Online job banks

What you can do on a job bank

Most job banks will give you a general introduction on how to use their site. Here are the common tasks you can do at most job banks:

• Search and apply for job openings. There are thousands of online job banks. Most work in the same basic way. Employers pay to post job openings. Job seekers search the openings for free. You can usually register to learn more and apply for jobs. This should also be free of charge.
• Post your resume. Sometimes you can post your resume without applying for a specific job. Then employers can see your resume and match you to an open position. Follow the instructions on each job bank site to post your resume.
• Get a feel for the jobs and the pay. Job banks can be a good research tool. You can learn what skills employers are looking for. You can also learn what kind of pay to expect for different jobs in your area.

What to avoid

You should not have to pay to search through job openings on a job bank. You should also be able to post your resume for free. However, you may have to register with a user name and password in order to use all the features of a job bank. It's helpful to write down the web address, user name and password for all the job banks you use so you can easily get access and track openings.

Sometimes, job postings on online job banks are scams. They try to get you to pay up front or perform illegal activities. Beware of job postings that ask you for an "up-front" investment of money. Also be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. For instance, you can't really earn thousands of dollars for depositing checks from foreign countries. And it may be illegal to ship items from your home.

Never give personal information. A legitimate company won't ask you for certain personal details online. Never give your social security or national ID number online. Also never give a credit card number, bank account information, or similar details on job search sites.

Where you can find job banks online

Get started with CareerOneStop's Job Search. You'll find the link in the Resources box at the bottom of this page. You'll be asked to enter the kind of job you're looking for, and the location where you want to find work. You can find other job banks by searching for "find jobs" on Google.com.