Job aggregator websites, such as InDeed.com and SimplyHired.com are fast becoming a popular way to identify employment openings. As they gain momentum against specific job board sites, it can be difficult to sort out which ones provide you with the most benefit for your efforts. Understanding what they are and what exactly they do can help you decide if they are advantageous to you.
What is a Job Aggregator Website?
A job aggregator website is a one that compiles every accessible employment opportunity that is available online into one convenient search function. You can type in your job title and your location and you are shown results from many different specific companies, recruiters, and job boards. This can eliminate a lot of time spent searching the countless different online directories.
The number of jobs available can be astounding. For example, on indeed.com a search for a marketing director job in California returned 11,092 job listings. The search can be refined further, including sorting by salary requirements. Simplyhired.com returned similar results.
Advantages of Using Job Aggregator Websites
- Search multiple job listings from all over the internet one convenient site
- Only requires you to remember one user id and password
- Allows you to focus your search to include terms relevant to your skill and location
- They generate a lot of traffic, with an average of 8 million unique users
Disadvantages of Using Job Aggregator Websites
As with all good things, there is a down side. Because of the high volume of job listing results, you want to be as specific as possible. By narrowing your search terms to your specific skill, and possibly even your zip code, you will be more likely to discover relevant jobs.
Another central problem surrounding job aggregators is that there is a lot of duplication. If the same job appears on four different job boards, then you will see that posting four times in your search results. You must be careful to know exactly whom you are applying with and not to duplicate your application.
The quality of the job listings can also become a factor. Some of the listings may be expired, categorized incorrectly, or may contain jobs that are not for pay. For instance, a search for “freelance writer” may return listings from companies that want to you write for exposure, rather than a salary. Although there is a way to set salary limits, the search function does not always return precise results.
Most of these sites require that you register to become a member. Some of them are free, while others charge a fee for their service. Since the service on all of them is similar, do your homework to make sure that if you are going to pay for it, it is worth it. The company should offer you some significant benefit over the free sites.
Conclusion
Despite these minor hassles, you can utilize job aggregators successfully. Considering the economic climate today, jobs are becoming harder to find than they were in decades past. In the end, a job aggregator can save you time and effort, and could just help you land your dream job.