Job boards came around in the early days of the internet, but they’ve come a long way since then and are still popular amongst job seekers. While some critics thought that job boards would die out as technology sped ahead, that’s not the case. Job boards are evolving: niche job boards are still sought after, career hubs are emerging, and job boards are still the top source of quality hires. Here’s why job boards have remained popular and will continue to do so:

Technology Advances Have Improved Job Boards

As technology has advanced, so have job boards. The design and interface of job boards has become much more user-friendly. Advanced search functions and filters decrease search time and increase the relevance of the listings. Some job boards are using GPS information to tailor search results to the area where the user is based. Online job applications have also become more streamlined with functionality that allows users to upload CVs or import them from LinkedIn, and save draft applications so that they can finish the application at a more convenient time.

Social Media Popularity Supports Job Boards

Many people are heralding social media platforms as the best way to find new job openings. While some of the recruitment strategies for new job roles might be solely based on using social media, many of the job ads that are tweeted or shared link to online job board listings. Social media has become an excellent source of traffic for job boards, and hashtags have allowed job boards to reach particular industries and social media users with their posts.

Job Boards Give Employers More Control

A major benefit of job boards for employers is that unlike recruitment agencies, job boards allow you to see all the information that a candidate submits. Recruitment agencies will often cut and tailor candidate CVs to match the job criteria, which means that employers don’t get to see the whole picture. Cutting out the middleman and using a job board gives employers more autonomy over which candidates they choose to interview.

Reach More Potential Applicants

Job boards reach a huge number of potential applicants. For companies whose websites don’t receive such a large amount of traffic or aren’t so savvy with SEO practices, job boards are an excellent way to increase the visibility of your job vacancies. There will be far more engaged job searchers landing on job boards than there will be on company websites, which means a wider talent pool and more applicants for the role.

Ron Stewart runs the Jobs4Medical, a specialist medical and healthcare job board.