Job alerts are saved searches that email you new vacancies matching your criteria as soon as they are posted. On South Africa’s two largest job boards, Careers24 and PNet, this feature runs quietly in the background once you set it up, so you no longer have to check the site manually every day. Both platforms are live and free to use for job-seekers as of 2026.
Setting up job alerts well is the difference between a cluttered inbox and a short list of roles you are actually qualified for. This guide covers how the alerts function, what you need, and how to configure them on both sites.
What Job Alerts Are and Why They Matter
A job alert is a stored combination of search terms, location, and job category that a site checks against newly listed vacancies. When a match appears, the platform sends you an email, usually daily or as roles are posted. Careers24 and PNet both offer this at no cost.
The value is speed. Many vacancies attract dozens of applications within the first day, so applying early often matters more than applying perfectly. Because alerts reach you before you would normally think to search, you get your application in while the shortlist is still open. For students leaving matric or graduates entering the market, this saves hours of repetitive searching each week.
How Job Alerts Work on Careers24 and PNet
The mechanics are similar across both platforms, though the labels differ slightly. In both cases you run a search first, then save it as an alert.
| Feature | Careers24 | PNet |
|---|---|---|
| Account needed | Yes, free registration | Yes, free registration |
| Search filters | Keyword, location, category, salary | Keyword, location, sector, work type |
| Save as alert | Save search / job alert option | Create job alert from search results |
| Delivery | Email notifications | Email notifications |
| Cost | Free for job-seekers | Free for job-seekers |
The quality of your alerts depends on your keywords. A broad term like “admin” returns everything from reception to executive assistant roles. A tighter phrase such as “junior accountant Cape Town” narrows results to roles you can realistically get. Because both sites match against the words in job titles and descriptions, using the exact job title you want tends to produce cleaner results than vague skill words.
- Set separate alerts for each distinct role you are targeting, rather than one crowded alert.
- Add a province or city to cut out listings you cannot attend.
- Review and edit alerts every few weeks as your search focus changes.
Who Can Use Job Alerts
Anyone with a valid email address and a free account on either site can set up alerts. There is no charge, no matric certificate requirement to register, and no limit that would stop a first-time job-seeker from using the feature. You do not need to upload a CV before creating an alert, although having one ready lets you apply the moment a match arrives.
If you are still studying, you can set alerts for internships, learnerships, or graduate programmes by using those words as keywords. The platforms do not restrict alerts by age or experience level, so the responsibility to filter for suitable roles sits with how you word your search.
How to Set Up Your Job Alerts
The process takes a few minutes on each site. Follow these steps on both Careers24 and PNet:
- Register a free account using an email address you check daily.
- Run a search using a specific job title and a location, for example “data capturer Johannesburg”.
- Adjust the filters on the results page until the listings match what you want.
- Select the option to save the search or create a job alert.
- Name the alert clearly if the site allows it, so you can tell your alerts apart.
- Confirm the email address and check your inbox to verify the alert is active.
- Repeat for each role or location you are targeting.
Once alerts are running, add the sender addresses to your contacts so the emails do not land in spam. When a relevant vacancy arrives, open it promptly, tailor your CV to the listed requirements, and apply directly through the platform. If your priorities shift, log back in to edit or delete alerts rather than letting old ones fill your inbox.
Where to Set Up and Verify This
Set up and manage your job alerts directly on the official platforms. Both are free for job-seekers and current as of 2026, though features and layout can change, so confirm the exact steps on the site itself.