Back in 2006, when I started looking for a remote job, the internet was littered with scams and unreliable information. Finding a legitimate work-at-home job online was like finding a needle in a haystack. Many of the resources, tools, and blogs that are available today were non-existent when I started my remote job search. Luckily, through side gigs, freelancing, and eventually starting this blog, I pieced together a home-based career that worked for our family.
Fast forward to 2020, and there are many legit resources to help you with your remote job search, but the one I want to review in more depth is FlexJobs.
What Exactly is FlexJobs?
FlexJobs is a paid online job board that caters to flexible and remote work arrangements. Each job posted on their website is researched and thoroughly vetted to ensure its legitimacy. Because FlexJobs does all the grunt work of finding and researching flexible jobs, they do charge a small membership fee.
Besides their flexible job board, paid users get access to member-only content like:
- Educational webinars
- Virtual career fairs
- Career courses
- Downloadable guides
- Job search checklist
- Soft skills tests
- Discounts to over 60 companies
Is FlexJobs a Legitimate Site?
Yes, FlexJobs is 100 percent legit.
Sara Sutton, who I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing, started FlexJobs back in 2007. Like myself, Sara has a passion for helping others find better ways to work. Since its inception, FlexJobs has grown to employ ~ 100 virtual workers; it’s been featured on media platforms like GMA, CNN, WSJ, Forbes, and many others!
FlexJobs is also an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau where they have an A+ rating.
How Much Does FlexJobs Cost?
With FlexJobs, you can sign up for varying amounts of time, with longer terms offering deeper discounts:
- One week – $6.95
- One month – $14.95
- Three months – $29.95
- One year – $49.95
The great thing about FlexJobs is they have a Satisfaction Guarantee. Where if, for any reason, you’re not dissatisfied with their service, you can request a refund within 30-days of creating or renewing a subscription.
Which is Better, FlexJobs, or Virtual Vocations?
FlexJobs and Virtual Vocations both offer the same type of vetted job leads. They were both launched in 2007 (by women), and they both have A+ ratings with the Better Business Bureau. Their advanced search options are similar, but Virtual Vocations is more expensive:
- One month – $15.99
- Three months – $39.99
- Six Months – $59.99
Besides being more expensive, it seems like Virtual Vocations doesn’t offer all the premium resources and training that FlexJobs offers — but otherwise, they are very similar.
Is it Worth Paying for FlexJobs?
I’ve been a paid subscriber to FlexJobs for years, and I love using the platform to research companies and to take advantage of all the discounts they offer. But just like anything else, FlexJobs has pros and cons, so let’s discuss those so you can make an informed decision whether this is the right tool for your remote job search.
Pro – Saves You Time and Money
The number one reason I LOVE FlexJobs, is they do all the leg work for you! They find and research every single position on their website so that you can locate legitimate jobs remote all in one place. And you never have to worry about falling prey to a scam because they’ve vetted each position to ensure it’s legit. These two aspects will save you time and money in the long run.
Pro – Advanced Job Search Options
Unlike those mainstream job boards with millions of listings, FlexJobs only focuses on flexible work arrangements, and they make it easy to find what you’re looking for with advanced search options like:
- Keywords
- US location
- Job types
- Career categories
- Career level
- Featured and award-winning employers
- Exclude words
- International
- Work schedule
- Remote work level
- Willing to travel
With the advanced search options, you can narrow your search to find the perfect position for your situation. This feature alone saves you tons of time from having to weed through tons of job postings that don’t meet your specific needs.
Pro – Automate Your Job Search
I’m all about saving time, and with FlexJobs, once you do an advanced search, you can save your settings. Not only can you access these saved settings in your dashboard, but FlexJobs will also send you an email alert when a new opening that meets your criteria becomes available.
And we all know how quickly remote vacancies are filled; with this feature, you’ll be one of the first to apply, increasing your chances of landing a work-at-home job sooner!
Pro – Career Development
When you join FlexJobs, you’ll get access to a wide range of professional development tools like:
- Online learning courses
- Downloadable career guides
- Webinars
- Soft skill quizzes
- Virtual career fairs where you can connect with hiring companies
Along with the job board, these tools can help give you the extra boost you need to make forward progress in your job search.
Pro – Discounts
With your membership, you get 60 discounts ranging from 10%-50% off. Deals are in a wide range of categories, from job search support and remote work resources to travel and lifestyle.
Here are some you’ll likely be interested in:
- Dell Computers – 30% off
- FlexJobs – 50% off a resume review or career coaching session
- Grammarly – 20% off a subscription
- Jobscan – One free month
Con – You Have to Pay For It
The biggest drawback for most people is that you have to pay a fee to join. Some people even feel like it’s a scam because they think they’re paying for a job.
With FlexJobs, you’re not paying for a job; you’re paying for a service that locates and screens work-at-home jobs for legitimacy. This service saves you time and gives you peace of mind. Can you find these jobs on the web by yourself? Sure. But you have to do the legwork of finding the jobs, then verifying that the company is indeed legit.
Con – Mostly Professional Jobs
While FlexJobs allows you to search for positions by skill level, most of their entry-level job listings require one to two years of experience. If you’re just starting your career journey, you probably won’t find many positions on their site for beginners. FlexJobs tends to be best suited for professionals who have a degree and professional work experience.
Con – It’s Not Guaranteed You’ll Land a Job
Using FlexJobs can give your remote job search a boost, but using it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll find or land the work-at-home job of your dreams. But, there are thousands of success stories from people just like you who have landed a work-at-home job using the platform.
Here are a couple of inspiring success stories:
Jean B. – Hired at Ciox Health as a Coding Specialist
“I applied to over 130 jobs online (on other sites) and had given up trying. I honestly had no success despite having what I considered related experience, an accredited course, and a national certification exam. I only applied to approximately 10 to 12 jobs on FlexJobs. It is the best resource for flexible work. I’ve never been happier with my career!”
Rachel B. – Hired at Clevertech as Staff Accountant
“Your site is fantastic. You have helped me make a change I really needed to make, and you made it so easy! Thank you! I am very grateful! FlexJobs was easy to use and really pinpointed the jobs that would be a good match for me. I’m a single mom of three that was working full-time, sometimes 70-80 hours a week. I found a job on this site that is 100 percent work-from-home and is a much better fit for me and my kids!”
Where Can I Get FlexJobs Promo Code?
If you’d like to test FlexJobs out, they are currently offering readers of The Work at Home Woman an exclusive discount of up to 30% off. To take advantage of this promo code, use WAHWOMAN at checkout HERE.
FlexJobs Review Conclusion
If you’re a professional with some prior experience or an advanced degree, there’s a good chance that FlexJobs would be helpful in your remote job search.
Let’s face it, searching for a traditional job is stressful enough! Throw in the virtual aspect and the overly abundant work-at-home scams, and it becomes even more nerve-wracking. So why wouldn’t you use FlexJobs if it could give you a competitive edge, save you time, and provide you with peace of mind?
Have a question or comment about FlexJobs? Drop me a note below.
I enjoyed reading your article.
Glad you enjoyed the review, Danielle!
would love to join
FlexJobs? You can sign up on their website. 😊