and worldwide jobs
Indeed
Indeed is one of the world's biggest job sites ‒ if you've been looking for a job, chances are that you've come across Indeed. This job site lets you search job vacancies, check company reviews, and access salary comparisons for jobs and companies across more than 60 countries around the world.
Their keyword search is simple and straightforward to use and once you've started searching you'll receive recommended jobs that you can browse through as well. You can also create a job seeker profile, upload your CV, apply to new roles, and set up email alerts to get a head start in landing your dream job.
If you're looking to create an international career for yourself, this is the place to get started.
Areas served: Worldwide
CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder aims to provide the tools needed to not only find a job but also to build a career. Job seekers can upload their CV, details, and preferences, and CareerBuilder will send job recommendations.
There are also international salary comparisons which show a side-by-side look at how different jobs are paid in different cities around the world. Plus, they offer career advice from their experts and post ongoing updates via their blog.
Areas served: Canada, France, Germany, Greece, India, Sweden, UK, Vietnam
Careerjet
Careerjet is a search engine that allows you to search tens of millions of job vacancies from thousands of websites, all in one place. You can post your CV and find listings for careers in the US, UK, Europe, and all around the world.
The site has a keyword search function, but there's an extensive directory search as well. You can browse jobs by industry and location, to help you figure out what you want to do and where you want to go next with your career.
Areas served: Worldwide
Eurojobs
Eurojobs is the largest job site catered to European job seekers and job seekers abroad looking to relocate for their European dream job.
The Eurojobs site includes a blog full of up-to-date and relevant posts for job seekers focused on Europe, including a list of featured companies.
Areas served: UK, Europe
WorkInStartups
For those looking to get involved in the exciting world of startups, WorkInStartups is the place to go. This site allows job seekers to find roles at a startup with a mission they're passionate about and to get plugged in at whatever level best works for them.
WorkInStartups has a highlight list of featured jobs, a regularly updated newsletter, and job searches in a number of startup categories for part-time, full-time, and freelance positions.
Areas served: UK
Guardian Jobs
Guardian Jobs is the online version of the employment section from the newspaper. Guardian Jobs provides job vacancies from good companies with a positive mission, with positions posted for fields as diverse as the government, technology, and the charity sector.
The Guardian Jobs site allows you to browse for jobs by sector, location, and graduate positions, as well as part-time and "trending" jobs. There's also a "search by job title" feature to help you to narrow down what you're looking for. You can set up an account to save your favourite jobs and get notifications. Areas served: UK, some European and worldwide jobs
In conclusion
Job sites are an amazing tool for job seekers and these are some of the best job search sites around. However, the foundation of any successful job search is still a high quality CV. When you upload your document, it should be well presented, clearly written, and tailored to the job and the industry you're looking for.
Pick and choose your job sites and find out what works best for you ‒ and don't forget that a professionally written CV will really help you to stand out.
Want another online tool to help your job search? Get a free CV review from TopCV.