Future Of Job Boards – Is It Social
May 11, 2009 by Geoff Jennings
Online community is a bit of a buzzword at the moment and I reckon it’s important we begin to define it in the context of recruitment. Why? Because recruitment is moving rapidly into an almost entirely online workspace. This being the case, whatever is a hot topic in the internet generally, becomes a hot topic for us. More importantly, though, we need to understand this concept in order to shape how we respond to it.
Here’s where I break it down for the readers: There are two main components to the notion of community. These are: a) common interest b) communication. So, a community is a place where people with a common interest meet to exchange knowledge, discuss ideas or get to know one another.
The demands of our lives are such that, with regard to communication, interactivity is vital. It allows us to achieve all three aspects of communication in one shot. In doing this, we can make informed decisions about WHOSE information we need access to and WHAT sorts of things we want to know. Interaction gives us this. It permits us access to a subtext in the discourse of a particular communication. It does this through commentary, but also through circulation on social networks.
Okay, so where does this leave job boards?
Over the short term, what this means is that job boards will attempt to integrate some form of interactivity into their sites. Sites such as TribeHQ have already begun to do this.
In the long term, however, job boards will not serve the functional requirements of our society. Lacking some of the basic elements of community, they will not be able to satisfy the need to streamline information resources, and they will not provide the social proof required to verify the validity of their advertisements. Seek already have difficulty with this and dedicate a large amount of resources to preventing (sometimes unsuccessfully) fake job ads.
‘Future of the traditional job board’ was discussed together with Thomas Shaw and Diane Lee at the ‘Recruitment Rumble’ recently. Listen to the recording here.
These discussions about the demise of job boards all assume that job boards will remain as we know them today. The plonkers will but they are not successful now so of course they won’t be in 5 years. Those in tune with their users will adjust and will continue to succeed.
Store this away Geoff and lets have a beer in 5 years and see who was right.
Don’t forget that a job board is just a place online where jobs are found.
Let’s assume a job board is a place where one (mostly) applies for jobs.
Does a job seeker want his job application detail disclosed to a community?
Is community interaction useful for job application or job research ?
Where is job / company research done?
Maneck: job application would not be disclosed to a community. Have you never been in a circle of friends, at a party or such, and had a quiet aside with someone with regard to your wish to work for them or whatever? It is this “quiet aside” that the IM component of a social network provides opportunity for. Not everything needs to be hollered.
Indeed, community interaction is one of the better forms of job research. Talking to other people who already do a similar role at a similar place, or perhaps even just observing them, has always been used traditionally as a form of research. It may even be more accurate than reading company propaganda.
As for job application, what is your difficulty with understanding how this capacity would operate under the framework of a social network?
Brett: Please don’t misunderstand the commentary with regard to this issue. The endgame is not to see who ends up being “right” and “wrong”. The purpose of this discourse is to guide direction, encourage members of the industry to consciously steer developments and to elucidate factors involved in future direction. I’m not interested in defeating you in a battle of opinion. My interest lies in getting a deeper understanding of where we’re heading.
All the same, you can still buy me that beer:)
Hello again Geoff,
Again, I think you’re getting ahead of yourself – just because you’re using social networks to source your candidates, it doesn’t mean that the vast majority of recruitment companies and employers are doing so, or intend to do so in the very near future. I agree that social recruitment will increase in volume over time, but it won’t replace the direct advertising model in the short term.
One only has to look at the continued use of newspaper advertising for job vacancies as evidence that this industry moves slowly – online job boards have been around for a while now and offer a much more cost-effective and convenient way to advertise, yet many employers still spend thousands of dollars on newspaper ads. Because it’s the way that it has always been done and most people are conservative, risk-averse and loathe to change the status quo.
I believe that the next big transition we’ll see is advertisers moving away from print altogether in favour of online job boards – the media is full of reports about how newspapers need to reinvent themselves and how the existing newspaper revenue model is dead in the water. It will be some time yet before we see a major newspaper go down in this country (although it will happen).
