Relevance … specifically job search relevance … and the lack thereof on most commercial job boards … is one of the reasons I blog. The technology exists to return more relevant job search results, yet the market does not seem to care. Why?
Perhaps the market doesn’t care about relevance because:
- better search reduces page-views per user, and sites are measured by traffic metrics rather than customer outcomes;
- advertising dollars are inversely related to market efficiency – the less efficient the search process, the more advertisers are willing to spend to be heard above the noise;
- the most profitable player in the market … Monster … does not deliver superior search results; or perhaps,
- market participants … jobseekers, employers and recruiters … don’t care about search relevance.
I’m not willing to concede that market participants don’t care about search relevance. I’m convinced that if a job board delivers broad coverage and superior search at a fair price, market participants will migrate to this site and away from less efficient players. Not surprising then that I’m liking Just-Posted and Jeff Tokarz.
The Just-Posted site combines broad market coverage (using spidering technology ala Simply Hired and Indeed) with substantially higher search relevance … my initial tests indicate a 70% improvement in accuracy as compared to the industry average. And Jeff is one of the few other voices in the industry who consistently advocates for improved relevance.
If you too care about job search relevance, keep an eye on Just-Posted and Jeff Tokarz.
Bob -
Many thanks for your kind words. We are, indeed, kindred spirits.
Where once there was nothing (relevance)- now there is something!
- Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Tokarz | December 11, 2006 at 02:53 PM
Yes, keep on eye on Jeff and...don't blink.
Posted by: Amitai Givertz | December 13, 2006 at 02:23 PM