Where and how to look for work

Start with a short list of sites and check them a few times a week, rather than drowning in every board at once.

New Hampshire & regional

• NH Job Match System (NH Employment Security)NHThe state's official job bank. Free to job seekers; many NH employers post here first.
• NHWorksNHStatewide network of local job centers — job listings plus free in-person help with your search.
• NH state government jobsNHOpenings across NH state agencies, with benefits and steady schedules.
• Local NH hospital & health system careersNHHealth care is one of NH's largest employers; most systems post directly on their own careers pages.

National boards worth using

• IndeedThe largest board — aggregates listings from thousands of sources. Best for volume.
• LinkedIn JobsStrong for professional roles, and the only one that shows who you might know at a company.
• USAJOBSFederalEvery federal government job. The application is longer but the roles are stable and benefits are excellent.
• IdealistNonprofitNonprofit and mission-driven jobs — a good fit if purpose matters to you.

Most people type one word and scroll. A few small tricks change everything:

• Use quotes for exact phrases: searching "medical assistant" keeps you from matching every job with the word "medical."
• Filter by distance from your town, and set it to what you can realistically travel — long commutes wear on mental health fast.
• Sort by "Date"so you see the newest posts first and apply while they're fresh.
• Use the salary filterto skip roles that can't pay your bills — no sense spending energy there.
• Read the "Company reviews" tabfor a feel of what it's actually like to work there.

You don't need to post or "build a brand." A complete, honest profile does the heavy lifting because recruiters search LinkedIn to find people.

Want the deeper version — using AI to sharpen your profile? See job searching in the AI era.

"Networking" just means letting the people who already know you help you. Studies consistently find that a large share of jobs are filled through referrals, not applications. You don't have to be slick — you have to be willing to ask.

1. 1

   Make a list of people

   Former coworkers, classmates, neighbors, people from any group you're part of. You're not asking them for a job — you're telling them you're looking, so they think of you when something comes up.
2. 2

   Send a short, warm message

   Keep it low-pressure. People genuinely like to help — you're giving them an easy way to.
3. 3

   Follow up on any lead

   If someone offers an introduction, take it and thank them. If they don't, that's fine — you planted a seed.

Hi [Name] — it's been a while, I hope you're doing well!

I'm reaching out because I'm looking for a new [type of role] right now, and I'm trying to let the people I trust know. If you happen to hear of anything at [your company] or elsewhere — or know someone I should talk to — I'd really appreciate you keeping me in mind.

No pressure at all, and I'd love to hear how you're doing too. Thanks so much!

[Your name]

An informational interview is a short, no-stakes conversation with someone who does a job you're curious about. You're not asking them to hire you — you're asking to learn. It builds real relationships, teaches you the language of a field, and often leads to a referral later.

• Ask for 15–20 minutes, in person, by phone, or video — their choice.
• Come with 3–5 genuine questions and let them talk.
• Never ask for a job in the conversation. Ask for insight and advice.
• Always send a thank-you afterward, and stay in gentle touch.

Hi [Name],

I found your profile while learning about careers in [field], and your path really stood out to me. I'm exploring moving into this kind of work, and I'd love to learn from someone actually doing it.

Would you be open to a 15–20 minute chat sometime in the next couple of weeks? I'd just love to hear how you got into it and any advice you'd give someone starting out. I'm happy to work around whatever's easiest for you.

Thank you so much for considering it!

[Your name]

• How did you get into this field?
• What does a typical day or week actually look like?
• What do you wish you'd known when you were starting out?
• What skills or experience matter most for getting hired here?
• Is there anyone else you'd suggest I talk to?
• How's the workload — is it a place people can have a healthy balance?

A job search has a lot of moving parts. Keeping track of where you applied and who you talked to keeps you from feeling lost — and reminds you how much you're actually doing.