Finding work in South Africa means knowing where to look and how to apply. This guide compares the top 10 South African job portals, explains which types of roles and jobseekers each suits best, and gives practical tips to get more interviews from each platform. Use this alongside our application-optimization resources to maximise your success.
Quick comparison — at a glance
| Portal | Best for | Strengths | Key tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indeed (South Africa) | Broad market (all levels) | Huge volume of listings; easy keyword search | Use advanced search filters and set daily alerts |
| Professional & mid‑senior roles | Network + apply; recruiter visibility | Optimise profile and engage with recruiters. See: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for South African Recruiters: A Career Guidance South Africa Checklist | |
| CareerJunction | Tech, engineering, professional | Employer-focused; salary data on listings | Tailor applications to employer needs and use CV keywords |
| PNet | Corporate & niche industries | Longstanding local portal; employer brands | Create a detailed profile and upload ATS-friendly CV |
| Careers24 | All sectors, regional filtering | Good regional coverage (Gauteng, WC) | Filter by province and industry for better fit |
| JobMail | Entry to mid-level roles | Simple alerts; local employers | Subscribe to targeted daily emails |
| BestJobs | Skilled labour & professional roles | Strong South African footprint | Use saved searches and employer follow |
| Adzuna | Market trends & salary estimates | Aggregator with market insights | Use salary data to negotiate offers |
| Glassdoor | Employer reviews + listings | Company reviews, salaries, interview insights | Research company culture before applying |
| Gumtree Jobs | Casual, local, temporary roles | Local/quick hires; flexible gigs | Best for part-time and short-term work |
Detailed breakdown — who should use what and why
1. Indeed (South Africa)
- Who it's for: All jobseekers — students, entry level, experienced professionals.
- Why use it: Aggregates listings from many sites and employer pages; strong filter system.
- How to win: Create job alerts, save searches, and tailor each application. Be concise in the application message and upload an ATS‑friendly CV.
2. LinkedIn
- Who it's for: Professionals aiming for mid to senior roles, sales, marketing, IT.
- Why use it: Network effect — recruiters proactively search for candidates.
- How to win: Optimise headline, summary and skills; actively message recruiters and apply via Easy Apply. For optimisation tips, see Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for South African Recruiters: A Career Guidance South Africa Checklist.
3. CareerJunction
- Who it's for: ICT, engineering, financial services, and technical roles.
- Why use it: Employer-driven portal with quality corporate listings.
- How to win: Mirror employer language in your CV and highlight measurable outcomes.
4. PNet
- Who it's for: Corporate roles, specialised positions.
- Why use it: Long-established with strong recruiter usage in certain industries.
- How to win: Keep a complete profile and upload documents in accepted formats to pass ATS checks. See our guide: How to Get Past ATS Filters in South Africa: Keywords, Formats and Examples.
5. Careers24
- Who it's for: Regionally focused jobseekers — especially Gauteng and Western Cape.
- Why use it: Localised searches and frequent listings from SMEs.
- How to win: Use province and city filters; apply quickly to new postings.
6. JobMail
- Who it's for: Entry and mid-level applicants, local employers.
- Why use it: Easy subscription-based job alerts and straightforward application process.
- How to win: Use keyword-rich search and tailored cover notes.
7. BestJobs
- Who it's for: Professionals and skilled labour.
- Why use it: Good local reach; solid search features.
- How to win: Save employers and set relevant alerts.
8. Adzuna
- Who it's for: Market-aware jobseekers who want salary context.
- Why use it: Aggregates listings and provides salary estimates and market insights.
- How to win: Use salary data to prioritise applications and negotiate offers.
9. Glassdoor
- Who it's for: Candidates who prioritise company culture and interview transparency.
- Why use it: Reviews and interview questions help prepare better applications and interviews.
- How to win: Read reviews and tailor applications to company culture. Cross-check with employer pages before applying.
10. Gumtree Jobs
- Who it's for: Casual, temporary, retail, hospitality roles and local gigs.
- Why use it: Fast local hiring and flexible work.
- How to win: Monitor the site frequently; apply quickly and include a brief, clear message.
How to choose the right portals for your search
- Match portal strengths to your goal: Use LinkedIn/Glassdoor for corporate and professional roles; Gumtree or JobMail for local/temporary work.
- Prioritise two “primary” portals (one aggregator like Indeed or Adzuna and one specialist/region-specific portal) and two “secondary” portals to broaden reach.
- Set alerts and check daily: Top roles get dozens of applicants within hours.
- Targeted applications beat mass applications: When applying to company listings, tailor your CV and cover letter — see How to Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter for Johannesburg Employers — Career Guidance South Africa.
Practical application tips (Job Portal + Application Optimization)
- Use ATS‑friendly formats and keyword-match each job description. See our comprehensive template and guidance: Career Guidance South Africa: The Ultimate ATS-Friendly CV Template and Guide.
- Save job descriptions and extract 6–8 target keywords to include naturally across your CV and cover letter.
- Apply directly to employers when possible — this often gets faster replies. Read: Applying Directly to Employers in South Africa: A Targeted Approach for Career Guidance South Africa.
- Use recruitment agencies selectively — combine portals with agency outreach. See: Job Portal vs Recruitment Agency in South Africa: Which Gets You Hired Faster?.
Final checklist — before you hit “apply”
- Resume is tailored and ATS‑friendly. Download templates: Downloadable CV and Cover Letter Templates for South African Jobseekers — Career Guidance South Africa.
- Cover letter addresses the hiring manager (or uses a strong opening if unknown).
- LinkedIn profile matches application information and includes a professional photo and headline.
- You’ve researched the company (Glassdoor + company site) and prepared two stories for interviews (STAR method).
- You’ve applied within the first 48 hours of posting and followed up via a short message after 7–10 days.
Next steps
Choose two primary portals from the list above and set up focused search alerts today. If you’re unsure how your CV performs against ATS filters, check: How to Get Past ATS Filters in South Africa: Keywords, Formats and Examples. For local strategies in Cape Town, consult: Cape Town Job Search Guide: Local CV, Application and Interview Strategies.
Good luck — and remember: targeted, well‑timed applications on the right portals beat mass‑spray job applications every time.