3 Tips for Using Job Boards
Written by Nicole
Listen - it’s 2025.
The tradition of dropping by an establishment, asking if that establishment is hiring, and politely asking to speak with management in order to hand them a hard-copy of your resume?
That is a lost art, kids.
Today, we are all about the ✨ job board ✨.
Let’s take a second to define exactly what a job board is to make sure that we are all on the same page. For the purposes of our discussion today, a job board is a website or a search engine that lists job opportunities and openings. Y’all - there are so many job boards. On top of that, our neurodivergent brains can already have an added layer of sensory processing and executive function challenges.
We are going to try to help you navigate the proverbial beast of job boards with a few simple tips!
Bookmarks are your friend
This one may sound a little obvious but I’ll explain why it’s a great place to start. Create a folder in your bookmarks bar. Save the job boards that you use most frequently in that folder. Now, right click on that folder and you’ll be able to open all of the saved boards at once with a simple click. I don’t know about you, but reducing the amount of steps it takes to start an overwhelming task really helps me to get started. I hate to be all Queer Icon Miss Frizzle about this - but isn’t technology cool?
We can pickle filter that!
Developers spend a whole lot of time programming those filters - so it would be rude not to use them! In this case, you’ll want to sort by date posted. Applying for a job as soon as possible is the best way for your resume to be seen ASAP by a hiring manager. Your best chances are within 72 hours of that job being listed so try and sort the listings by the last 1 to 3 days. That is not to say that you should not be applying past the 72 hour mark - just keep in mind your best bet is applying as early as you can!
You get a job board and you get a job board and you get a job board!
Remember how we said there are so many job boards? We really weren’t kidding.
But don’t feel too overwhelmed because this can work in your favor. Specialized job boards that are industry-specific will help to take the work of painstakingly hopping from one platform to another. We’ve got you covered for this here at Colorful Futures. We’ve taken the grunt work out of searching for these resources and compiled a comprehensive job board database for you right here!
And of course, we can’t forget to make use of Old Faithful - LinkedIn. Keep it in the rotation because it’s an excellent resource to help you get in touch with hiring managers.
That brings us to a bonus hot tip ↓
❓ Did you know ❓
That number on LinkedIn job postings that tells you the job has had “over 500 applicants”? That number is not accurate!
LinkedIn does not have access to the applicant tracking system (aka the ATS) of the company on the posting. There are a number of theories as to whether or not that number represents the amount of applicants who actually clicked on the “Apply” button or the number of applicants who simply viewed the posting. And, of course, just because someone clicked on the “Apply” button does not mean they actually completed the full application.
What I’m trying to say is - don’t be discouraged by that number!
The bottom line
The world of job boards is vast, expansive, and kinda chaotic. But, they are an essential part of the search. Bookmark your go-tos, filter like a pro, and don’t let misleading numbers on LinkedIn get you down.
And remember, we are always here for you at Colorful Futures too. Whether you’re in need of a few extra tips about job boards or if you’re navigating the market a NeuroQueer job seeker, we're here to support you. Feel free to get in touch and schedule a vibe check!