Companies That Help You Find a Job
There are different types of companies in the job search space. Here is what each one actually does, who they work for, and how to pick the right fit.
4 types of job-finding help
The term "companies that help you find a job" covers very different business models. Understanding who they actually work for is the key to choosing wisely.
Staffing agencies and recruiters
What they do: Place candidates at companies that pay them to fill roles.
Who they work for: Employers (not you)
Business model: Companies pay them a fee (often 15-30% of your first year salary) when they successfully place someone.
Best for: You have a strong profile in their specialty niche and want access to roles not publicly posted.
Cost to you: Free
The reality:
- They will only show you roles they are paid to fill
- Your resume sits in their database otherwise
- They are motivated to fill roles quickly, not necessarily find your perfect fit
- In-demand profiles get attention; others wait
Recruiters are not career advisors. They are salespeople matching inventory (candidates) to buyer needs (employers). If you are not the inventory they need, they cannot help.
Career coaches
What they do: Help with positioning, resume, interview prep, and job search strategy.
Who they work for: You
Business model: You pay them hourly or for packages.
Best for: You need help figuring out what to target, or your materials are not working.
Cost to you: $100-500 per hour, or $1,000-5,000 for packages
The reality:
- Quality varies dramatically
- They do NOT submit applications for you
- You still do all the work of applying
- Good coaches can transform your approach; bad ones waste money
Job boards
What they do: List jobs you can apply to. Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc.
Who they work for: Employers (ads and job posts) and you (convenience)
Business model: Employers pay to post jobs; some offer premium subscriptions for candidates.
Best for: Everyone. This is baseline job search infrastructure.
Cost to you: Free, or $20-60/month for premium features
The reality:
- You still do all the work
- Popular jobs get hundreds of applications
- Easy Apply buttons make mass applying easy but less effective
- Speed matters — apply within 48 hours
Application automation
What it does: Finds matching jobs and submits applications on your behalf.
Who it works for: You
Business model: Monthly subscription.
Best for: You know your target and need scale and speed.
Cost to you: $50-200 per month
The reality:
- Requires clear targeting upfront
- Does not fix a bad resume
- Results still depend on fit and market
- Removes the grind of manual applications
Side-by-side comparison
What automation does differently
Unlike recruiters, automation works for you. Unlike coaches, it handles execution. Unlike job boards, it does the applying for you.
Careery is an AI agent that applies to jobs for you 24/7 on company career sites.
Works for you
Not employers. Applies to any job matching your criteria.
Runs in the cloud
No browser extension. Works while you sleep.
Company career sites
Applies on Workday, Greenhouse, Lever — not just Easy Apply.
Precise targeting
You set titles, locations, salary, seniority, and exclusions.
When to use each type
Use recruiters when...
You have an in-demand profile and want access to roles in their network.
Use coaches when...
You need help with positioning, strategy, or interview prep.
Use job boards when...
You want to browse listings and apply manually with control.
Use automation when...
You know your target and the bottleneck is volume and speed.
Can you use multiple?
Yes. They solve different problems.
Common combinations:
- Recruiter + automation: Recruiters handle their network; automation covers the open market
- Coach + automation: Get positioning right, then scale applications
- Job board + automation: Browse manually for priority companies; automate the rest
How they got hired
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Careery a staffing agency?
No. Staffing agencies work for employers and place candidates in roles they are paid to fill. Careery is automation that works for you and applies to any job matching your criteria.
Can I use a recruiter AND Careery?
Yes. Recruiters give you access to roles they are paid to fill. Careery handles the open market. Many people use both for maximum coverage.
Do you guarantee a job?
No. Interviews depend on fit and the market. Careery increases your application volume on relevant roles, but the outcome depends on your qualifications.
How do I know which type of help I need?
If you do not know what role to target, try coaching. If you have a niche profile, try recruiters. If you know your target and need scale, try automation.
Is this just LinkedIn Easy Apply?
No. Careery applies on company career sites (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, etc.), not just one-click buttons. And it runs in the cloud without your browser.
What if my resume is not working?
Automation amplifies what you have. If your resume is not getting responses, fix it first. Scaling a broken resume just sends more of what is not working.
Founded Careery in 2020 to help job seekers automate the grind and land interviews faster.
Ready to try automation?
If you know your target and the bottleneck is volume, let Careery handle the grind.
Related guides
- Apply to Jobs for Me — compare VAs, extensions, and AI agents
- Job Application Service — how automation compares to recruiters and coaches
- Help Finding a Job — diagnose your actual bottleneck first