Online job-boards are the go-to tool for finding a great job in recent times. However, with the large number of sites popping-up, many users find it difficult to tell the good from the bad.
This becomes a problem for you, the user, due to the fact that you need to make the most of your time and ensure the roles you’re applying to are valid. It also is a problem for us because when users have bad experiences on dodgy websites, they often class all job-boards as bad.
Just for your knowledge by the way, CaribbeanJobs.com has been the region’s leading job-board for the past 10 years and is part of a much larger group by the name of Stepstone, with over 1500 employees. We form part of a network that spans 134 countries worldwide with an overarching goal of bringing the best jobs to the best talent.
Here are the 4 warning signs to avoid when selecting the right job-board for you.
- Outdated Jobs – Some job search websites engage in a practice of leaving jobs on their site long after they have expired to give the impression that there are a large number of live jobs. This results in users applying to a job for which there is no vacancy.
One precaution you can take if there’s no date at all, is to try contacting the employer’s HR department to make sure the job is in fact real. Most jobs, but not all, expire within 4 weeks of being advertised.
- Borrowed Postings – If you see the same jobs on two websites simultaneously – be careful! Job duplication is a common practice amongst small websites to create the illusion of more job content and in doing so, attract more users. The problem is that in many instances there is no contract with the employer, which means there is a very possible chance that your application will never be seen.
- Agency/Company Posers – Vetting of contracted companies is a necessary process for any respectable job board. However, some job search websites may skip this process for a quick dollar, often at the risk of their users. This creates the ideal playground for illegitimate agencies or companies. For example, in one such incident a fake Head Hunting agency used a start-up job board to create a scam that required applicants to pay a registration fee to attend interviews for falsified vacancies. While it may be difficult to be patient during your job-search, it is important that you be vigilant to avoid a waste of your time and money.
- Cloudy Claims – Being #1 is a desirous goal for any company. However, there are companies that will go to great lengths to provide false evidence that enable such claims. Some claims are clearly ludicrous and most users will be able to see through the smoke, but some may actually seem legit at first glance. In one country for example, a website generated fake traffic to increase their ranking on Google. They were eventually unsuccessful and penalised for the same, but were able to dupe quite a few users and even companies. Google ranking can aid in identifying the truth in these instances, however, be aware that some companies pay to have their website advertised above the organic search results in order to appear well-ranked. Use the organic results as a rule to measure the website’s popularity and relevance to your search.
Job-hunting can be quite time-consuming and for that reason it’s important that you maximise your time to ensure that you have adequate time to spend tailoring your applications to the great opportunities you find. Be mindful of the practices above and select the best resource for you.
