Looking for a job involves many steps, from crafting your resume to tracking applications. To help you save time and boost efficiency, we’ve identified 11 essential tools you can use.

Platforms to Search for Jobs

1/ Indeed: Thousands of Job Offers at Your Fingertips
Indeed is one of the most widely used job aggregators for candidates and companies, and for good reason. With thousands of job postings across all sectors, experiences, and contract types (part-time, full-time, temporary, permanent), you're bound to find opportunities that suit your needs.

Getting started is easy. Once you create your free account, you can:

• Set up your search based on keywords, location, contract type, and work hours.

• Upload your resume.

• Save job postings that interest you.

• Track the progress of your applications and get notified when your resume has been viewed.

Heads up: The main downside of Indeed is the high competition. While there are numerous postings, there are just as many candidates using the platform.

2/ Niche Job Boards
If you’re looking for a job in a specific sector (e.g., finance), specialized job boards are your best bet. These platforms allow for more targeted searches, increasing your chances of finding a position that matches your skills and experience.

Examples of niche job boards by industry:

• Tech: GitHub Jobs, HackerRank

• Finance: eFinancialCareers, FinancialJobsWeb

• Marketing: MarketingJobs.com, GrowthHackers

• Sales: SalesJobs.com, Rainmakers, Hired

3/ LinkedIn: The Alternative to Job Boards
LinkedIn is an efficient and powerful tool for job hunting, provided your profile is complete and optimized. Start by detailing your career, achievements, and skills using relevant keywords to appear in recruiter searches. Strengthen your profile by asking for recommendations from your connections.

For job postings, LinkedIn offers a search engine with filters for location, sector, and experience level. You can also set up alerts for new opportunities that match your criteria. The "Easy Apply" feature simplifies the process by letting you apply directly with your LinkedIn profile.

Another perk is the ability to follow companies of interest, helping you stay updated on news and learn about their culture.

4/ Wiggli: A Comprehensive Recruitment Platform
Initially tailored for freelancers, Wiggli now also caters to salaried job seekers. The platform allows you to create a free account to upload your resume and specify your preferences (contract type, salary, location, availability, etc.).

Using AI, Wiggli scans your resume and identifies your skills. It also notifies you of job postings with a compatibility score based on your profile. Additionally, Wiggli offers insights into companies, including team details, recruitment processes, history, and values, right on the platform.

Tools to Create Resumes and Cover Letters

5/ Canva: A Library of Customizable Resume Templates
Canva provides a wide range of pre-designed resume templates to suit various styles and professions. Whether you prefer a minimalist, corporate, or creative look, Canva has you covered.

Its user-friendly interface makes editing simple, offering features like:

• Drag-and-drop: Easily add, move, or remove elements.

• Real-time editing: See your changes instantly.

• Multiple download options: Export your resume as a PDF, PNG, or JPEG for printing or emailing.

Canva is cloud-based, meaning you can access your designs from any device. There’s even a mobile app for on-the-go edits.

Alternative: Zety

6/ Grammarly: Flawless Resumes and Cover Letters
Even the most visually appealing resume won’t impress if it’s riddled with errors. Grammarly is an online grammar and spell checker that ensures your documents are polished and professional. It scans your resume and cover letter for mistakes and suggests corrections in real time.

Pro tip: Grammarly integrates with Canva for seamless editing.

Tools to Prepare for Job Interviews

Interviews are a crucial part of the hiring process. These tools can help you prepare effectively.

7/ Pramp: Practice with Peers
Pramp connects you with other job seekers for mock interviews. Here’s how it works:

• Find a partner: Input your availability and the type of interview you want to practice. Pramp pairs you with another user and provides interview questions.

• Practice: Conduct video interviews where you and your partner take turns as interviewer and interviewee. Each session lasts 30–45 minutes and concludes with mutual feedback.

Alternative: BigInterview offers video lessons and exercises to prepare for interviews.

8/ Glassdoor: Tailored Interview Prep
Glassdoor provides insights into company-specific interview questions, enabling you to tailor your preparation. With this knowledge, you can approach interviews confidently and adapt to different companies’ styles.

9/ ChatGPT: Your Virtual Interview Coach
ChatGPT can simulate interviews, helping you practice common and job-specific questions. For the most relevant feedback, share details about:

• The job context: company, role, sector, and responsibilities.

• Your interviewer: recruiter, manager, CEO, etc.

• Your strengths and weaknesses or areas you want to improve.

ChatGPT can also guide you on presenting yourself effectively and structuring your answers.

Tools to Track Job Applications

Managing multiple applications across various platforms can be overwhelming. These tools help you stay organized.

10/ Trello: A Simple Job Search Tracker
Trello is a visual project management tool with customizable boards, lists, and cards. You can:

• Create cards for each job application and move them across columns (e.g., Applied, Interviewed, Follow-up).

• Add deadlines, labels, comments, and attachments to stay on top of key dates and tasks.

11/ JibberJobber: A Career Management App
JibberJobber acts as a career CRM, helping you organize and track your job search. Features include:

• Logging job applications.

• Managing professional connections and identifying networking opportunities.

• Listing target companies.

• Learning resources to optimize your job search and grow your network.

The free version offers plenty of functionality to get started.