Remote job openings are shrinking as companies enforce return to office policies and the job market continues to tighten. Use these seven steps to unlock remote job openings before they get posted on job boards!
Did you know that some of the best remote job openings are hiding in plain sight?
While most job seekers rely on popular platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed, many remote job openings are actually accessible directly from company job boards, which are often not posted on job boards. Today we’ll reveal a powerful technique to find these hidden jobs by targeting URLs of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that companies use to manage them.
By using this strategy, you can discover remote job openings before they reach major job boards, avoid heavy competition, and uncover roles that match your skills and interests. We’re going to show you how you can use ATS URLs and simple Google search techniques to uncover remote opportunities you’ve been looking for.
What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
An Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, is software that companies use to manage job applications. These systems store resumes, screen applicants, and host job boards, often through URLs that follow a predictable pattern. This predictability is the secret: by understanding ATS URL structures, you can use Google’s search operators to locate remote job openings across ATS platforms in seconds.
The key is identifying these ATS URLs and using them to search for remote jobs across multiple companies. Let’s break down how this strategy works, step by step, so you can start applying it to your job search, today!
Step 1: Recognize common ATS platforms companies use
The first step is recognizing which ATS platforms companies use, as each has a unique URL structure. Here are just a few popular ATS platforms (there are literally hundreds of different ones!) along with their URL patterns:
- Greenhouse – boards.greenhouse.io (or)
- Greenhouse – job-boards.greenhouse.io/
- Lever – jobs.lever.co
- JazzHR – applytojob.com/apply
- Jobvite – jobs.jobvite.com
- The Resumator – theresumator.com/apply/
- Applicant Pool – applicantpool.com/jobs/
- Hirebridge – hirebridge.com/v2/Jobs/
- Workday – wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
- iCIMS – site:icims.com/jobs
- Taleo – site:taleo.net/careersection
- Paylocity – site:recruiting.paylocity.com
- Breezy HR – site:breezy.hr
- ADP Workforce – site:workforcenow.adp.com
- JobScore – site:careers.jobscore.com
- PayCom Online – site:www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats
- Freshteam – site:freshteam.com/jobs
- PrismHR – site:prismhr-hire.com/job
- Ashby – site:jobs.ashbyhq.com/
With these URL patterns, you can use Google’s search operators to directly access remote job openings posted on these platforms. Let’s look at how to execute this strategy effectively.
Step 2: Use Google search operators to find remote jobs openings
Google search operators are powerful tools that allow you to narrow down your searches. By targeting ATS platforms with specific search operators, you can find remote jobs faster without scrolling through endless job boards.
How to target ATS platforms
To locate remote jobs, start with a search that’s specific to each ATS. Here are examples of how to search each platform:
- For Greenhouse, type: site:boards.greenhouse.io “remote” (or)
- For Greenhouse, type: job-boards.greenhouse.io/ “remote”
- For Lever, type: site:jobs.lever.co “remote”
- For JazzHR, type: site:applytojob.com/apply “remote”
- For Jobvite, type: site:jobvite.com “remote”
- For The Resumator, type: site:theresumator.com/apply/ “remote”
- For Applicant Pool, type: site:applicantpool.com/jobs/ “remote”
- For Hirebridge, type: hirebridge.com/v2/Jobs/ (without “site:”) “remote”
- For Workday, type: wd5.myworkdayjobs.com (without “site:”) “remote”
- For iCIMS, type: icims.com/jobs (without “site:) “remote”
- For Taleo, type: site:taleo.net/careersection “remote”
- For Paylocity, type: site:recruiting.paylocity.com “remote”
- For Breezy HR, type: site:breezy.hr “remote”
- For ADP Workforce, type: site:workforcenow.adp.com “remote”
- For JobScore, type: site:careers.jobscore.com “remote”
- For PayCom Online, type: site:www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats “remote”
- For Freshteam, type: site:freshteam.com/jobs “remote”
- For PrismHR, type: site:prismhr-hire.com/job “remote”
- For Ashby, type: site:jobs.ashbyhq.com/ “remote”
The site: operator limits results to the specified domain, while keywords like “remote” and “work from home” filter the search for relevant postings. This simple yet powerful combination makes finding remote jobs across multiple ATS sites quick and straightforward. You can try searching both with and without the “site:” operator.
