What Is a Job Board? (Definition and Examples)

What Is a Job Board?

A job board (also known as a job search engine) is a website or platform that allows employers to advertise job openings and job seekers to search for and apply for job opportunities.

Job boards typically allow employers to create detailed listings for job openings, including information about the job duties, requirements, and location. Job seekers can then search for job listings based on various criteria, such as location, job type, and industry, and can apply for job opportunities directly through the job board.

Job boards are a popular tool for both employers and job seekers.

For employers, job boards provide a cost-effective way to reach a wide variety of qualified candidates.

For job seekers, job boards offer a convenient way to search for job opportunities and apply for jobs without having to go through the time-consuming process of sending individual applications to each employer.

Types of Job Boards

There are several different types of job boards, each with its own unique features and characteristics. The most common types of job boards are general job boards, niche job boards, and company-specific job boards.

General Job Boards

General job boards are the most widely available type of job board. These job boards offer a range of job listings across various industries and job types. General job boards are a good option for job seekers who are not sure what type of job they are looking for or who want to explore a wide range of job opportunities.

Large general job boards also often act as job aggregators, which are websites that list job posts scraped from thousands of different online sources as opposed to traditional job boards that only list natively posted jobs.

Examples of general job boards:

1. Monster.com: Monster.com is a well-known general job board that offers a wide range of job listings across various industries and job types. Job seekers can search for job opportunities using various criteria, such as location, job type, and industry, and can apply for jobs directly through the job board.

2. Glassdoor.com: Glassdoor.com is another popular general job board that provides job seekers with information about companies and job opportunities. The website allows job seekers to search for job listings, read company reviews and ratings from current and former employees, and research salaries and benefits.

3. LinkedIn.com: LinkedIn.com is a professional networking site and mobile app that also offers a job board with a range of job listings across various industries. Job seekers can use LinkedIn's job search tool to find job opportunities, and can also use the site's networking features to connect with potential employers and learn about job opportunities.

Niche Job Boards

Niche job boards, also known as specialty job boards, focus on specific industries or job types. These job boards are a good option for job seekers who are looking for job opportunities in a particular field, such as healthcare or tech. Niche job boards often have a smaller selection of job listings than general job boards, but the listings are more focused and targeted. You can find industry-specific job boards for a range of industries.

Examples of niche job boards:

1. Demand Curve Jobs: The Demand Curve job board is a niche job board focused on high-quality growth and marketing jobs. The job board offers a range of job listings for marketing professionals, including positions in demand generation, digital marketing, content marketing, and product marketing.

2. Hcareers.com: Hcareers.com is a niche job board focused on the hospitality industry. Job seekers can search for job opportunities in the hospitality industry, including positions in hotels, restaurants, and resorts. The job board also offers resources for job seekers, such as resume tips and career advice.

3. ArtJobs.com: ArtJobs.com is a niche job board focused on the arts and entertainment industry. Job seekers can search for job opportunities in the arts and entertainment industry, including positions in performing arts, visual arts, and media. The job board also offers resources for job seekers, such as artist profiles and industry events.

Company-Specific Job Boards

Company-specific job boards (also known as company career sites) are run by individual companies to advertise their own job openings. These job boards allow job seekers to search for job opportunities within a particular company, rather than across multiple companies. Company-specific job boards are a good option for job seekers who are interested in working for a specific company or who want to stay up-to-date on the latest employment opportunities at that company. Examples of company-specific job boards include the job boards on the websites of companies like Google and IBM.

How Job Boards Work

Job boards typically offer a range of features and tools to facilitate the job search process for both employers and job seekers.

For employers, job boards typically offer the ability to create detailed job listings that include information about the job duties, requirements, and location. Employers can also include other details about the company, such as its culture and benefits, to help attract potential candidates. Once the job listing is created, it is added to the job board's database, where it can be searched by job seekers.

For job seekers, job boards typically offer a search function that allows them to search for job listings based on various criteria, such as location, job type, and industry. Job seekers can also use filters and keywords to narrow their search and find job opportunities that are most relevant to them. Once job seekers have found a job listing that interests them, they can apply for the job directly through the job board.

Many job boards also use algorithms to match job seekers with relevant job opportunities. These algorithms analyze the job seeker's profile, including their skills, experience, and location, and compare it to the job listings in the job board's database. The algorithms then identify job listings that are most closely aligned with the job seeker's profile and present those job listings to the job seeker.

The Benefits of Using Job Boards

There are many benefits to using job boards as part of the job search process. Some of the main advantages of using job boards include:

1. A wide range of job opportunities in one place: Job boards offer a convenient way for job seekers to search for job opportunities from a variety of employers in different industries. This means that job seekers can find a wider range of job opportunities in one place, rather than having to search for job listings on multiple websites or in different locations.

