Why Job Boards Don't Work

Job boards have been a popular resource for both job seekers and employers for decades, becoming the digital version of the classified ad and connecting those looking for a job with those looking to fill positions. If you're reading this article, you've probably used a job board at least once in the past year. Chances are that you landed on this page because you discovered an ugly truth: job boards can be frustrating, ineffective, and a waste of time.

Anyone who has been a hiring manager, recruiter, or job seeker knows that finding a new job or hiring a new employee is a full-time job in itself. Online job boards are platforms where employers can post open positions and connect with potential employees. Sounds great in theory, but unfortunately the system doesn't always work as desired, either for employers or candidates. While there is no better place to access a high volume of jobs or find candidates quickly, this volume doesn't necessarily generate more hires or better qualified candidates. Those who rely primarily on job boards have plenty of experience dealing with the problems that plague these sites, including more quantity than quality resumes, a lack of organic posts, fierce competition, and the potential for scams. Job boards still have value, but they are often not the most effective tool in the hiring process.

Issues for Employers

More Quantity Than Quality

Many employers spend thousands of dollars on job boards, so it's important to feel like you've gotten value for your money. A high volume of applicants is a good thing-- right? Maybe not for recruiters and hiring managers who open their emails to an avalanche of applications. It's not uncommon for some jobs to receive literally hundreds of applications, which can quickly become overwhelming for the employer. Unfortunately, easy one-click application processes can encourage some applicants to apply to numerous jobs (some of them multiple times) without taking time to assess their own interest or qualifications for the role.

The quantity of applicants can be overwhelming - hundreds of resumes can land in an employer's inbox every day if they have several job postings or are using multiple job boards. Unfortunately, quantity isn’t the same as quality, and hiring managers often need to spend a significant amount of time sorting through these applications, even if they have an applicant tracking system (which can have its own problems).

Poorly written resumes from candidates who don't know how to make them or don’t want to bother putting in the effort add another layer of complication. Many resumes may be unformatted, have spelling or grammar errors, or lack information about the applicant's skills and experience. Other resumes are missing keywords or skills that cause them to be filtered out by an applicant tracking system (ATS). This makes it difficult for recruiters to identify qualified candidates, and with so little time to get through so many applications, even high-quality talent may be missed or passed over.

Spending hours sifting through resumes from unqualified candidates is time-consuming, and there is no guarantee you will find a candidate who meets the job requirements. And since employers may lack the time or resources to respond to all of these candidates, job seekers may develop a negative impression of the company due to lack of communication during the application process. While job boards often tout new and improved algorithms to solve these problems, too often they don't deliver the promised results.

Problems with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Some job boards and employers use an ATS to manage, organize, and search applications, while taking some of the burden off the recruiter. In some cases, the ATS may incorrectly weed out qualified candidates who are missing keywords on their resume or who leave out important details in their job descriptions or skills sections.

Only Represent Active (Or Formerly Active) Job Seekers

Although job boards provide access to a large volume of resumes, they are only representative of a small number of workers, and do not include some of the most desirable candidates: passive job seekers and referrals. Rightly or wrongly, employers tend to prefer candidates who are currently employed, and these passive candidates may not be posting their resumes on job boards. Other valuable resources such as employee referrals also cannot be found using a job board.

Outdated Resumes

For recruiters, one of the most disappointing things is to finally find a candidate’s resume that fits the job description, only to learn that their contact information is outdated or missing, or that they found a position months ago. Many job seekers post their resumes on job boards, but few remember to take them down once they are no longer looking. Hiring managers end up wasting time on candidates who are no longer available or who do not want to be contacted.

Issues for Job Seekers

Fierce Competition

As previously mentioned, companies can receive A LOT of job applications from job boards. This means that when you apply to a position, you could be one of hundreds of candidates. With so much competition, your resume may have less than a minute to impress the hiring manager and land an interview— assuming it has the necessary content to even make it past the ATS. Resume format matters too, and a poorly written resume may be quickly rejected by most employers for displaying unprofessionalism, poor attention to detail, or failing to adequately represent your knowledge and experience.

