Job search looks very different today. Between the rise of remote work, AI-powered hiring systems, and automated application processes, navigating the job market can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re making a career change.

This guide breaks down the best free and freemium beginner-friendly job search tools available today. From job boards to resume optimisation tools, networking platforms, productivity apps, and portfolio builders, you’ll find everything you need to manage your job search with confidence.

Whether you’re transitioning into tech, starting your first job search, or looking for remote opportunities, this toolkit will help you stay organised, stand out, and move with intention.

Section 1: Self-Assessment & Career Clarity Tools

Before you start applying for jobs, you need clarity. Career clarity tools help you understand your strengths, interests, working style, and the types of roles that fit your personality, especially if you’re transitioning into a new field.

Here are beginner-friendly tools to help you identify your direction:

16Personalities

A personality-based assessment that helps you understand how you work, communicate, and collaborate. Great for identifying roles that match your strengths.

Holland Code (RIASEC) Quiz

A classic career assessment framework that groups people into six categories (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional). Helps narrow down fields that align with your interests.

Mande PIVOTS

A career discovery tool by Mande AI, built to help you find career paths that fit your personality, interests and passion, values and skills.

Skill-Mapping Tools

Mind-mapping or skill-mapping tools (e.g., Notion, Miro, Google Docs) allow you to list your current strengths, past experience, and transferable skills. Great for seeing which roles you’re already qualified for.

Here’s an example of a skills audit template you can use:

How to Use These Tools in Your Job Search

• Identify roles you naturally align with: This keeps you from applying randomly and helps you target roles that match your strengths.
• Build a learning plan around your results: If your assessments show you’re strong in analysis or communication, you can explore roles like business analysis, UX writing, customer success, or project coordination.
• Use your assessment results when writing your resume or portfolio: They help you articulate your strengths more clearly.
• Stay focused during your transition: Clarity reduces overwhelm and helps you avoid career paths that don’t match your working style.

Self-assessment tools won’t give you all the answers, but they provide a strong starting point and significantly reduce confusion for beginners.

Recommended Reading: Transitioning into Tech: A Practical Guide to Exploring Unconventional Paths – NoCode Techies 

Section 2: Job Search & Job Board Tools

Once you know what roles you’re targeting, the next step is finding the right places to search. With thousands of job search websites out there, knowing which ones to prioritise saves time and keeps you focused.

Job Boards, Marketplaces, Company Websites 

We have a database of the best places to find remote work – job boards, marketplaces, freelance sites, and remote-first companies. If you’re looking for remote work, you can check our database. You can also use these resources to find hybrid or on-site jobs.

Job Aggregators

They pull listings from multiple job boards. Aggregators save time by scanning hundreds of sites and bringing everything into one place.

1. Google Job Search Tool (Google for Jobs)

One of the best job search engines because it gathers listings from LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, company pages, and more.

Read this article to learn how to use the tool: Search for jobs on Google 

2. LinkedIn Job Search Tool

LinkedIn Jobs is LinkedIn’s job board built into the professional networking platform with built-in recommendations based on your profile.

Learn how to use it: Find jobs on LinkedIn – Best Practices | LinkedIn Help

Additional Reading: Search for jobs on LinkedIn | LinkedIn Help 

Note on Quick Apply Tools

Easiest one-click apply job search tools like LinkedIn Easy Apply, Indeed Quick Apply, and others save time. However, always customise your resume for better results, especially in competitive fields. We also highly recommend finding the company’s website and applying directly on their careers page.

Recommended Reading: How to Find Remote Work: Resources, Tips & Best Practices – NoCode Techies 

Section 3: Resume & Cover Letter Optimisation Tools

Landing interviews is easier when your resume and cover letter are clear, relevant, and tailored to the role. Thankfully, there are freemium AI job search tools that simplify this process and help you create application materials that actually get seen.

1. Resume Scanners

Resume scanners analyse your document against a job description and highlight where you’re missing keywords or required skills. They help you quickly identify gaps, improve formatting, and increase your chances of passing the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

Examples

• Teal ATS Resume Checker
• Jobscan ATS Resume Checker
• ResyMatch.io by Cultivated Culture
• Resume Worded

How to use them

Copy the job description → upload your resume → review keyword mismatches → edit accordingly. The process differs from tool to tool, as you’ll see when you explore these tools, but this is generally the process.

