CVwerk
English (UK)

Job Search in the UK

Job boards, direct applications and the strategies that work

Job hunting in the UK works best as a mix: the big boards for volume, company career pages for roles that never reach a board, and specialist recruiters for niche markets. Set up alerts on two or three platforms, tailor every application and keep a simple log of what you sent and when. Vereinigtes Königreich: The portal and strategy recommendations below are adapted to the local job market.

The most important job boards in the UK (Vereinigtes Königreich)

Indeed UK

The largest UK job board by volume, aggregating listings from thousands of employers and agencies – best for broad searches and alerts.

All industries Alerts Volume
Visit

Reed

One of the UK's best-known boards and strong for permanent roles in admin, finance, IT, care and engineering, with salary filters and saved searches.

Permanent roles Salary filters Wide coverage
Visit

LinkedIn Jobs UK

Where UK recruiters look first – set your profile to open to work, follow target companies and let recruiters come to you.

Recruiters Networking Open to work
Visit

Totaljobs

Where UK recruiters look first – set your profile to open to work, follow target companies and let recruiters come to you.

DACH region Local Business events
Visit

GOV.UK Find a job

Official job portal of the Federal Employment Agency. Especially many listings in the public sector and from public employers.

Public sector Official Personal advice
Visit

Specialized platforms

Tech & IT

  • • Otta (Welcome to the Jungle): tech and start-up roles
  • • CWJobs: IT roles and contract work
  • • Technojobs: engineering and IT jobs

Creative & Design

  • • The Dots: creative, media and marketing
  • • Behance: designers and studios
  • • Creative Access: creative roles and placements

Students & Graduates

  • • Bright Network: internships and graduate schemes
  • • RateMyPlacement: placements and grad programmes
  • • Prospects: graduate careers and advice

Remote & Freelance

  • • Remote.co: fully remote roles
  • • We Work Remotely: international remote teams
  • • FlexJobs: vetted remote and flexible jobs

Effective search strategies

1 Set up job alerts

Create job alerts with your search criteria on the most important platforms. This way you receive new matching job listings directly by email every day and never miss an opportunity.

2 Use advanced search filters

Use filters such as location, salary, contract type (full-time/part-time), home office options and experience level to find suitable positions in a targeted way.

3 Apply directly on company websites

Many companies publish positions first on their own career page. Research your target companies and regularly visit their career sections.

4 Network on LinkedIn

Most UK roles are filled through people who already know the team. Keep your profile current, reconnect with former colleagues and ask about roles before they are advertised.

Application tips

Apply quickly

Apply within the first 48 hours after publication. Early applications are often given preferential treatment.

Tailor your cover letter

Do not use a standard cover letter. Tailor each application individually to the position and the company.

Use keywords

Integrate keywords from the job posting into your CV to convince ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).

Send a follow-up

After 1-2 weeks without a response, you can politely follow up. This shows your genuine interest in the position.

Useful tools & apps

Huntr / Notion

Organize applications and track their status

Glassdoor

Company reviews and salary comparisons

Google Alerts

Notifications for specific job titles or companies

Ready for your job search?

Create your professional CV now and launch your successful career with these strategies!

Create CV
Back to homepage