One top-recommended strategy for finding employees online is using a job board like ZipRecruiter. You can post a new position in minutes and ZipRecruiter will share it on 100+ other job sites. Create your account today and start posting job openings for free!
If your company is looking to find employees for open positions, you need to have a presence online. According to Glassdoor research, 51% of job seekers prefer to find jobs on online job sites, while 33% head directly to a company's website. Social media is where 35% of job seekers hear about job openings.
Post Your First Job Free With ZipRecruiter Start with ZipRecruiter today to find the best candidates out there. 
Building an effective online hiring strategy helps you attract more qualified applicants, strengthen your employer brand, and fill roles faster. Below, we’ll walk through the five best places to find employees online and share practical recruiting tips to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.
The Best Places To Find Employees Online - Top Picks
- ZipRecruiter - Best Overall Job Board
- LinkedIn - Best Professional Network
- Upwork - Best For Freelancers
The 5 Best Places To Find Employees Online
There are plenty of ways to find employees online, but not all are created equal and may not be worth the time and money involved. Here’s a look at the five best places to find employees online.
1. Job Boards
When it comes to learning how to find employees online, job boards are one of the most effective tools available. Millions of job seekers visit these platforms every day to browse open positions and upload resumes.
Most job boards are free for candidates and paid for employers, but the investment often pays off quickly, especially if you use features like resume search tools or targeted job boosts to reach the right people.
Some of the most popular online job boards include:
- ZipRecruiter
- Indeed
- Monster
- Glassdoor
- CareerBuilder
- SimplyHired
- Ladders
- Handshake
A LinkedIn survey revealed that 60% of job seekers use online job boards to find employment, more than any other job search method.
Post Your First Job Free With ZipRecruiter Start with ZipRecruiter today to find the best candidates out there.
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the top professional network for employers who want to find employees online. With over 900 million members, it’s a powerful tool for reaching both active and passive candidates.
You can post job openings, search for candidates based on skills and experience, and build a company page that highlights your culture. Regularly sharing updates or insights about your company can attract attention from professionals who might not be actively job hunting but are open to the right opportunity.
For more information, check out our LinkedIn review.
3. Social Media
Social media platforms are a major part of any modern recruiting strategy. Sites like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok allow you to showcase your company culture and reach candidates where they already spend their time.
Post about what makes your workplace unique - from team events to company milestones. Use visuals, videos, and hashtags to boost engagement. A Jobvite survey found that 42% of job seekers learn about openings through social media, so don’t be afraid to experiment with content that makes your company stand out.
📌 CareerCloud Tip: Encourage your employees to share job openings and testimonials on their personal profiles. Employee advocacy often reaches higher-quality candidates faster than ads alone.
Related: How To Recruit On Facebook
4. College and University Career Centers
If you’re looking for entry-level talent or interns, college career centers are one of the best places to find employees online. Most universities allow employers to post listings for free on their websites or career platforms.
Building long-term relationships with local schools can also lead to a steady pipeline of fresh graduates. Participate in career fairs, guest lectures, or mentorship programs to raise awareness about your organization.
📌 CareerCloud Tip: Keep in touch with career services teams to stay top of mind when new grads start their job search.
5. Professional Association Websites
Professional associations can connect you with highly skilled, niche candidates who may not be active on traditional job boards. Many offer online career centers or job boards as part of their membership benefits.
Examples include:
- American Psychological Association
- Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals
- National Human Resources Association
- American Marketing Association
Find relevant professional associations that allow you to post job openings at your company.
Best Strategies for Finding Employees Online
Finding employees online doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does require having a plan. Here are three strategies your company can use to find and attract the best possible job candidates.
Develop Your Company’s Online Presence
Few things are more important for employers today than developing an online presence. The world exists online, and if you don’t leverage that to find employees, you’re doing your company a disservice. Gone are the days of drawing in potential employees with a help wanted sign on your front door.
You can develop an online presence with consistent marketing and branding wherever you stake space online. Add company profiles to career search sites, search engines, and other online resources people use to search for employment. You should also consider adding or updating your career page on your company’s website.
Spend time looking at online reviews of your company too. According to CMD Recruitment, four in five job seekers research a company’s online reviews and ratings when deciding whether to apply for a job.
Harness The Power Of Social Media
Social media isn't just for connecting with friends and family; it's a goldmine for recruiters and employers. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Facebook can be instrumental in your search for the ideal candidate.
Here's how:
- LinkedIn: Engage with candidates through posts and groups.
- X (Twitter): Use hashtags and join conversations in your industry.
- Facebook: Leverage community groups and targeted ads to reach candidates where they are.
Use Job Posting Tools And Software
Streamline your hiring with software that helps you post, track, and manage candidates efficiently. Tools like ZipRecruiter or your applicant tracking system (ATS) make it easy to stay organized as your team grows.
Write Keyword-Rich Job Descriptions
Job boards and search engines rely on keywords to surface listings. Use specific, relevant phrases in your job titles and descriptions like “marketing manager,” “remote,” or “project management” to attract qualified candidates faster.
Engage With Online Communities
Beyond job boards, connect with professionals in industry forums, Slack groups, or LinkedIn communities. These spaces often reveal passive candidates and talented professionals open to new roles, even if they’re not actively applying.
Next Steps
Now that you know where to find employees online, you may also be interested in these tools to simplify your recruiting and hiring process:
- Applicant Tracking Software: Applicant tracking software helps you to manage the process of finding the best people all in one place. Keep all of your favorite potential employees in one place!
- HR Software: HR software can help you with more than just onboarding. HR software can also help to communicate with employees effectively, set clear performance goals, manage payroll, and much more.
- Recruitment Software: Recruitment software can help you keep track of every facet of recruitment.
- Performance Management Software: Performance management allows you to set goals, track progress toward those goals, identify skill gaps, facilitate conversations, and much more.
- CRM Software: CRM software helps companies collect, organize, and retrieve customer information. The software contains a database of all interactions, sales, and important notes associated with each customer or lead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I look for employees to hire?
There are plenty of places online to look for employees, including online job boards, professional networks and associations, social media, and college and university career centers.
What is the best website to hire employees?
Several websites let you post job openings, track applicants, and organize recruitment efforts. Examples of the best job websites include ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Monster, and CareerBuilder.
How can I recruit employees for free?
Many online job boards allow you to post job listings for free. You can also create social media accounts for your company and post listings with direct links to job applications or the company page on your website. You can also check out our guide to the best free job posting sites.
How do you recruit the best employee?
Recruiting the best employee starts with a clear understanding and communication of what you’re looking for in an employee. Creating well-defined job descriptions gives potential candidates a picture of what you’re looking for (and not looking for) in an employee.
The Bottom Line
Job seekers are online, so your company needs to be online too. Use the tips and tools listed above to create a consistent online brand to attract the best possible job applicants.
ZipRecruiter can help with all of your hiring needs. If you are ready to add to your team, consider listing your job opening on ZipRecruiter!