Also, use other search words beside “remote.” For example, try:
- “Remotely”
- “from home”
- “work from anywhere”
Step 3: Add keywords to target specific remote job roles
Now that you’ve learned to search specific job boards using their ATS patterns, you can refine your queries (or search) with keywords for your specific field or role. This allows you to tailor your search to remote job openings that are the best fit for your skills.
Examples of targeted searches
- Find remote software engineering roles on Greenhouse: site:boards.greenhouse.io “remote” “software engineer”
- Look for remote marketing jobs on Lever: site:jobs.lever.co “remote” “marketing”
Using Boolean operators like AND and OR can further broaden or narrow your search results. For example:
- Search for customer service jobs that mention either remote or telecommute: site:icims.com (“remote” OR “work from home”) “customer service”
These tailored searches help you pinpoint remote job openings that align with your career goals, saving you hours of browsing through irrelevant postings.
Step 4: Find fresh remote job openings with Google’s time tool
When job hunting, timing matters. To ensure you’re viewing recent remote job openings, use Google’s time filter to narrow down results to recently posted jobs. After entering your search, click “Tools,” then select “Any Time,” and choose “Past Week” or “Past Month.”
This filter is a quick way to ensure you’re among the first applicants for newly posted remote job openings, which can improve your chances of standing out.
Step 5: Automate your search with Google Alerts
To save time, use Google Alerts to stay updated on new remote job openings without manually searching every day. This tool sends fresh search results straight to your inbox, so you’re notified whenever new jobs matching your criteria are posted.
How to set a Google Alert for remote job openings
- Visit Google Alerts (https://www.google.com/alerts).
- Enter your search, such as site:jobs.lever.co “remote” “software engineer”.
- Set the frequency to “As-it-happens” or “Once a day.”
With Google Alerts, you’ll be notified whenever there’s a new remote job opening that fits your skills and preferences, giving you a head start on new opportunities.
Step 6: The benefits of searching ATS directly
So why go through this process instead of just browsing LinkedIn or other job boards? Here’s why targeting ATS URLs directly is worth the effort:
Access to hidden remote job openings
Some jobs posted on ATS-powered boards don’t always make it to public sites. By searching these URLs directly, you gain early access to remote job openings that might not be available to the general public.
Avoid the application black hole
Applying directly through a company’s ATS increases the likelihood that your resume reaches hiring managers. It bypasses third-party platforms where applications sometimes get lost, reducing the chances of your application slipping through the cracks.
Direct matches for your skills and experience
Using search operators allows you to focus on remote job openings that closely match your experience, making your search more efficient and targeted.
Step 7: Organize your search for remote jobs
With multiple listings coming up, staying organized is essential. Here are some tips to help you track remote job openings effectively:
- Check job boards regularly to note any new ATSs used in jobs, and their patterns.
- Keep a running list of ATS patterns, and revisit them on Google.
- Create a spreadsheet to track which companies and positions you’ve applied for, including application dates and job details.
- Set calendar reminders to revisit job boards or rerun your search queries weekly, ensuring you stay up-to-date on new remote job openings.
Search smarter, not harder!
In a crowded job market, every advantage counts. By searching ATS URLs directly and applying Google’s search operators, you can uncover remote job openings that many job seekers never see.
Whether you’re seeking a role in marketing, customer service, software engineering, or another field, this method puts you in control of finding the remote opportunities you want.
Are you ready to start using these techniques to land your next remote position? Apply these steps today to discover remote job openings you didn’t know existed. With just a few strategic searches, you could be on your way to your ideal job –right from home.
Pair these ATS search techniques with a polished LinkedIn profile to make yourself more discoverable to recruiters. Need guidance on optimizing your LinkedIn? Our LinkedIn optimization services can help make your profile stand out!