Disclosure: I am a ZipRecruiter Affiliate. Therefore, if you decide to sign up, download the app, or use their free job searching service through the links in this article, I will make a small commission at no cost to you.
ZipRecruiter is a job site that helps you apply to more jobs in a shorter amount of time and you hear back from those employers faster. This article is my honest review of using ZipRecruiter to find my most recent job. I have been using ZipRecruiter for about three years, on and off, whenever I found myself looking for a new position.
The Pandemic Started and I was Jobless
I’ve decided to write this article now because there are a lot of people that have lost jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. The amount of people searching for jobs currently is immense and that is making the job market more competitive than ever.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I left my job due to health concerns surrounding the pandemic. I was scared and didn’t feel safe in my highly customer-facing position. So I quit. I thought I had a position lined up in an office that would allow me to be exposed to significantly less people on a daily basis making it a safer place for me to work. However, after a couple weeks into the hiring process they decided to put the position on hold.
This meant they were just going to wait to fill the position until the pandemic was under control. Which has yet to happen. This happened to me twice. Two different positions, that I had interviewed for and was in the final pool of applicants, were put on hold indefinitely. That meant I was out of work indefinitely with no income until I could find a new position that was actually actively hiring.
Then I Turned to ZipRecruiter
After 3 months passed, I was still job hunting with no prospects. I have never had so much trouble finding a job. I went back and fourth between a few job searching sites in hopes of finding a position.
The site that gave me the most hope was ZipRecruiter. The App sends you notifications when employers are looking at your resume and that was a huge comfort to me. At least I knew some progress was being made in my otherwise hopeless job searching efforts.
How to Use ZipRecruiter
One thing I love about ZipRecruiter is how easy it is to use! You download the app, create a profile, and start using the one-tap feature to apply for jobs in seconds. It’s fast, user-friendly, and you get a notification when someone is viewing your application.
The hiring process with ZipRecruiter is fast because all the information employers need to evaluate a candidate can be found in the user profile. ZipRecruiter also recommends specific positions that best fit your skills, experience, and preferences.
Check Out Screenshots of the App Below:
This is a screenshot of my home screen (below) on the ZipRecruiter App. These are jobs recommended to me based on my skills, education, and experience. I love that the app tells you if you can apply via mobile or desktop. Every position is formatted so you can see if the pay, benefits, and the type of position. Recently they have added the orange ‘Actively Hiring During Covid-19’ tag so you can be assured that the company is still hiring and looking at applications.
This screenshot (above) also shows the question, featured at the top, from ZipRecruiter asking for feedback on the job opportunities. ZipRecruiter uses your feedback to tailor your job recommendations. So be sure to tap your response!
The screenshot (above) shows my ‘Applied Jobs’ dashboard. Here I can view what positions are closed or if my application has been viewed. You are notified in real-time when an employer looks at your application. So the blue status could read anything from: viewed within the last hour to viewed 3 months ago.
Along with your recommended jobs on your home screen, you can also search position titles, job types, or location. The app then shows your recent searches and allows you to search them again with one tap. See screenshot above.
This last screenshot (above), shows an example of using the search function to choose what type of position you are looking for.
When applying, some jobs will have you answer a few confirmation questions after hitting ‘apply’ like: are you legally allowed to work in this country, are you at least 18 years old, or do you have a driver’s license?
Tips for Perfecting your Profile
- Keep your resume attachment updated and current
- Fill out every profile field
- Workshop your profile headline to make your profile stand out
- Take the time to write descriptions for each work experience listed
- Add all of your skills
- Connect your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio or both
- Fill out the ‘More Information’ section that asks about what you’re looking for (like salary and preferred industry)
- Once you’re happy with your profile, make it visible to employers!
All of these things are important to fill out because the information you enter helps ZipRecruiter to recommend positions that match your skills, experience, and desires. The better your profile is, the faster you will find a job that is the perfect fit for you.
Who Should Use ZipRecruiter?
I’ve found that there are certain types of companies that often utilize ZipRecruiter more than others. Some that I have seen a lot of are CDL/driver positions, every type of sales or retail positions, and staffing companies listing administrative positions.
I’ve found it’s definitely easy to find entry-level positions on ZipRecruiter. I highly recommend it to any recent grads. You can find great career experience opportunities and internships listed on the site to kick start your career.
If you are looking for a career change, ZipRecruiter could be a great way to see what’s out there. The easy to use filters allow you to search by location and industry. When ZipRecruiter recommends position they take into account the skills you list in your profile. This allows you to see what kind of positions your qualified for to help with your career transition.
Where Could They Improve?
One thing I really don’t like about the app is that you will see responses from some employers that view your application and the only thing you hear back is that you need to fill out a separate application on their site.
I wish that instead of getting these messages you would at least receive a phone call to discuss the position or a message saying they think you would be great for the position so you know you aren’t wasting time filling out an hour long application so you can be emailed a rejection.
This site is to make applying for jobs easier and faster so employers and candidates can benefit. If ZipRecruiter was meant to be as outdated as most hr hiring processes, it wouldn’t be nearly as useful or valuable. ZipRecruiter is for people looking to get to work today not in a few months.
So mainly my critique is how some employers use the site rather than a critique about the platform.
My Overall Opinion AKA Will I Continue to Use ZipRecruiter?
If I find myself in job searching mode again in the future I will definitely use ZipRecruiter in my search. My most recent experience with ZipRecruiter helped to land me a job at a great international company just 30 minutes from my house that I had absolutely no idea it even existed.
ZipRecruiter is easy to use and gets you faster responses from employers. The best part about ZipRecruiter is that it’s completely free! You have nothing to lose from giving ZipRecruiter a try.
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