Tried & True: the Job Board Still Delivers

Job boards have gotten a bad rap over the past few years. A lot of it has to do with the reputation of the big boards like Monster and social media fairies exclaiming the end is near. The naysayers could not be farther from the truth.

Now, I have all the proof I need to know that job boards are here to stay. Beginning in 2012 I'll be entering my 14th year in this business. Thats right, fourteen years. I started my first site in 1999 and havent looked back.You dont survive in this business for that long by not having a product that provides value.

And I'm bullish on our future. After experiencing 20% growth for the past 2 years I expect another 20% increase in 2012. Especially now that hiring is back on the upswing.

But okay, maybe you dont believe me, maybe you're still skeptical. If so read this:

John Sumser predicts the re-invigoration of job boards in his 2012 forecast.
Gerry Crispin's sources hire survey recorded 24% of their employers made hires from job boards.
Bersin Survey which just came out says their clients recorded 19% of hires from job boards.

So there you have it. Actual proof from three industry experts that job boards deliver.

Even though our share of the pie may be slightly smaller now with the vast array of tools recruiters can use, job boards aint going anywhere. We're here to stay.

So lets end this shit right here right now. Job boards are VERY GOOD at delivering quality applicants either locally or industry specific.

To say anything less is an insult to me and our industry.

Comment by Sabrina Compagno on December 22, 2011 at 1:10pm: I couldn't agree more! Let's hear it for the niche sector. Netshare started as a hard copy networking organization with a small job board back in 1991 and moved to the web in 1998. At the beginning executives shared leads with each other as they networked. Over the years companies and recruiters have requested the ability to get their leads in front of a solid group of quality executives. If they can be verified - they can post to our site - for Free (but the leads have to meet certain parameters). During all this time we have stressed networking, long term career management and helping others. We are here to stay and are happy that we aren't one of those big, impersonal boards.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on December 22, 2011 at 1:37pm: Indeed they do. Japanese speaking executive assistant to the CEO starting Monday. Posted ad on job board on Friday, candidate responded on Sat. Interview by phone on Tuesday, on site Thursday. Offer made this Monday. Client sent this note. Merry Christmas, please send invoice so we can get it paid today, she starts Monday. Thanks for incredible fast work and quality candidate.

They had posted an ad also and looked on Linkedin, Facbook and twitter. Why did mine work. Recruiters who know how to write good ads get good candidates.. It's not about the means it's the message.

Comment by Megan Bell on December 23, 2011 at 9:55am: So far I've only breached LinkedIn as a social media source, I just can't leave my tried and true job boards - they work!

Comment by Zachary Sines on December 23, 2011 at 11:06am: I use Dice, CareerBuilder, Monster, LinkedIn Recruiter, Simply Hired, Indeed, our company website, university job boards, Bullhorn Reach, LinkedIn Groups, Facebook, and Twitter.

All of these, at some point or another, have given me a candidate that has closed a deal. The only thing you have to keep in mind with the job boards...they take a lot of time to post if you are using them all. I only focus on my postings late Fridays, and make sure they are always fresh and catching.

A recruiter though, in contrast to the blog post, cannot count on a job board alone. That is just plain old lazy. Making the calls to candidates, networking them, going to networking events, getting involved in the community...all that needs to happen. Job Boards are just another tool to use, not the only tool.

They work, but you have to wait for them to work. With the aggressive nature of the market, you have to be infront of your postings even, because you competitors will be if you are not.

Comment by Chris Russell on December 23, 2011 at 11:24am: @zachary, yes its important to keep them fresh especially the date posted. The older a job appears on a site the less people apply. Many job boards now are redistributing jobs to simplyhired, indeed etc so I think we are doing more to give jobs more exposure across multiple sites.

Comment by Suresh on December 23, 2011 at 1:41pm: Job boards are evolving with times as user behavior online is changing..

The latest buzz of Talent Communities is interesting. What they don't tell you is that most small companies will struggle to build these, unless you already have a large traffic of visitors to your website, you are not going to generate any meaningful traffic to your talent community. Its different for large corporations or brands. So I see job boards benefitting from this trend in providing niche traffic to corporate talent communities for small and medium sized companies.

I have to say "We ain't seen nothin yet" is so true for Job Boards and for that matter any business online..Remember the internet is only 18 years young..