2. AI Resume Builders

If you’re starting from scratch or rewriting your resume, AI builders can help you structure your content and create bullet points based on your experience. These tools save you time and can help your resume sound more professional.

Examples

• Teal Resume Builder
• Canva AI Resume Builder
• Jobscan

Tip

Most of the powerful AI resume builders are not completely free to use, though their templates often are. You can use their template/format and then use free generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to generate resume bullet points based on your experiences.

If you don’t want to use these tools, you can use Google Docs or Microsoft Word to build an acceptable template and then use generative AI tools to help you populate it based on your experiences.

If you don’t want to use these tools, you can use Google Docs or Microsoft Word to build an acceptable template and use generative AI tools to help you populate it based on your experiences.

Check out this free prompt guide on creating winning resume bullet points.

3. AI Cover Letter Writers

Cover letters are optional for some roles, but when used well, they boost your chances. AI cover letter generators help you draft a personalised letter aligned with your resume and the job description.

Examples

• Teal Cover Letter AI
• Careerflow.ai Cover Letter Generator
• Free Generative AI tools: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude

Pro tip: Always customise the first paragraph with a real reason you want the role, don’t rely 100% on AI. It’s always helpful to write your draft or note down your key points first and then use AI to improve and structure the final letter.

What Recruiters Care About

Despite all the tools available, there are a few timeless essentials recruiters always look for:

• Relevance: Does your experience match the job requirements?
• Achievements: Are your bullet points specific, quantified where possible, and action-driven?
• Clarity: Simple formatting, accurate dates, readable structure.
• Consistency: Same tense, same style, no conflicting information.
• Professionalism: No typos, casual language, or missing context.

AI tools help you improve these areas, but the human element, your story, your wins, your clarity, still matters most.

Recommended Reading: How to apply for a job in tech and actually get it(for NoCode techies)

Additional Reading: Applying for Jobs: Why Personalising Your Job Applications is Important & How to Do it Right – NoCode Techies 

Section 4: Interview Preparation & Coaching Tools

Landing an interview is just the first step; nailing it requires preparation, confidence, and familiarity with common questions. Luckily, there are free and AI-powered tools that make interview prep much easier, especially for career transitioners and remote job seekers.

1. AI Mock Interview Tools

AI-powered mock interview platforms simulate real interviews, providing feedback on your answers, tone, and delivery. They help you practise without feeling judged, allowing you to improve before speaking with a real recruiter.

 A key example is the Interview Warmup by Google, an AI-driven question practice with instant feedback.

Tip: Use AI tools to rehearse multiple iterations of the same question until your answers feel natural.

2. Common Interview Question Banks

Practising common interview questions builds confidence and helps you respond clearly under pressure.

Web Search

Just type “common [Role Name] interview questions” on Google and you’ll get a list, often with suggested answers.

STAR Method

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) Method. This is widely used for answering behavioural questions.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini can help you prepare 5–10 powerful STAR stories that you can adapt to multiple questions.

Section 5: Job Application Tracking Tools

Applying for jobs can quickly become overwhelming if you’re not organised. Between multiple applications, different deadlines, and follow-ups, it’s easy to lose track. That’s where job search tracking tools come in; they help you stay on top of your applications, manage follow-ups, and plan your next steps efficiently.

1. Notion Job Tracker

Notion is free and highly customisable, making it ideal for tracking job applications, deadlines, and networking contacts. You can create a central dashboard with columns for:

• Company name
• Role
• Application date
• Follow-up reminders
• Status (applied, interview, offer, rejected)

2. Google Sheets Templates

A simple, free option for beginners. You can use Google Sheets to track all applications in one place, share it with mentors or accountability partners, and sort or filter by role, date, or status.

You can use the same column sections mentioned in Notion for this template.

💡 Include conditional formatting to highlight deadlines or follow-ups automatically.

3. Teal

Teal provides a comprehensive job search workspace with an application status dashboard and a browser extension that makes it easy to capture jobs from sites like LinkedIn or Indeed.

