The top 5 job search websites in the UK

1. Indeed

Indeed is the largest general job board in the UK and pulls adverts from company websites as well as direct listings, so it has the widest coverage. It's a good first stop for almost any role or sector.

• Set up email alerts for your key search terms so new roles reach you early
• Use the salary and location filters to cut out jobs that don't fit
• Check the employer's own site too — some roles listed there never reach Indeed's one-click apply

2. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is both a job board and a networking site. Many recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates before advertising a role anywhere else, and applications there often go straight to a named recruiter.

• Turn on 'open to work' so recruiters can find you
• Follow the companies you'd most like to join — roles are often posted there first
• Keep your profile up to date, because recruiters will read it before they read your CV

3. Reed

Reed is one of the UK's longest-established job boards and covers both permanent and temporary roles across most sectors. It's particularly strong for office-based, administration and customer-facing jobs.

• Upload your CV so recruiters can find you and invite you to apply
• Use its career tools for salary benchmarks when you're deciding what to ask for

4. Totaljobs

Totaljobs lists a broad mix of UK vacancies and is widely used by recruitment agencies, so it's a good way to find agency recruiters who specialise in your field.

• Search by job title rather than company to surface agency listings
• Save your searches and check back regularly — agencies repost popular roles

5. CV-Library

CV-Library lets you register your CV so employers and agencies can approach you directly. It's a quieter site than Indeed or LinkedIn, which can mean fewer competing applicants for the roles it does list.

• Keep your uploaded CV tailored and current so approaches match what you actually want
• Reply quickly to recruiters — the first suitable candidates often get the interviews

Also worth knowing

GOV.UK's 'Find a job' service lists vacancies from employers across the UK, including many apprenticeships and public-sector roles. Glassdoor is useful less for adverts and more for reading reviews and salary details about a company before you apply. If you work in a specialist field, its own sector job board is often worth more than any of the general ones.

Get the most from any job site

Whichever sites you use, the same habits make the difference:

• Set up alerts and apply early rather than trawling daily
• Tailor your CV to each advert — send the same CV everywhere and you'll blend in
• Track what you've applied to so you can follow up
• Don't rely on adverts alone: telling people you're looking often finds roles that are never advertised

Before you apply

Found a role you like? Paste the advert into the hire me. job check to see how well your CV matches it, which keywords you're missing and how to close the gap before you apply.