Searching for jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities on the new Idealist

On the new Idealist.org, start your opportunity search by:

• Using the search bar at the top of any page. Typing in your location and/or key words in the search window, and then choose "jobs" (or "internship" etc.) from the drop-down menu.
• OR from the homepage, click on the Jobs (or internships, etc.) hyperlink — all the jobs on the site will appear and you can narrow down your choices by clicking the facets on the let-hand sidebar.
• OR when in doubt, using the Advanced Search.

Finally, after you find a search you love, you can save it, and create an email alert directly from it.

Using the faceted search effectively

When entering terms in the search bar, you can use these search operators to improve your results:

Broaden your search (OR)

• Example: tutor OR mentor would give you search results that mention either word, whereas tutor mentor would only give you results that mention both words.

Exclude a term using a minus sign (-)

• Example: development -fundraising would give you all results related to development, unless they contain the term fundraising.

Glue words together with quotation marks ("")

• Example: "young professionals" would include results such as Young Professionals of Chicago, but would exclude results such as Young Nonprofit Professionals Network or professionals working with young people.

Complete a term with an asterisk (*)

• Example: econom* would give you all results that contain the words economic, economical, economics, economist, or economy.

Remember that clicking on the categories on the left side of the search results page will give you most of the advanced search capability you need. If you want more detailed information about our search tool, see the Xapian Query Syntax page.

Saving searches and setting up email alerts

To set up a new Email Alert, start by conducting a search and narrowing it down to the type of listings or organizations you're interested in. When you're satisfied with the search criteria, click "Get Email Alert."

To use an existing saved search as a template for a new Email Alert, log in and put your mouse over the green "Search" button. Click on the name of your saved search to run it. On the results page, you'll be able to edit your keywords and the search that you originally ran. Change the search criteria as you'd like. Once you're satisfied with the new search results, save the search by clicking on the green "Get Email Alert" button to receive daily emails. Please note, this will create a new Email Alert.

To remove existing Email Alerts, hover over the arrow next to the green Search button. You'll see a list of your active saved searches and Email Alerts. Click "See all my saved searches." On this page, you can delete or turn off your Email Alerts.

• BACK to Skills for the job search