4. Huntr

A dedicated job tracking tool that lets you save job listings from multiple boards, add notes, track stages, and set reminders.

Section 6: Networking & Outreach Tools

Networking is one of the most effective ways to land a role, especially when transitioning careers or pursuing remote work. Even the best resume can be overlooked without strategic outreach.

The right networking and outreach tools help you connect, follow up, and make meaningful impressions with potential employers or mentors.

Recommended Reading: The Missing Element in Your Job Search Strategy? Outreach. – NoCode Techies

Section 7: Communication Tools (Interviews + Networking)

In a remote job search, strong communication is crucial. These tools help you connect, interview, and follow up efficiently.

1. Zoom

Zoom is widely used for video interviews and remote networking. Its features, like screen sharing and virtual backgrounds, allow you to present yourself professionally.

2. Google Meet

Google Meet integrates seamlessly with Gmail and Google Calendar, making scheduling interviews or networking meetings simple. It’s reliable for quick calls and works directly in your browser, no downloads required.

3. Loom

Loom is perfect for asynchronous communication. You can record yourself answering questions, giving portfolio walkthroughs, or sending personalised follow-up messages.

4. Calendly

Calendly makes scheduling interviews or networking calls seamless, eliminating back-and-forth emails.

💡 It’s good to start using these tools during your job search, as they will likely be the same ones you use for communication when you land your role.

Section 8: Salary Research & Negotiation Tools

Knowing your worth is critical. Salary research and negotiation tools help you make informed decisions and approach discussions with confidence.

Section 9: Career Guidance: Newsletters, Podcasts & Blogs

Consuming curated content helps you stay informed on industry trends, remote work tips, and job strategies.

When you regularly engage with these resources, it ensures you’re up to date on industry trends, remote work tips, and strategies for landing your next role.

Start with the NoCode Techies blog, video library, and newsletter, which offer practical guidance tailored to career transitioners and remote job seekers/ workers.

You can also subscribe to newsletters such as Coached by Resume Worded, and explore career-focused podcasts like Happen to Your Career and The Squiggly Careers Podcast.

Section 10: Productivity Tools for Job Searching

Treating your job search like a project helps you stay organised, consistent, and focused. The right productivity tools can make this process much smoother.

1. Notion

Notion is perfect for centralising your job search. You can create dashboards for application tracking, networking contacts, follow-up reminders, learning goals, and skill-building tasks.

💡 Use pre-made job search templates to save time and maintain structure.

2. Google Calendar

Scheduling interviews, follow-ups, and learning blocks is easier when everything is on your calendar.

3. Time-Tracking Tools

Tracking how long you spend on applications, learning, and networking helps you identify productivity patterns and stay accountable. 

Toggl Track is free to use. It measures time spent on each job search activity.

Job Search as a Project: How to Apply Productivity Tools

• Plan your week: Set goals for applications, networking, and learning.
• Track progress: Use Notion or Sheets to see what you’ve applied to and what’s pending.
• Manage energy: Use focus apps to avoid burnout and maintain consistent output.
• Review results: Weekly check-ins help you refine strategies and optimise time.

Section 11: Portfolio & Personal Brand Tools

A strong portfolio and personal brand can set you apart. Even without direct experience, showcasing your projects and skills signals credibility.

Examples

• Canva: Perfect for creating case studies, project presentations, or visual resumes using pre-made templates.
• Notion: Use a simple Notion page as a clean, easy-to-update portfolio hub.
• Simple Google Doc / Slides / PowerPoint: These tools can be used to showcase work or project-based case studies.

💡 Depending on your role or job function, there might be specific, industry-standard tools you can explore, but these general ones provide an excellent start.

Conclusion

A successful job search is about combining clarity, visibility, and systems with the right tools. From self-assessment and AI-powered resources to networking, productivity, and portfolio tools, each step helps you work smarter, stay organised, and showcase your value.

Bookmark this guide to return whenever you need a refresher, and use it as a roadmap throughout your career transition or remote job search journey.

For more tips and resources on job search and career transitions, explore our website and follow us on LinkedIn – we share actionable advice to help you land the role you want and grow your career confidently.