Geoff, you have to remember that you are 5 years ahead of everybody else (you told me so yourself!). There are a good percentage of people out there that have never used SEEK to search for jobs or to advertise a vacancy – they are certainly not going to skip straight from print advertising into the uncertain world of social recruiting…
Love your visionary thinking – you may be right (one day), but perhaps not as soon as you think!
Clayton Wehner
CapitalJobs.com.au
http://www.capitaljobs.com.au
Social media is a great tool for job search. You do your research; you leverage your networks, friends, contacts. You identify the company, the role, if possible the hiring manager and then you determine the best way to “APPLY” based on the results of your research.
The “research” process of job search is separate from the “application” process
You are not thinking about the volume of job applications that are conducted via job boards. Job boards are not going anywhere. They will evolve and incorporate social elements to facilitate the job research process while maintaining their role in driving job applications.
Social media will continue to promote social, business and niche connectivity and will be a great asset for the job seeker but this is NOT going to replace job boards.
Geoff – Despite all the buzzwords you are not really illustrating how job boards are in danger. Your only point was that they lack “social proof” to validate fake job ads. Fair enough, but is that it?
I tend to agree with Brett….
Definitely the future of Job Boards will have to move into warp speed to try and compromise with Social Networking.
I dont see it as a deal breaker immediately…but the sites that morph this technology and monitor the use & capture of traffic to their site will reap the rewards.
It will never stop evolving…and the Job Board owners, now and in the future will be scrutinized on their ability to adapt and make a viable platform to making a Job Search site that can produce results and in turn give the Job Seekers a sense of individual priority and security.
Basically I feel it is too early to tell what the impact of Social Networking in Job Searching will produce, as most recruiters dont even understand the implications & value of these raised topics, and most are stopped by their employer from accessing sites that they can learn and adapt their strategy to incorporating these new tools, but it never hurts to prepare and get ready.
I would like to see Recruiter comments here, because as Job Board owners, we understand all to well the value we can provide here…but do the end users? How will they know where to go or what to look for?
I feel that sites that adopt this technology to late….will never claw back any traction from integrating once the trends are at their peak, as other sites will already have the ground and traction in this area.
I mentioned in the 2009 Job Board Report that Destination sites are more likely to hold integrity over the “Social” aspects….but I do retract my comments.
Set up properly, with the Job Seekers privacy as a top priority….may see the Social aspects of networking and job hunting, start to work for you and leverage off the content.
I personally dont feel that the traditional Job Boards now have a slice on what is coming up! Let me predict now, the demise of stagnant classified job boards!
The only thing they may have is the presence and branding in a currently declining Job numbers market to evolve with….and by the time they get their act together,,, the trend will have passed and a new one will emerge as fast as 6 – 12 month out.
I would suggest, like us, there is code being tapped out to optimize the trends for the future. Their ability to keep pace will be the deciding factor, and, now flimsy classified type Job Board models will be constantly on the back foot trying to regain the glory they once had.
The new Technology that the improved http://www.nt3.com.au Digital Resume Database will offer shortly, will incorporate all the good of the new and the tried and tested of old, to try and find a common ground in making the Job Search website of the future.
The new talent site will be released soon……
I would seriously look at some of the new players starting to take the wisdom of tried and tested models and evolving them to be more in tune with technology today. I applaud all the lads out there giving this a shot…because if you are finding it as testing as we are….then you have a common friend doing the same.
Clayton I do agree that the traditional print media still has a number of years to run and there are still industries relying on its use for job advertising. However I don’t think you’re giving enough credit to the job seeker and their choices for better ways to source work (online), and more recently their choices for a better online experience (web 2.0 tools).
I’m starting to see some great examples of new niche job boards who are benefiting from social media tools and gaining momentum in the industry. The current classifieds style of online job boards such as seek that have been around for 10 years (or so) have worked well as people can go to one location to find their next job. As Geoff indicated, these sites are needing to evolve and create a sense of community. If you ask the job seekers how they rate their experience finding a new job the majority of them will tell you it was not pleasant and particularly impersonal particularly when Recruitment Agencies are involved.
Traditional job boards are up for a change and social networking cannot be ignored, consumers are telling us this.
The fact is…that no one can really tell what the Future of Job Boards will hold.
