Don't Turn to a Job Posting Site to Look For Your Next Job

Finding a job is hard work. Interviewing, researching, and networking can be overwhelming. For most of us our aspirations and desires are unclear which can lead to a lot of complexity in the job search. Job boards and job search platforms position themselves as an easy and effective solution. Sites like indeed.com, monster, zip recruiter etc. promise a one stop shop solution to your needs. However, there are a few things that you should consider before relying on these sites for your next role. 

Fractional Job Coverage: These sites proclaim to have the lion-share of available jobs in the US.

However, the reality is a bit more nuanced. If we consider All Indeeds jobs available now in the US at 6.2 million (source) and assume this is an accurate number it is only 57% of the available jobs in the US (as of the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in July). So you are missing out on roughly half of the labor market in the US by using one of these sites. 

Lower Job Quality: If you have ever been on a job posting site whether it is a career page at school, an online aggregator (Indeed.com, ziprecruiter, etc.), or a company hiring page you will notice the following: 

1. The job postings are generally for less desirable/lower ceiling roles
2. The job postings are from less recognizable companies

That is because generally speaking the companies that use these portals to hire their teams have high turnover, low impact roles that they need filled on a recurring basis.  The job postings are generally less desirable because these platforms are most useful to companies  that need to do significant outreach to attract people to their jobs have to It is often the companies that find it most difficult to hire that use these platforms to source talent, which can in some cases be an indication of the quality of that company. 

Greater application uncertainty: Because of the volume of postings, job postings on these sites are often generic making it more difficult to determine whether the role is a good fit. On top of this, there is an incentive for companies that are desperate to hire to distort or glorify the roles that they are offering to attract more applicant attention and resume submissions. While possible anywhere in theory, it is more likely to be the case on sites where companies are paying for visibility and resume submissions. 

Lower hire likelihood: If you have applied to enough jobs over the years on job posting sites you understand that there is a considerable gap between submitting your resume and getting a call back. The advantage in accessibility and convenience that job platforms offer actually can work against individual candidates. The great thing about online platforms is that you can apply to a number of roles with a click of a button, however, especially for good jobs this means that the number of applicants that can submit a resume can be exceedingly high. Disparate sources seem to believe that on average, 250 applicants apply to a single job posting and on job boards it is likely higher. This means your application is likely tossed into a long list of resumes that may or may not ever get reviewed. This dynamic diminishes your chances of being selected for a first round interview. 

A better option: Instead you should start general when looking for a job and consider your job search to be a funnel. By working from broad to narrow you will have a better idea of the options available and not just the options that are being put in front of you. This will not only provide you with more exciting options but also go a long way in preparing you for interviews, negotiating offers, and a variety of other beneficial outcomes. For more details on this strategy click here. 

References:

1. “Indeed Delivers 65% of Hires and 72% of Interviews from Job Sites.” Indeed Delivers 65% of Hires and 72% of Interviews From Job Sites, https://www.indeed.com/lead/indeed-delivers-65-percent-online-hires.