Remember that some employers are also required to post openings, regardless of where they are in the hiring process. Even if it was just posted, a job may in reality have already been filled by an internal hire or a referral.

More Scraping Than Organic Posts

After spending hours, days, or weeks combing through job boards, few things are more disappointing than finding the perfect job, only to learn it was filled months ago. Or you may see the same job on multiple job boards, sometimes with different instructions for the application process.

Why all the repetition and dead ends? The truth is that many jobs are reposted from other job boards in a process called "scraping." These companies use web tools to "scrape" job postings from another website and repost them on their own, driving traffic and making their job board look bigger so more employers will pay for a job posting on their site. Because the technology isn't perfect, jobs can sometimes be copied incorrectly, with crucial information missing or altered such as the application directions, responsibilities, location, salary, and even the name of the company. Adding to the confusion, some websites buy web traffic and then redirect it to other websites for a small fee, which is why you may click on a job and be redirected to a website you've never heard of.

There is a good chance the person who posted the original job ad (called the organic job posting) may be unaware that their job postings have been copied to multiple job boards, and the constant cycle of scraping can lead to jobs being posted as "new jobs" when they were actually closed months before on the original job site. Or if the application directions have been altered, your application may never reach the hiring manager at all.

Optimized for Employers, Not Job Seekers

For job seekers, job boards can be overwhelming. Even with search filters, there are a lot postings to sift through to find the right job for you, and even then the job may no longer be available. Like any business, job boards are primarily focused on keeping customers happy-- and the customer is the employer. Keep in mind that most job boards are free for job seekers-- and if you're not the customer, you're the product. Job boards make a profit by promoting employer’s job postings on their website. By using tools such as scraping and encouraging easy apply options, they can show value by offering a large pool of applicants to customers paying for job ads. This is why many job boards market themselves as a staffing solution to employers, rather than an employment solution to job seekers. While this is not uncommon and is how many free services operate, it does not always lead to a good candidate experience. High volumes of applicants often means many underqualified candidates, and the flood of applications can quickly overwhelm busy hiring managers. These managers may then only respond to a handful of applicants, leaving the rest to wonder if their resume was even received. In some cases, an application may actually never reach the hiring manager if the application directions differ from the one-click application or other method the job board is promoting. This means even highly qualified candidates may find their application is met with silence.

Lack of Security

In many instances, job boards do not verify the authenticity of the employers who are posting jobs on their job board. As with all websites, it is important to use your best judgment and exercise caution when applying online. Some websites exist primarily to collect information, which is then sold to data brokers. Other job postings may be scams looking to steal your personal information or worse. Look for red flags and do your research before going on an interview or sending sensitive information.

Issues with the Application Process

Navigating an employer's hiring process can be confusing and cumbersome. Few aspects of the job search are more time consuming and irritating than applying for jobs that require you to upload your resume and then fill out a detailed form reiterating what was already on your resume. Some job boards provide a one-click application option to ease this process, but these features can prove detrimental in the long run if they flood the employer with unqualified applicants or fail to provide enough information to get you past the ATS. Your application may not even be seen by the employer, or may be overlooked in a sea of other applicants.

Don't Represent the "Hidden Job Market"

While the number of jobs on a major job board may seem overwhelming, they represent only a small portion of available jobs. If you are relying solely on online job boards, you are missing out on opportunities in the "hidden job market." These are positions which may be confidential or never posted. Networking or building a professional relationship with industry recruiters can help you learn about these opportunities and connect with employers.

Job boards are a great resource if you want to find out about available jobs, attract a large number of applicants, or get a better understanding of the job market, current salaries, and what your competitors are offering. However, they can also be overwhelming and frustrating for both job seekers and employers. While using job boards can make up part of your strategy, it is important to remember that they are not the only resource when looking for work or hiring new talent. Our advice: leave the job boards to the experts! Read our next blog post to learn why job boards work better for recruiters.