I think if anyone is putting enough time and energy into helping recruiters and employers connect with Job Seekers as we are….then you must have a fantastic chance of surviving.
How hard can it be? It must be as simple as unloading you bank balance on a Developer….make it look good and different…make it cheap and compelling and then just ring around telling the Recruiters to use your service with all these new and wonderful services you site offers…..wrong!! – They dont have time…& they dont care!!!!
I admit the nt3 site has not really been marketed as yet…as it is not finished. There is no point in driving traffic to an unfinished product now is there?
I made the mistake of showing you all a half completed painting I am still working on…. The vision is there…but it is still giving the wrong impression to the viewer…….
The only thing that will show us what the future holds is when Recruiters & Employers & Job Seekers start to adopt a single model because it is a good product & gets them the results they need quickly….
Recruiters will only use a system if it makes them money. It all comes down to marketing I am afraid, because that my friends is big $$$.
If you have a good product with the right message…you cant really go wrong…but you can have the best site in town, but if no one cares……it will slip away!
It’s like…why do people buy KIA’s (Korean Car)? Value for money or they like the look?
If you do your research…the metal used to make the cars are from mostly Australian scrap metal…and because they have no storage on the docks in Korea….they dump all the scrap metal in the middle of the salt water harbor, until it is needed to refine and build a new KIA. It can be up to a year or more before the metal is pulled from the depths by a big magnet crane.. (Research) So if you own one…go check for rust……
But like cars……with so much choice….. Job boards need to show their value in a solid product that is both functional and intuative enough to get people involved.
Like the salty scrap metal used to build KIA’s…Recruiters will still just dump their Job ads on SEEK for lack of room in their mind to learn new ways. The only salty thing about SEEK is the cost involved to keep plugging up the holes (Re-posting Job ads) The are much better ways for recruiters to operate using some of our services…but how do we let them know
It is a tight balance…because as Job Board owners…we feel obligated to have the latest advances in “Social Media” incorporated in our service….
I showed my dad this blog last night. He owned his own trucking company for 38 years…needles to say…he is not Lindsey Fox…but he did ok out of Trucking and tried to explain to him what nt3 is doing and what the trends of our industry are….he simply said…
“you guys are all wankers…. Who the F*uck has time to worry about what is the latest trend in Job Boards. If you have 5 kids and just need to get a job to feed them and cloth them….you just want to get a frigging job and bloody quick….”
“I spent all day in a dirty filthy truck…not browsing on the internet to make sure I am visiting sites that have the latest and greatest technology” “Who cares, when the bank is coming for your home”….”you just need results”….. he says!
Unfortunately…like my dad….most people share this view!
Unfortunately…this kind of woke me up a little….. I have fallen into the trap that most of us are in unfortunately! We have too much time on the computer looking at all the new stuff…and working out brilliant major plans to incorporate this into our service……thinking it is going to take off. I must admit…
I have been disappointed a few times….one just recently when we did the front cover of Recruitment Extra…..I thought all the Recruiters in Australia who read Recruitment Extra (If anyone) will be on board in a month……wrong again!!!
I think the future of Job Boards will be dictated by the the people…and not who has the latest technology…. Win over the people…….You hit pay dirt!
Maneck: I did point out a few other factors relating to why job boards will be redundant. I have also made extensive comment on this point in recent blogs and other forms of input (webinars etc).
Here I go again: Big breath.
The big picture version of how communication in general will proceed incorporates the idea of interaction (please, just read what I have already written about with regard to this). As folks work from home more, as the spaces between us become geographically bigger, we will be looking to the Internet as our main source of interaction with colleagues and associates. It will be where communities are formed. We will therefore go to the net SEEKING communication and commonality with others will not be adequately provided by a static medium, like job boards. While there will always have to be SOME sort of way of transmitting basic information, this will more than likely take place within social network forums, not within job boards.
Social proof will become a main criterion for determining where we interact and what information we choose to flag as valuable. It is more than a buzzword. It will be an integral part of our interactions (and arguable already is – but this is another debate entirely).
