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Help and advice

The new 'Find a job' service

'Find a job' is a free service from the Department for Work and Pensions that lets you search and apply for thousands of jobs in the UK.

You can search for jobs without setting up an account. But setting up an account means you can:

  • apply for jobs
  • keep a record of your job searches and applications
  • use it to discuss your work search activity if you're claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance
  • create email alerts
  • save jobs to apply for later

Search for jobs

You can search for work by: job title, company, skill and location. Filter your results by: location, posting date, salary, category, contract type and hours.

Use Advanced search to refine your search even more.

If there's a particular job you're interested in, you can set up email alerts on the search results page.

Northern Ireland

You can find jobs across the UK, including Northern Ireland. Find more Northern Ireland jobs at JobCentre Online NI.

Set up and manage your account

Go to the Create an account page. Enter your email address and a password. You'll get an email. Follow the link in the email to activate your account.

The link expires within 24 hours. If you have not received the email, check your junk or spam folder to see if it's in there. If you are having difficulties receiving the link, then please add noreply@email.findajob.dwp.gov.uk to your safe senders list.

If the link has expired you'll need to register again. You can use the same email address.

If you forget your password

You can reset your password if you need to. Enter the the email address you used to create the account. You'll get an email with instructions on how to reset your password.

If you want to delete your account

Delete your account by going into Manage account in your account and choosing the delete option.

Save jobs

You can save jobs you're interested in. You need to be signed in to your account first. When you search for jobs, you'll see on the search results page there's a heart button next to each job, which you use to save a job for later. Find the jobs you've saved in your account.

Set up and manage email alerts

Set up daily email or weekly alerts for jobs you're interested in. You need to be signed in first. When you search for jobs, you’ll see on the search results page there's a 'create alert' button at the top of the page. Use that option to set up an email alert that will send you email alerts with all the jobs that match the search you used.

If you want to stop getting email alerts, you can unsubscribe from them in your account.

If you're not getting emails and you think you should be, check:

  • the email address in your account is correct
  • if the emails have been put in your spam or junk folder

Email safety

Sometimes people send fake emails disguised as real ones to try to get you to send them personal information (this is called 'phishing').

The 'Find a job' service will never send you an email that:

  • requests your account username or password
  • asks you to download something
  • asks you to update your account

If you think you've been sent a fake email made to look like one from us, use the contact us form. Give us a detailed description of the email.

Be wary of any email that asks you:

  • to transfer money as part of securing a job offer
  • for personal details such as bank account details, National Insurance number, date of birth or any other information that does not seem relevant to applying for a job

Create and attach a CV

Attach a CV by going to your account and selecting 'Your CVs'. Follow the instructions to upload a Microsoft Word document or PDF from your device.

You can upload up to 5 CVs. Employers will only see your CV when you apply for a job.

Delete CVs by going into your account, choosing 'Your account' and using the 'delete' link.

You cannot build a CV on the website, only upload a CV you've created.

A good CV highlights the skills, qualifications and experience you have that are relevant to the job and company you are applying to. It's worth taking some time to create a master CV that can then be altered to suit different jobs and employers.

For more information about creating a good CV, see the National Careers Service website.

Apply for a job

To apply for a job, select the link to the job and then scroll down the page. If you see an 'Apply' button, select it. This will do one of the following:

  • let you apply for the job online within the 'Find a job' service (you'll need to attach a CV and include a message)
  • take you to the company's own recruitment website
  • show contact details for the company so you can apply over the phone or by email

If the employer has provided a phone number, always check how much it will cost to call that number from your phone before you ring it.

Never give out the following information in your CVs, covering letters or job applications:

  • bank details
  • National Insurance number
  • date of birth
  • any other information not relevant to the application process

If you're worried about anything tell us using the contact us form and choose 'I have a complaint about an employer'.

Jobs are posted for 30 days. But a company might take it down at any time, for example if the job has received enough applications. You should apply promptly to maximise chances of being able to apply for a job and your application being considered.

Track your application

Track jobs you've applied for in your account. You’ll be able to see your activity for the last 60 days including:

  • jobs you applied for
  • jobs you viewed
  • searches you did

You can print this off using the 'print friendly' button on the page.

Each company will let you know about your application in its own way. A small company that has a small number of applicants might send a personalised response to say your application was received.

Larger companies might use automated email replies. Some companies contact applicants only if they want to invite them to interview. This is more likely if they get a high number of job applications.

Keeping and deleting user accounts

When it’s been over 13 months since you used your account we will send you an email. If you don’t sign in to your account within 1 month of the email, you’ll have to create a new account. This means all your saved information in your old account will be lost.

If you're disabled

The Disability Confident scheme aims to support disabled people and help them fulfil their potential in the workplace.

Find Disability Confident employers at Disability Confident: employers that have signed up. You can search for those employers by name on this site.

Safety

If you have concerns about a job posting select 'Report a job' on the job page. Describe what you're concerned about in the comment box.

If you have concerns about an employer use the contact us form and choose ‘I'm a Jobseeker and I have a complaint about an employer’. Tell us what you're concerned about and include the job web address (URL) or job ID.

If we’re told a company is breaching the employer terms and conditions, we’ll investigate and if necessary remove the job posting(s). An example of a breach is if an employer does not make it clear there’s an up-front fee, or if they ask people to take part in fraud. Further action may also be taken against the employer.

This site provides a free service for employers to post jobs and for people looking for jobs to post CVs. If you’re looking for a job, it's up to you to decide if you want to apply based on the information in the job advert and your communication with the employer.

Never give out the following information in your CVs, covering letters or job applications:

  • bank details
  • National Insurance number
  • date of birth
  • any other information not relevant to the application process

Watch out for scams

It’s a good idea to find out as much as you can about any company that offers you a job. This is especially important if you’re asked to tell them about personal information, or pay for checks (for example Disclosure and Barring Service checks) before you can take the job.

Find out where you’ll be working and when. This will give you more information to make your own checks on the company.

Watch out for these warning signs:

  • communication is by email only
  • the requirements or qualifications seem too simple
  • you’re able to work from home or for only for 2-3 hours a day
  • broken English, grammar errors and spelling mistakes
  • the job involves managing financial transactions
  • you’re expected to repackage things or send them from your own home
  • you’re paid from money you withdrew from a bank account

These things will help you decide whether an email or job posting is real. When in doubt, do not be rushed. Follow your instincts and make extra checks.

If a job looks too good to be true, chances are it is.

For advice about safe online job searches go to Get safe online and JobsAware.

Browsers

This website can be used on all internet browsers and is mobile friendly. But the site works best on:

  • Internet Explorer 9 and later
  • Firefox (latest version)
  • Chrome (latest version)
  • Safari 9.3 and later

If you get any technical problems try these things:

  • make sure you have the latest version of your browser
  • clear your browser cache
  • enable or delete your cookies
  • close all open browser windows, then re-open them to sign in again

If you’re still having problems, sign in to your account and use the contact us form to tell us what’s wrong. It’s also useful if you can tell us what you’ve already done to try and fix it. We’ll aim to get back to you within 1 weekday.

Employers

To set up an account and post a job, go to the employers’ section of the site.

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