Irrelevance of Job Boards

   

Webster’s Online Dictionary defines ‘rel·e·vance’ as the ability (as of an information retrieval system) to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user.

   

Let me be clear – I’m not satisfied with the results I’m getting from many job boards.  In fact, ‘disgusted’ seems a more appropriate word.  So, I took a time-out from the Job Search Engine Guide. 

   

Are my expectations unrealistic?  Am I below average in my ability to use a job board?  You be the judge.

   

Below, you will find the top ten jobs emailed to me today by three scouts for ‘auto sales’ jobs in Boston, MA.  Not one of the 30 is selling automobiles!  Somehow, the job boards interpreted ‘auto sales’ to mean I’m looking for a job as an engineer, a mechanic, a pharmacy manager, a business analyst, a trainer, and a customer service rep.  Oh, and six of the 30 jobs were already closed.  Am I satisfied?  Not even close!

   

   

SimplyHired:

   

1) Direct Sales - Company Unknown

This role is a breakdown between research and advisory consulting services.

   

2) Sales Executive - Spectrus Real Estate Group

Commercial Real Estate knowledge A MUST!

   

3) SBS Sales Representative - Company Unknown

Prospecting by phone and foot canvassing your territory offering payroll solutions

   

4) Branch Sales Manager - National City

The job/position you have selected is no longer available.

   

5) Sales Assistant HFC - HSBC

The job/position you have selected is no longer available.

   

6) Sales Account Executive Beneficial - HSBC

The job/position you have selected is no longer available.

   

7) Sales Consultant, Benefits – Boston - ADP Claims Services Group

Identifying, developing and presenting business solutions through sales presentations and securing the recommendation of the user community.

   

8) **HIGH-ENERGY, EXPERIENCED SALES ADMIN NEEDED!** - Company Unknown

Perform moderately complex clerical, administrative and general office duties.

   

9) Engineer II – Gastroscope - Field Sales - Endoscopy

Design and development of electro-mechanical medical devices

   

10) Management Trainee - Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Management Trainees focusing on sales, marketing, customer service, business administration and general administrative tasks.

   

   

Indeed:

   

1) Sales / Sales Associate - Advance Auto

Front counter/retail

Sorry, this job posting does not exist or may have expired.

   

2) Sales / Sales Associate - Advance Auto

Sales clerk, stock work, clean shop, assist customers

Sorry, this job posting does not exist or may have expired.

   

3) Regional Account Representative

With Dealix Regional Sales Managers to maintain... account management and sales experience Consultative account management and sales experience Proven track...

   

4) Parts Associate - Advance Auto Parts

They are looking for Counter and sales help. Must be prompt for work.

Sorry, this job posting does not exist or may have expired.

   

5) *High-Energy Microsoft Office Admin Whiz Needed for Sales Office

Solutions for auto and truck dealers and vehicle manufacturers; and computer-assisted auto damage repair... for Human Resources, Sales or other departments...

   

6) Sales Assistant HFC - HSBC

Leading provider of consumer loans, credit cards, auto finance and credit insurance products in the United... support for the Branch Sales Manager and up to five...

   

7) Branch Sales Manager Beneficial - HSBC

Of our branch sales team, the Branch Sales Manager is... and operations of the sales offices. The position monitors and evaluates sales results, productivity...

   

8) Sales Account Executive Beneficial - HSBC

With at least 1 year of sales experience to join our... an excellent benefits package and a leading-edge sales/management training program. Where can your career...

   

9) Store Manager Trainee - Goodyear

Team. We are one of the nation s leading tire and auto service networks. Goodyear, the worlds largest... monthly and annual sales goals. Qualified candidates...

   

10) Retail Store Management - CVS

#1 retail pharmacy with more than $37 billion in sales and 5400+ retail stores in 36 states and Washington... service, completing sales floor merchandising...

   

   

CareerBuilder:

   

1) Field Specialist - MA, Framingham Mosaic   

Train wireless retail store associates on all aspects of selling our client's products

   

2) Field Specialist - MA, Brockton Mosaic   

Train wireless retail store associates on all aspects of selling our client's products

   

3) Entry Level Marketing & Promotions Nova Marketing & Promotions   

ENTRY LEVEL. Training in Event Coordination & Execution, Public Relations, Promotions

   

4) Customer Service Rep, NS Liberty Mutual Group   

Answers questions and concerns regarding account status

   

5) Fleet Mechanic Coca-Cola Enterprises Bottling Companies   

Performing mechanical repairs and preventative maintenance on company fleet vehicles

   

6) Merchandising Specialist - NH, Seabrook Mosaic   

Maximize sales of video game products in one of the largest retailers.