So, I hope you realise I am using a method of deductive reasoning to establish my claims. This is more than me sprouting a few trendy words. If we take a logical look at the operations of communication technology in general, we can use the trends available and apply them to our industry.
hahaha you used the word “elucidate” in a sentence.
Lots of jobs out there. 3 job sites chosen by about.com as getting the best results for job seekers -
http://www.linkedin.com (professional networking)
http://www.indeed.com (aggregated listings)
http://www.realmatch.com (matches you to jobs)
good luck to all that need work!
I still think…even though I am with you on this Geoff….that the general Job Seek & Recruiter for that matter, has not got the time or patience to sit and manage blog positing in the hope of finding a job.
It is easy for us who understand the benefits….but we are all the 2% of the population understanding and paving the way in the advances in Job Board technology… Not many people care….. It is only us, battling it out amongst ourselves, who work ourselves up into a lather of sweat and tears trying to keep up….
Sometimes you just have to work with what you have and try to be the best in your market offering value and service that is widely needed and wanted.
Most people have more important things to do……. Their interest is the end result and the speed in which they get there…….
They just want to know they are being considered for a Job and when they need to turn up to the interview!
Thats why some recruiters have been black listed by Job Seekers….because after several attempts….they have not even had the satisfaction of an end result…even if it is a phone call to let them know they are not being considered….Am I right?
Dianne Lee eluded in your webinar to this exact point…… It is a hot topic for Job Seekers…cause they are sick of it….especially if they have the skills to do a job that is advertised on a Job Board by a recruiter.
I feel that the “Social Environment” – especially on comments in Blog postings is a false environment. It doesn’t take long for popular Social environments to get flooded with marketing….
I think we should stop looking forward….and concentrate on the today! Who’s who in the zoo making positive changes for Recruiters and Job seekers to connect with the end result…..?
What are they doing that benefits both the Employer / Recruiter & Job seeker to connect…..and what are the stand out strategies being adopted?
I cant see the future of Job Boards being entirely “Social” There is no end to “Social Networking” – it is time Dependant….and people loose interest fueled by new services popping up daily.
You Geoff of all people here have a solid overview of excellent services hitting the market…..
It would be nice to get your thoughts on the companies that will have a place in the Australian Job Board industry in the next few years…..
“Social Traffic” is transient….and will not be held onto for long…..
Social environments and your participation in this area are a luxury of time.
Not everyone has time……
The “Social Networking” aspect of Job Boards in general will undoubtedly be on offer……but as a secondary source to information and research…and not necessarily to get them the result they are desperately looking for (Job)
I don’t think good job seeking is as simple as that Andrew.
You only get out what you put into something. Simply because building relationships that you you can leverage to help find your next job is time dependant (as is applying to every job that might remotely match on a job board) doesn’t make social recruiting something that is less of a priority. Think of the residual value a person gets via interactivity compared with applying to a static job ad to someone you don’t even know with no results guaranteed.
Eventually job seekers won’t bother going to job boards at all.
They will start investing their time in building their online profile.
You should agree with this as nt3 is well positioned to leverage from this behaviour. Niche sites that have built strong communities will also be able to monetise their captive audiences.
Niche – communities will be king.
I agree 100% Geoff….
I believe this also…so much so, that we have and continue to invest a huge amount of time, effort & money to prepare for these new trends and incorporate these facilities into nt3.
I just think the priority of these new developments need to be taught to the Recruiters & Job Seekers….So they know what they now have access to…..
People are creatures of habit, until shown a different and more effective way that will make their life easier and more profitable for their input…
Maybe we could all pull together and create a seminar to help educate Recruiters, Employers & Job Seekers on the new advantages and services being created to help them get results…. We should be getting their commitment to using these new technologies.
I feel if we can offer interested people a way to learn…we will eventually have their commitment….and therefore build a more successful “Tribe” around these new technologies in Recruitment.
I would back you as the instigator of this Geoff…
You would be a great voice in the industry to provide and unload your knowledge & wisdom….
I think Recruiters, HR & Job Seekers want to learn…but need some guidance as they are a bit scared of how to incorporate all these new trends without risking their integrity as a hiring manager or business owner.
Nice idea Andrew. Let’s talk…