What Features Should a Job Search Engine Have?

• Most job seekers use job search engines to find and apply to jobs.
• Job search sites offer databases of positions to help you find jobs that suit your skills.
• Many sites provide visitors with curated profiles, AI assistance, and workplace reviews.
• We’ll help you evaluate what tools you need from a job search engine.

Whether you’re a recent graduate on the job hunt for the first time or an experienced professional looking for a new job, your search will no doubt involve job search engines. In a 2017 survey by Glassdoor, respondents indicated that they used nearly eight different job search engines while job hunting, a number that has likely only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But what makes a job search engine valuable to job seekers? Below, we break down five key features to look for.

Easy Profile Curation

The digital job profile is the new business card. And today's job seekers want job search sites with tools that make building and curating their online job profiles as easy as updating their social media statuses.

Look for job search engines with built-in assets like mobile integration and document management. These elements allow users to showcase their skills, talents, and portfolios to potential employers in just a few steps.

The ability to curate your job profile and manage documents like work samples, resumes, and cover letters can also expedite the often-tedious process of filling out application forms. Job search engines automatically fill in applications for you using basic information gathered from your resume or profile.

If you are submitting a high volume of applications during a job hunt, job search engine features like document management and auto-apply can save you a lot of time.

Artificial Intelligence That Works for You

All major job search engines use artificial intelligence (AI) to help identify, categorize, and organize applicants and posted positions. Specifically, most use an applicant tracking system (ATS), which scans your resume and application to determine if you are a good candidate for a job.

There are plenty of strategies for optimizing your resume for ATS. However, you should also evaluate whether a job search engine has AI that actively works for you. Job search engines that use AI to automatically match you with employers or invite you to apply to jobs can help you extend your search, increasing the likelihood that you’ll find a number of positions that are a good fit.

The AI used to evaluate applications should work on behalf of both applicants and their potential employers. Once you have curated your job profile to perfection, utilize the job search engine AI to find the right jobs to apply to.

Advanced Search Filters

There is so much to evaluate when matching your qualifications to jobs. You shouldn’t need to do the heavy lifting when figuring out the basics like location, estimated salary, and type of position. A job search engine with the proper search filters can allow you to refine your hunt without wasting time.

Looking for a job that will allow you to work remotely? Want to know if the posting meets your basic salary requirements? Advanced search filters can answer these questions, weeding out positions that don’t fit your specifications.

You don’t want to set your sights on a job that’s only looking for applicants who can make the commute to the office if your dream is to work from home.

Saving Jobs

With hundreds of jobs posted daily to job search sites, it can be hard to keep track of every one. A seasoned job seeker may have their own concoction of Excel spreadsheets and Google docs that archive all the posts that caught their attention. But with the ability to save jobs on the job search engine itself, you can avoid managing your own list of saved positions.

You need the right tools to curate your profile on a job search site, and you also need a feature that helps you keep track of all the jobs that look interesting to you.

A save function can be especially useful if you, like most job hunters, find yourself scrolling search engines for hours. You may not remember your 3 a.m. scrolling session, but the right search engine can help you save all the postings that looked perfect for review in the morning.

Employer Transparency

A 2019 Yello survey of Gen Z job hunters found that their top priority was being treated well during the application and interview process. Respondents viewed an employer's poor treatment of applicants and lack of respect during the hiring process as signs of a lacking company culture.

A job search engine that allows candidates to read reviews of potential employers from current and former employees can be essential to figuring out what an organization's culture is like.

The millennial and Gen Z workforce has demonstrated that they don’t just care about their paychecks. They want to work where they are appreciated. And they have standards when it comes to balancing work and life.

Access to honest reviews about potential employers can tell you what to expect from an organization and its culture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Job Searching