2007 Top Sites for Job Search – CareerBuilder Wins Round 9

   

CareerBuilder took its second win in round nine of the 2007 Top Sites for Job Search competition by offering the most complete set of services in support of the job search process.  Frankly, the competition wasn’t close.

   

The best jobs sites offer the following support services to jobseekers – CareerBuilder offering more than the others:

¾      Personalized pages;

¾      Resume builder;

¾      Resume distribution to other sites;

¾      Resume match to job openings;

¾      Resume review service;

¾      Video resume service;

¾      Job recommendations based on saved info;

¾      Salary information;

¾      Expert career info;

¾      User-generated career info;

¾      Career assessments;

¾      Career fairs;

¾      Labor market information;

¾      Job trends from ad postings;

¾      Social networking features;

¾      Services for special communities;

¾      Company info on ad posters; and,

¾      Employer contact info for non-advertisers.

   

   

As we near the conclusion of 2007 Top Site for Job Search competition, it becomes crystal clear that this decathlon favors versatility over specialization. 

   

Indeed, winner of rounds one and two, and a personal favorite for basic job search, trailed the remaining contenders by a significant margin in delivering support services.  It’s as if Indeed is saying ‘we’re going to do one thing, basic job search, better than anyone else; and we’re not going to compete directly with the major job sites, like CareerBuilder, who we rely on for job listings’. It seems a sound strategy, helping Indeed become the leading job ad integrator; but this specialization also costs them a shot at this year’s title for best job site.

   

On the other hand, Jobster makes it to the final four without having won a single round to this point … but also, having not been the lowest performer in any round.  This is no small accomplishment since the later rounds feature only the best sites.

   

And it seems versatility comes in multiple flavors … in the final four we have a big-three job board, an employer membership site, an integrator with resume distribution, and a social networking job site.

   

   

Best Job Sites – Round 9 Results

   

1. CareerBuilder
2. JobCentral
3. Jobster
4. SimplyHired
5. Indeed

   

   

So it’s on to the tenth and final round.  One last site will be eliminated.  Three medalists will remain.  An ultimate winner will be chosen based on performance spanning all ten rounds.  The test?  Usability.  May the best site win.