I got this question from a reader recently;
I’m curious if you’re seeing more job sites charging job seekers for access instead of having employers pay a fee to post a job? For the past 25 years, I’ve always charged employers because they have more money than job seekers. In addition, I can make more in revenue from 25 job ads than perhaps 50-75 subscriptions.
I’m pondering this question because two of the boards in a space I plan to enter are charging job seekers for access. One site is pretty successful, while the other is languishing.
Thanks if you have any insight.
Traditionally very few sites can get away with charging job seekers. The 2 most successful sites I have seen are FlexJobs (remote) and JobsinSports (major sports leagues). In both cases these are jobs that are hard to get.
So there’s your first clue as to if you can charge seekers to make money. Jobs that are scarce can be monetized.
Beyond that, I am starting to see more attempts at charging job seekers that I am not sure its a good long term solution. You really have to offer more than just jobs meaning building a community where they can get more value from through content, events, networking etc.
I am intrigued by making money off job seekers though. You cab get away with doing featured resume for a low price ($5-$10) and I have successfully implemented that on clients. One hurdle remains is the job board software platforms which offer few ways to monetize them other than featured resumes.
You can use platforms like Smart Job Board to create a private job board that you charge access to but again, the jobs have to ones that job seekers would be willing to pay for.
Here’s how FlexJobs frames the issue;
Some paid job search sites seem too good to be true. So, do your homework and ensure you’re connecting with a reputable one. The best sites do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
For example, at FlexJobs, we have a dedicated team of trained researchers who vet every job posting on our site. We only post a job if it’s a legitimate opportunity with a legitimate company. While you could do this research yourself, you will spend valuable time sifting through and vetting the jobs from other sites. That’s time you could instead spend writing a customized resume, building your network, or hanging out with friends.
Beyond the listings, many paid job search sites provide additional job search services. As an example, FlexJobs also provides members with:
- Access to exclusive job openings
- Dedicated customer support
- Exclusive access to webinars
- Free skills testing
- Members-only access to learning courses and training
That last item, a course, is a great addition to draw in job seekers. If you can create a free training course for getting a job in X industry that is a valuable piece of content.
Monetizing seekers for resume products is also a tried and true formula and I will soon be working with a new service on that so stay tuned.