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Find a Job on GOV.UK: How to Use the Government's Free Job Search
A plain guide to Find a job, the free government job search for England, Scotland and Wales: the filters worth using, email alerts, how applying works and how to stay safe.
If you only bookmark one job site in the UK, make it the government's own. Find a job is free, carries vacancies from employers of every size and covers full-time and part-time work across England, Scotland and Wales. This guide explains how it works today, which filters save the most time and how to apply without getting caught out.
What Find a job is
Find a job is the official job search service on GOV.UK. Employers post their own vacancies, so you see adverts from local cleaning firms, care providers, warehouses, shops and councils alongside larger organisations. The service now opens inside Work Hub, a newer government site (marked as a beta) that also includes a CV builder, an action plan and an AI work assistant you can use to prepare applications.
The service covers England, Scotland and Wales and is available in Welsh. If you live in Northern Ireland, GOV.UK directs you to a separate site, JobApplyNI, which lets you browse by sector, such as cleaners, carers and support workers, or transport, distribution and warehousing.
Who it suits
Find a job is especially useful if you want local, practical work: driving, cleaning, care, retail, hospitality, warehouse or security roles. Many adverts come straight from small local employers who may not pay to advertise on the big commercial job boards. It also suits anyone working with a Jobcentre Plus work coach, because coaches often refer to the same service.
How to search well
Type a job title in "What job are you looking for?" and a town or postcode in the location box. On the results page, open "Show filters" and narrow things down:
- Working pattern lets you choose Remote, On-site, Hybrid or Field-based. Field-based is handy for mobile cleaning, delivery and care jobs where you travel between sites.
- Distance runs from less than a mile up to 40 miles, so you can match the search to how far you can realistically travel.
- Posting date shows jobs added since yesterday or in the last 3, 7 or 14 days. Checking new adverts first gives you a head start.
- Contract type separates Permanent, Temporary, Contract and Apprenticeship roles, and Hours splits Full-time from Part-time.
- Disability Confident shows employers signed up to the government's Disability Confident scheme.
- Include or exclude words helps you cut out results you do not want, for example excluding "manager" when you are looking for entry-level roles.
When a search looks right, select "Create email alert with this search" and the service will email you new matches. You need to sign in to use alerts and to save jobs to your favourites.
How to apply
Each advert explains how that employer wants to hear from you. Some send you to their own website, others ask for an email with your CV, and some small firms simply give a phone number. Read the whole advert first: it usually tells you the hours, whether you need a driving licence or a specific certificate and where the work is based.
Before you apply, check you have the right to work in the UK. The service links to the GOV.UK visa checker, and your new employer will ask you to prove your right to work before you start. The Work Hub CV builder can help if you do not have an up-to-date CV.
Staying safe
Most adverts are genuine, but scammers target every job site. Be wary of anyone who asks for money for training, uniforms, a criminal record check or "admin" before you are hired, who only wants to talk on a messaging app, or who asks for bank details before a formal offer. Never pay a fee to apply. Work Hub links to Jobs Aware, a free service that helps workers who think they have been scammed or treated unfairly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Find a job free to use?
Yes. Searching is free and you do not need an account to look at adverts. Signing in lets you save favourites and set up email alerts.
Does Find a job cover Northern Ireland?
No. GOV.UK says the service covers England, Scotland and Wales. For jobs in Northern Ireland, GOV.UK points to a separate site, JobApplyNI.
Do I need to be claiming benefits to use it?
No. Anyone looking for work can search and apply. If you do claim Universal Credit, your work coach may also suggest vacancies from the service.
What should I do if an advert asks me for money?
Do not pay. A genuine employer will not charge you to apply, to be interviewed or to start work. The service links to Jobs Aware, which offers free advice to workers who think they have met a scam.
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and may not fit your situation or country. Rules, prices and requirements change, so check the details with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Read our full disclaimer.