You’re looking for a new job, so the best place to turn is to the biggest and most popular job posting sites, right? Maybe not. Employers don’t always turn to the major job posting sites. It pays to know what type of employer is likely to post on what job sites.

The Major Players

When it comes to general job searching, Monster, Careerbuilder, and Indeed definitely run the game. However, just because a site is large and popular doesn’t mean employers choose to use them. Here’s how some of the biggest job posting companies stack up against each other in the employer’s eyes.

Both Indeed and Monster produce more candidates that do not have any college education than Careerbuilder. Careerbuilder also features more candidates that have college degrees, some from an accredited online college. Indeed and Monster both cater to teenagers, temporary job seekers, those with only high school education and those who are fresh out of college, while Careerbuilder does not include these candidates.

Indeed is the most all inclusive job posting board. It includes contract positions, work-at-home jobs, summer jobs, and even volunteer work. Employers offering any of these types of position are more likely to use Indeed. Monster produces fewer candidates without college education and more with degrees than Indeed, although Careerbuilder still has the others beat in this aspect.

Which is Best?

What it all boils down to is the type of job being posted. Employers posting more serious positions that require qualified candidates often choose to use Careerbuilder. Although Careerbuilder is more expensive for employers, it also weeds out some of the less serious applicants. High-scale employers don’t want to be bombarded with applications from unqualified candidates.

Employers hiring for entry-level positions are likely to use Monster because Monster receives more traffic than Indeed and lets employers filter and manage applications. Of all the sites, Indeed is the cheapest for employers to use and allows for unlimited posts, so companies who have a high turnaround rate for employees are more likely to use Indeed.

Specialized Job Boards

Employers that are hiring sometimes use specialized job boards before they resort to posting the job on major job boards. This is because on small-scale sites, they’re more likely to pull in qualified candidates with experience and true interest in the field of work, while on major sites, thousands of candidates are likely to apply to every job available. Here are some example specialized job boards employers favor:

• Dice is a very popular job posting site for tech positions like tech developers, engineers, programmers, and tech writers.
• Career Bank and eFinancial Careers focuses on jobs in the finance and banking industries.
• Variety Careers posts media jobs like television, radio, production, gaming, music, and more.
• TalentZoo is a popular place to post marketing and advertising jobs including the design and creative aspects.
• Health E Careers and Medical Workers posts jobs in the medical field from physicians, nursing, pharmaceutical, and more.
• Law Jobs posts attorney, paralegal, and other legal jobs.
• PR Week Jobs posts everything public relations.
• Commarts and Craig’s List are popular for creative job postings like graphic design, writing, etc.

While specialized jobs can be found on major job posting sites, employers favor these sites that produce the best candidates.

Social Networking

Many companies also turn to social networking sites when looking for new employees. LinkedIn is one of the most popular social networking sites employers and recruiters love to use. With LinkedIn, employers can build a network of professionals who they can turn to for references and recommendations. They can also search for candidates based on their current and past employers. Not to mention, with thousands of people readily posting their resumes, LinkedIn is a gold mine for recruiting.

Employers also consider Facebook and Twitter when recruiting. It’s not uncommon for an employer to check up on an individual’s social profiles before hiring, and many applicants have been turned down because of crude language, inappropriate pictures, and displays of partying, drinking or using drugs.

How to Go About Job Searching

If you’re looking for a job, it’s a good idea to go ahead and post your resume to the major job boards, if only because you’ll receive plenty of exposure. But if you really want to land a great gig, be sure to post your resume and apply for jobs on boards that are specific to your field of work. Remember to use customized resumes for every position, and a strong general resume for the job board database.

To give yourself a real edge, create a LinkedIn profile and start networking with others in your field of work. Be sure to monitor your social networking activity and remember anything you post remains online forever. With a strong social presence and your resume submitted on the right job boards, you’ll be on your way to a great career.

Related: Top 5 Job Search Aggregators for a Smarter Job Hunt.

Michael is a blogger who currently works for Vista College. He has passions in all corners of the online world. In his down time he enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and blogging on everything from technology, to business, to marketing, and beyond.