Newspapers and journals
If you are looking for work in the Leeds area you should consult the Yorkshire Evening Post on Thursdays and Yorkshire Jobs Today on a Saturday.
At the Information Centre (formerly the Business and Research Library) at Leeds Central Library and in many of the branch libraries you can consult local and national newspapers which list job vacancies. Jobs are also often advertised in trade journals and magazines for your preferred industry/profession. They also carry industry news and information. You can find out which newspapers and journals can be consulted at Leeds Libraries at our Journals page.
Vacancies advertised on the internet
Links to selected online job sites can be found in the Jobs and Careers section of WebLinks - Leeds Library and Information Service's virtual reference library.
You can get free computer and internet access at your local library so you can search job sites, word process, prepare a CV, send e-mails, etc. You can book the use of a computer at your local library by using the link to your right.
To find your local library please follow the link to 'Find your local library’.
Working for Leeds City Council
As the one of the largest employers in the region the Council offers a wide range of jobs and opportunities.
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus offers a general recruitment service to help you find work. It is one of the main advertisers of job vacancies. Details of vacancies can be obtained in several ways:
- at a Jobcentre - details of local offices can be found in the phonebook and on the Jobcentre Plus website
- by telephone - Jobseeker Direct is a local call cost service where qualified staff can search for vacancies for you over the phone. They can arrange interviews or send you job application forms. They can also tell you about government training schemes open to you. Telephone 0845 606 0234 [Textphone 0845 6055 255] using the Jobcentre Plus website
Employment Agencies If you contact a recruitment agency they usually invite you for an interview to find out what kind of work you're looking for and what skills you've got. They will then contact you when a suitable vacancy comes up. They may interview you themselves for the job or set up an interview with the employer.
Often it is the agency which will employ and pay you while you are working on a contract they have with the company or organisation.
Many vacancies handled by recruitment agencies are temporary. This can be a way of gaining work experience, of trying several jobs before choosing more permanent work, or a way of getting your foot in the door of a company.
Some agencies specialise in particular industries or occupations so it is worth getting to know those in your preferred job sector. Most agencies also display vacancies on their websites.
Leeds Library and Information Service has produced The Directory of Employment Agencies in Leeds which contains details of over 300 agencies, arranged by sector.
Non-advertised vacancies and speculative applications
It is said that more than 50% of job vacancies are not advertised. These 'invisible vacancies' are often filled by word of mouth or by jobseekers who show enough initiative to contact companies 'on spec' with their CV and covering letter to find out if they have, or are likely to have, anything available.
Many employers would rather turn to their pile of speculative CVs and covering letters than spend time and money on advertising a vacancy. So, once you have done some research to find the sort of companies you would like to work for, you should contact them so as to become known to them, in case a suitable position becomes available.
At the Business and Research Library you can search various directories and databases to find companies involved in a wide range of industries and services in Leeds and across the country. We also keep a full set of Telephone directories and Yellow Pages.
Online Business Directories
The following websites can be used to find potential employers' contact details:
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netparkone is an online directory of around 30,000 Yorkshire businesses
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Yellow Pages allows you to search for companies and businesses by category and location. Entries often includes links to the company's website
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Thomson Local is a database of 2 million-plus UK firms. Search for companies, services and products by town or by county. Browse service and product categories. Hit lists of company names, addresses and phone numbers can be printed out
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Scoot allows you to search for a type of business or company name in any UK location
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Kellysearch is a database of industrial companies
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Europages contains details of over 600,000 companies in 35 European countries
Links to other Online Business Directories which can be accessed for free are included in WebLinks. Please use the link on the right.
Many companies have websites which often carry details of any vacancies and / or the procedures to follow in order to register your interest in them.
Links to some local company websites containing job information are also available in the Jobsearch - Local Companies section of WebLinks.
Look out for press reports of company expansions or relocations to your area, because these companies may require new staff. Please see the section on press coverage of companies and industries in the attached document: jobsearch 6 - Finding information on a company and consult the Leeds Economy Bulletin.