2. Easy application process: Job boards typically offer a simple and straightforward application process. Job seekers can typically apply for job opportunities directly through the job board, without having to send individual applications to each employer. This can save job seekers a lot of time and effort.

3. Access to job listings that may not be advertised elsewhere: Some job listings may only be advertised on job boards, rather than on the employer's website or in other locations. This means that job seekers who use job boards may be able to access job opportunities that they would not have found otherwise.

4. Email alerts: Job alerts can help job seekers by providing them with notifications when new job opportunities become available that match their search criteria.

There are also many benefits to using job boards for employers. Some of the main advantages of using job boards for employers include:

1. Cost-effective way to reach a large number of potential job applicants: Job boards provide a cost-effective way for employers to advertise job openings and reach a large number of potential job applicants. This can help employers save money on recruitment costs and reach a wider pool of job seekers than they would be able to through other recruitment methods in order to find that perfect candidate.

2. Easy to manage and update job listings: Job boards typically offer tools that make it easy for employers to manage and update their job listings. This means that employers can easily manage their hiring process by adding new job listings, update existing listings, and remove listings that are no longer relevant.

3. Access to a diverse pool of job seekers: Job boards typically attract a diverse range of job seekers, including those with different levels of education, experience, and skills. This can help employers find the right talent for their open positions and build a diverse and inclusive workforce.

How Job Boards Generate Revenue

Job boards can use a variety of other monetization strategies to generate revenue. Some of these strategies include:

1. Job posting fees: Most job boards charge employers a fee to post job listings. These fees can vary depending on the type of job listing, the duration of the listing, and the number of job listings that the employer wants to post. Job boards can generate significant revenue from job postings, particularly if they have a large number of employers using the job board.

2. Premium services: Some job boards offer premium services that job seekers or employers can pay for. For example, a job board might offer a premium service that allows job seekers to receive personalized job recommendations based on their skills and experience. Employers might be able to pay for additional features, such as more detailed analytics on job seeker activity or the ability to schedule interviews directly through the job board.

3. Subscription fees: Job boards can charge job seekers a subscription fee to access their job listings or to use certain features on the job board. For example, a job board might charge a subscription fee to allow job seekers to upload their resume or to receive job alerts when new job listings are posted.

4. Affiliate marketing: Job boards can generate revenue through affiliate marketing, which involves earning a commission for promoting products or services on the job board's website. For example, a job board might include links to products or services that are relevant to job seekers, such as resume-writing software or career coaching services. If a job seeker clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase, the job board will earn a commission.

Who Should Create a Job Board

Creating a job board can be a really rewarding endeavor for many different groups and individuals. Some examples of who could benefit from creating a job board include:

1. Publishers, like newspapers and magazines, can create a job board as a way to generate extra income and provide valuable services to their audience.

2. Professional associations, like trade organizations and industry groups, can create a job board to support their members and provide valuable services to the industry.

3. Digital communities, like forums and online groups, can create a job board to provide extra value to their members and generate revenue.

4. Anyone with an audience of professionals they want to monetize, like bloggers, influencers, and content creators, can create a job board to monetize their audience through paid job posts.

5. Entrepreneurs who want to create a niche job board can do so by focusing on a specific industry or niche. For example, someone with experience in the healthcare industry could create a healthcare job board.

How to Create a Job Board

There are several ways to create a job board, including using job board software, using a website builder with a job board plugin, using a job board theme, or hiring a development team.

For a comprehensive, in-depth guide check out our article on how to start a job board business.

The History of Job Boards

The history of job boards can be traced back to the early 1900s, when newspapers were the primary means of advertising job openings. These newspapers would publish classified ads for job opportunities, which job seekers would then search through to find potential job opportunities.

As the decades passed, the job advertising landscape continued to evolve. In the 1960s and 1970s, job fairs became a popular way for job seekers to connect with potential employers. These fairs allowed job seekers to meet with employers face-to-face and learn about job opportunities in a variety of industries.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the rise of the internet brought about a major shift in the job advertising landscape. With the advent of online job boards, employers were able to post job listings on the internet, making them accessible to a much wider audience of job seekers. This led to an explosion in the number of job boards, with specialized job boards focusing on specific industries or job types emerging alongside more generalist job boards.

Today, job boards are an essential part of the job search process for many job seekers. They provide a convenient and easy-to-use platform for employers to advertise job openings and for job seekers to search for and apply for job opportunities. The continued evolution of technology is likely to bring further changes to job boards in the future, including the potential use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the job matching process. Overall, the history of job boards is one of constant evolution and adaptation to new technologies, with the ultimate goal of connecting job seekers with the best job opportunities.