2 Responses to “Go Figure”

1. Kelly Magowan on August 30th, 2008 9:06 pm
   

   We have indeed heard of Seek Executive and The Big Chair. However we also believe in competition, innovation and progress. Six Figures is very much the next generation of job sites build upon a different business model and values that are aligned with today’s job market and the needs and expectations of today’s Advertisers and Job Seekers.

   Whilst Seek is an established player in the market, it is a generalist job site. Though they have Seek Executive (a different tab on Seek), the service is not marketed separately to Seek nor is the user experience any different to what you find on Seek. The site shows the same jobs in both sections. These generalist sites are important and provide just that; a very generalist job search experience. These job sites measure the success around the volume of ads posted, viewed and clicked; i.e. they’re measured on simple transactions. This is not a problem unless you are concerned about the quality and relevance of job ads and applications.

   The Big Chair is another job site owned by a major media player that launched about a year and a half ago as a sideline to MyCareer. This site can be found as a tab on My Career though it does also have its own independent marketing campaign and looks to provide a marginally different service. Like Seek, the focus is on volume and transactions. Little regard is given to the depth of information or quality, or even the authenticity of the job ad posted (based on feedback we’ve received from job seekers). Likewise, for advertisers the success is measured around the volume of applications received, regardless of their relevance.

   So while there are players in this space, there is nothing wrong with providing independent alternatives and choices to the marketplace!
2. Geoff Jennings on August 31st, 2008 11:43 am
   

   Nope. Nothing wrong with independent alternatives.

   I was referring to your comment about your being a unique player in the market place. You’re not, despite your protestation. Seek Executive and The Big Chair do exactly what you do (except in many ways, they do it better). In regard to Seek, the fact that jobs are duplicated in the general section doesn’t alter the candidate experience and for the advertiser, it is enhanced – more chance of finding the right candidate. The fact that yours is a closed environment makes you less appealing to candidates and advertisers. This point is especially salient when we consider that high-calibre passive candidates won’t be bothered signing up to browse your jobs.

   Six figures is nothing more than an extended recruiter site…and there’s nothing new in this.