The Use Of Job Search Engines versus Job Boards

The hiring industry has moved on from basic resumes to online candidate profiles. Even when it comes to posting jobs or searching for jobs, there has been a drastic change. There has been a shift in the interview process too. Initially, a hiring manager’s life was all about scanning through CVs and scheduling interviews. But now it is also about identifying the need to hire resources, scanning passive candidates, defining job roles and finding the right fit according to the company’s working culture. Most people assume there is no concrete difference between the use of job boards and job search engines. When job hunters look for jobs on the internet they hardly care about where these vacancies are being posted from. Nevertheless, it is important to know the difference between the two.

Though job boards and a job search engine both list jobs, there is a difference in the way they source jobs. The presence of job aggregator API has also influenced the recruitment industry. Even advertising jobs online now has a lot of competition. Recruiters have to be very careful about job posting. Right from targeting the right candidates to defining the job roles accurately, job posting is no longer restricted to experience, education, and location. The change in the hiring process and job search has been good for both employers and employees. Job boards no longer just mention vacancies but also filter them according to the industries. With well-defined job roles, it is now easier to find the right candidate from a vast pool of talent. Here are the differences between the use of job search engines and job boards.

• Sourcing of job vacancies

Though both these platforms post jobs, there is a difference in their source. A job search engine will contain job listings from a variety of sources. Job seekers need to crosscheck when it comes to jobs on job search engines. Additionally, it is also necessary to add relevant filters for a better search. Job boards contain job listings submitted by employers or recruiters. An employer may also use multiple job boards to get more visibility for the job post.

• Types of job boards and job search engine

Both job boards and job search engines have different types. The two types of job boards are general job board and niche job board. A job search engine can be divided into three types — namely, general job search engine, niche job search engine and global job search engine. Job boards and job search engines both have different usage models too. Even the job posting process for recruiters is different on both platforms.

• Candidate profiles and pricing structure

On most job boards, candidates have to create their profile and register, whereas, on a job search engine, it might not be required. Even the pricing structure for both these platforms has a lot of differences. Job search engines follow a performance-driven job advertising model whereas job boards sell individual job post spaces. Understanding the difference between a job board and job search engine is very important to use it efficiently.