Job Board Doctor Blog

Job board variations: many paths to job seeking enlightenment

job board variationsI continue to be amazed at the job board variations and the pace of start-ups in the job board sector. No matter that we’re in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression; no matter that companies are shedding workers like cat fur in the summertime. Those job boards just keep coming (and mind you, I’m not upset, as I get the chance to work with some of them!).

Although many of these new sites resemble existing job boards, a number of them keep trying different ways to bring job seekers and employers together. I last looked at new sites in March – and  I thought it would be useful (and fun) to take a look at some recent examples of what I call job board variations:

  • HiredMyWay: This site asks a candidate to buy ‘tokens’ (at $2 a pop) – and then they guarantee that an employer will review the candidate’s resume. The real twist? If the candidate is hired, HiredMyWay pays the candidate a referral fee of up to $4000. For employers, posting a job is free – unless they make a hire. So it’s an interesting take on a pay-for-results model. I’ll be curious to see how it does.
  • Escape The City: Apart from the unusual name, this site focuses on one specific category of job seekers: those wanting to jump out of their current industry and into something quite different. There isn’t a job search exactly; instead, the candidate goes to ‘Opportunities’, sets a slider bar somewhere between ‘Play it safe’ and ‘Off the radar’ – and the site brings back jobs ranging from camp managers in Botswana to marketing/sales/tech positions in more conventional companies. Candidates also get a weekly email with ‘top opportunities’. Employers pay for the postings, or they can opt for ‘EscSearch’, which involves a search of registered candidates; a successful search will cost a percentage of the annual salary. Seems like it would be hard to find a steady stream of ‘off the radar’ jobs, but they’ve been doing it in the UK and USA for a while.
  • Coder Loop: This isn’t a job board at all, but a way for employers to assess the technical skills of programmers, ala StackOverflow. As anyone who has ever tried to hire a techie knows, it’s very challenging for the non-technical to properly evaluate this type of candidate. CoderLoop gives the candidate various tests (chosen in conjunction with your position’s needs), then tells you how they did. If the tech job boards out there aren’t working with this company already, they should be!
  • Entreave: Another ‘pay for the referral’ site (I can’t believe there are enough of these for me to say that!). Candidates sign up via Facebook or Google accounts, then create a profile. They can apply for jobs, or refer their friends. If the friend is hired, the referrer gets a ‘reward’. Employers post for free, paying only if they hire someone through the Entreave system. This model has also been used in some form or fashion by JobFox and TopProspect. Only time will tell if it succeeds.
  • Grex: They claim they are ‘the end of the resume‘. I’m not so sure – but it’s interesting. You sign in via Facebook or LinkedIn, create a profile much as on other sites – and Grex starts ‘scoring’ you. Your cumulative score is compared to the average ‘hiring’ score for various companies. For example, I quickly discovered that my (low) score did not mesh well with Coca-Cola. Oh well. You can also increase your score by getting ‘Validated’, which is essentially an endorsement from someone you know – and whom you can convince to get on Grex. It seems to me that Grex has attempted to take the LinkedIn model, add scoring to it, and then tie it to hiring. There is a catch, however; after a trial period, the candidate must pay a monthly fee to keep using the site.
  • WorkMarket: This site seems to be an online staffing company, focusing on a limited number of sectors. In a nutshell, you create your profile, it is then submitted to companies looking for staff, and if you’re selected, you are given the ‘assignment’. You can get paid via the WorkMarket system as well. So, certainly not a traditional job board – more along the lines of Proven.com. Again, only time will tell if employers (and candidates) are willing to use this type of web-based system.

So...what job board variations did I miss? Let me know!

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This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. On the basis any promotional offer has to meet the propective buyer’s need, I’d say the most likely to succeed amongst this group are Coder Loop and Escape The City. Commercially, I’d think Coder Loop is the best bet – in hard times too few want to take risks with their pay packets.

  2. Some of the solutions you’ve highlighted are far too complicated. All employers want is to advertise their jobs quickly and efficiently at a reasonable price, make sure your marketing helps them reach their target audience. All job seekers want is to find a job and apply for it quickly and efficiently. It isn’t rocket science.

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