Published: 17.10.2026
The .careers zone is a generic extension built for the career pages of organisations, graduate schemes and vacancy listings. The plural form suggests a range of opportunities, which fits an employer that advertises several roles, teams or programmes at once. Companies, public bodies, schools and in-house recruitment teams are the usual users. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .careers is still available.
Check if a .careers domain is available .careers Check
A short history
In everyday English the word careers usually refers to the opportunities an employer offers, such as openings for graduates, apprentices and experienced staff. The .careers extension is a generic ending, so it is open to organisations in any country. Many firms have adopted it to give their recruitment pages a clear address that stands apart from the main company website.
Who runs it
A registry operator manages the zone and publishes the conditions for registration, and registrars take orders on its behalf. The conditions apply to every holder, so whoever looks after the company's domains should read the current terms. A careers address is often shared with applicants, which makes the operator's policy worth reading in full.
Rules in practice
- Open registration: generic zones are usually open to companies and public bodies, subject to the operator's conditions.
- Employer identity: the registrant should be the employer itself, so that applicants know exactly who they are dealing with.
- Name rules: letters, digits and hyphens are permitted, and a label may reach 63 characters.
- Continuity: a recruitment address that expires can leave applicants stranded, so renew well ahead of the hiring season.
Who uses .careers
- Employers that publish open roles, application steps and information about benefits.
- Graduate and apprenticeship programmes that run their own recruitment pages.
- Public bodies and charities that advertise posts through a dedicated careers site.
- Recruitment teams that serve applicants for several brands from a single address.
Strengths
- The plural name signals that the page holds many opportunities rather than one post.
- A separate careers address can introduce a company's working culture to candidates before they apply.
- The address is easy to print on advertising, on university stands and at careers fairs.
Things to keep in mind
- Scam messages that imitate employers are common, so explain how candidates can check that an offer really came from you.
- Data protection and equal opportunities rules apply to application forms in many countries, so review the wording of yours.
- Keep vacancy pages current, because an advert that stays online after a role is filled gives a poor impression.
- Use the same company name on the careers site as on the main website, so that candidates are not confused about who is hiring.
Tips before you register
- Check the name in .com and look at the career sites that your competitors use.
- Enter the registrant details exactly as they appear in the company's registration documents.
- Publish an applicant privacy notice and a short explanation of the stages of the hiring process.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you send application acknowledgements from the domain.
- Give at least two staff members access to the registrar account, so that renewal notices are always seen.
Frequently asked questions
Can a recruitment agency use .careers for its own site? Generic zones are usually open to agencies as well. An agency can use the ending for its vacancy pages, as long as it describes the roles accurately and names the employers correctly.
Is .careers only for large companies? No. Small firms, schools, charities and public services can use it too, as long as the content is about real opportunities.
Does a .careers name help vacancies appear in search? The ending explains the topic, but well-written job descriptions, a clear application route and up-to-date listings matter more.