   

7) Merchandising Specialist - NH, Salem Mosaic   

Maximize sales of video game products in one of the largest retailers.

   

8) Merchandising Specialist - MA, Danvers Mosaic   

Maximize sales of video game products in one of the largest retailers.

   

9) Senior Business Analyst - Solicitation ADP - Brokerage   

Analysis of client data files for the purpose of developing and managing solicitation strategies

   

10) Area Sales Manager Capital One

Educate dealer personnel on COAF loan programs and direct marketing products.

    

Comments

[Recruitomatic]

Have you spoken with Jeff Tokarz at Just-Posted.com? I'm not sure if Just-Posted is out of beta yet but their whole approach to vertical search is predicated on generating highly relevant search results, not bulk. Funnily enough, when Jeff showed me his engine a while back he used ‘auto sales’ as the example to illustrate the point. I don't know of anyone who can talk more intelligently on this subject than Jeff can.

Amitai.

[Bob Wilson]

Great tip Amitai!

Haven't spoken with Jeff, but it's refreshing to hear that someone else is ringing the 'relevance' bell.

Bob :-)

[Damon Billian]

Hi,

Welcome back!

As far as the search results, I did want to advise that "auto sales" might be too broad if you are doing a keyword search. I try to instruct customers to use a modifier
( title: ) in the keyword field to restrict the search to title only. Please see the examples below...

With modifier:
http://www.simplyhired.com/index.php?ds=sr&q=title%3A+Auto+Sales&l=Boston%2C+MA&sl=save

Without modifier:
http://www.simplyhired.com/index.php?ds=sr&q=Auto+Sales&l=Boston%2C+MA

If you simply put the words in, the search engine (like other search engines) will search for every instance of that word in the title & description.

As I realize your frustration is valid (most users wouldn't know about modifiers), I will most certainly point it out to our team here because most job seekers are going to search by job title.

Regards,
Damon Billian
SimplyHired Community Marketing Manager

[Bob Wilson]

Thanks Damon. I appreciate the perspective.

I'll post more about this in the future, but using the title-search option increases the errors of omission while reducing the errors of inclusion. Is this a good trade-off?

And as you point out, the percentage of users taking advantage of filters and boolean operators is quite small.

All the best!

Bob :-)

[Damon Billian]

Hi Bob,

"I'll post more about this in the future, but using the title-search option increases the errors of omission while reducing the errors of inclusion. Is this a good trade-off?"

Hard to say. I think we will have to do a little more research to see which is generally best for the overall internet population. I personally try to get a job title or occupation from folks that require assistance to help them target their search better.

We will be working hard on educating our users on the site over the coming months. I think there is a lot of tricks to doing a search that folks may not be aware of...

Regards,
Damon Billian
SimplyHired Community Marketing Manager

[Pburke]

Gotta give props to Damon for coming onto this website to defend himself in a professional way...

[Bob Wilson]

I agree Pburke. Damon is a class act.

SimplyHired has received positive feedback from me too, including the following chart from my blog, so hopefully Damon doesn't feel like he's entering enemy territory when he posts comments here.

http://blog.simplyhired.com/archives/2006/01/up_and_to_the_r.php

[Jeremy Langhans]

you ever just use google (or any other search engine) to find a job?

i dont think the most talented amongst us think going to monster (or even some "meta" site that gets info from the monsters) is the best way to find a job (or even ad a job) ...

* job boards are dead. r.i.p.
* searching all (meta) piles of dead (boring, unrelevant, expired, etc) ad's = insane

ps. although, i do admit, have recently used indeed and liked it, for what it is.

~jer www.o0.typepad.com

[Colin Kingsbury]

Bob- great post to come back on the radar with. Makes me feel good about giving you that award earlier this year ;)

My opinion is that syntax is something only a programmer could love. If you write code, the idea of saying "title:sales" is utterly obvious. If you're a normal human, these things look more like magical incantations.

Some systems used by non-programmers depend heavily on syntax--Bloomberg and SABRE both come to mind as examples of systems that make a UNIX command line look user-friendly--but they are used entirely by experts willing (or required) to go through education. While Google offers syntax, and it can help you get better results, it hardly ever requires it to get something decent.

Vertical search engines should be able to deliver much better results without requiring syntax simply because the context is pre-defined. When a user types "auto sales" into SimplyHired or Indeed, you know they are not looking for car dealers. Knowing that we are operating within a limited information domain creates all kinds of opportunities to make intelligent assumptions that deliver better results 95% of the time.

[Bob Wilson]

Thanks Colin! Outstanding comments ... better than my original post.

Hope you don't mind if I leverage some of your thoughts in a follow-up post.

Bob :-)