Applying for jobs is a number game, especially for Juniors without any work experience yet!
Don't worry. By getting creative with where you search for web developer jobs, you can find success where no one else is looking.
In this post, we'll explore 10 diverse and active places to find junior web developer jobs. Use this list to broaden your search and sidestep the competition!
LinkedIn Jobs
You've likely heard of LinkedIn Jobs, but did you know? Most junior developer jobs never make their way to LinkedIn 😱!
Not many people know - LinkedIn charges companies $$$ to post their jobs. As a result, most companies post to their own /careers page first. Only if they're having a hard time filling the role (or they have deep pockets and looking for absolute top talent) do they post on LinkedIn.
In the case of junior developer jobs, which can be quite competitive, many never make their way to LinkedIn.
It's worth checking LinkedIn and setting up passive email alerts but let's explore 9 more websites to find junior web developer roles.
GlassDoor
There are many job sites like Monster and Indeed, but our favorite is Glassdoor.
Unlike other job sites, Glassdoor usually surfaces the salary:
If the company provides no salary, Glassdoor makes an estimate based on market data. This is just one way Glassdoor use data to help you find a job.
Additionally, Glassdoor invites current and past employees (and interviewees!) to leave feedback on companies. While you should read these reviews with a grain of salt (someone disgruntled and anonymous is more likely to write a review than someone content), they can provide a unique insight into the company's culture.
Google Jobs
Google is king when it comes to indexing web pages. Job ads are just web pages too, and in recent years, Google has developed a specific interface to search for jobs. You can even filter by jobs that allow you to "Work from home":
Ideally, Google would index every company's jobs and careers pages, but, unfortunately, that probably isn't the case today. Google isn't quite that sophisticated (yet). Still, for jobs Google can identify, this is a fine way to stay in the loop.
As jobs update daily, so does this interface, so keep checking back.
HackAJob and Hired
HackAJob and Hired are similar platforms that invite you to write about your professional experience, salary expectations, and what type of technologies and companies you're interested in working with. Then companies come to you!
On platforms like these, you're normally assigned an advocate who can advise you about what to do differently if you haven't heard back from many companies. As they earn money when companies hire people through their platform, it's in their interest to help you, so take advantage!
Remote OK
Remote OK is a niche job board that exclusively features remote jobs:
Check it out, but bare in mind that since it's quite niche, there aren't as many jobs to begin with - let alone Junior-specific jobs.
Entry-level jobs on No CS Degree
No Computer Science degree? No problem!
No CS Degree is a website dedicated to interviewing successful developers without a degree. It also has a job board, where companies are only allowed to post if they're cool with you not having any official qualifications or degree. That's excellent news for self-taught developers who have the skills but not necessarily the piece of paper to prove it.
Arc
Arc is a unique website that features remote junior developer and internships:
It boasts hundreds of recent and active jobs, which is exciting because the website itself is not very well known. This could be your opportunity to get in early and make an impression.
Angel.co
Angel is a job website entirely dedicated to startups.
If you think startups mean small, scrappy companies, you'd usually be right. There are, however, large companies that identify as startups due to their singular focus on growth. In either case, startups represent an opportunity for you to be a big cog in a small machine, make an impact, and potentially even earn equity in the company, which could result in a payday down the line! You may also find startups are usually open-minded (after all, they're trying a new business idea), and they may be agreeable to hiring a fresher developer that shows promise like yourself.
Much like LinkedIn, on Angel, you create a profile. Recruiters can come to you, or you can apply for jobs.
Hacker News
Hacker News is a link log operated by YCombinator, a startup accelerator. While 99% of the posts on Hacker News are about programming or tech news, every month, they share a dedicated post:
You may also occasionally see ads from YCombinator-funded companies (like Scrimba!) in the feed:
More often than not, these jobs will not be specifically for Junior Developers. However, scrappy companies looking to work with driven people may respond if you can earn their attention with a thoughtful email or demo project related to their product.
It's a lot of work, and there's no guarantee of success, but at least you can be sure you're the only one doing it!
Telegram (no link)
Although we've only looked at websites until now, there has been an emergence of Telegram chats or Discord servers dedicated to finding work together.
These are amazing little communities where everyone tries to level each other up. Say someone talented sees a job ad early, but it isn't right for them. They'll likely share it in the group, providing you an opportunity to apply yourself!
Even better, they may be able to tell you more about the company or, if they've been successful themselves, refer you.
You might be wondering where to find these elusive Telegram or Discord groups. It's tricky to share a specific one, as they usually are quite small. Featuring them in a post like this might defeat the purpose!
The best way to find one is to stumble into one through conversation with friends and acquaintances on LinkedIn or public Discord servers dedicated to helping new programmers like the Scrimba Discord. You could even make your own!