Jeff Dickey-Chasins, aka The Job Board Doctor, likes to ask tough questions, most recently in a survey in the US. And yes, “What you think you know…may be well be wrong”, so get your own survey going.
The jobseeker survey 2013 with a sample of 1,275 US jobseekers tells us how they found work.
The Job Board Doctor gave us some great but worrying insights. These are Jeff’s top-line takes:
What tools are used?
Random respondents relied more heavily on newspapers, search engines and general job boards:
General job boards – 59%
Search engines – 51%
Newspapers – 45%
Active seekers used more varied methods, at a higher usage level:
Job search engines – 74%
Company career sites – 70%
General job boards, Professional networks – 67%
Social media – 65%
Jeff then asked which tools are most important?
- Referrals
- Professional networks
- Social media
- Job search engines
- Career sites
Additional insights in this area were that, when it came to platforms and how they are used, mobile devices are used for job search and employer research; desktop/laptops are used for creating CVs and applying for jobs.
When it comes to Job boards, what do seekers want from job boards and what really matters?
- The quality of jobs
- Better control of resume access
- Ease of use
- Site focus (niche wins clearly in this area)
- A good reputation
Job Seekers were also asked what frustrates you about job boards?
Lack of response from employers (71%)
Fake job postings (64%)
Requiring registration to see jobs (58%)
Requiring payment to see jobs (55%)
Key Learnings:
- Awareness = action: Active seekers use all career tools at a much higher level than the population at large
- Old habits die hard: Almost half of random respondents use newspapers to find work
- Mobile has its place: Used for job search and research – but desktops/laptops rule everything else
- Referrals really work: Over 2/3rds of respondents have found jobs via a referral
- Blame game: Lack of employer response to a job app bounces back on job board
So one question – are you doing a survey of your own? If not, why not? It’s great learning and its free!
Keith Robinson is a regular contributor to the Jobg8 blog, co-produces the Jobg8 Summits and works with a range of job boards advising on strategy, NPD, marketing and NBD across Europe.
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