I can’t count how many times over the years that a client calls me with the news that they have spent 6 months building a job board form scratch and the thing doesn’t work. Had they called me sooner I might have saved them a lot of time, money and aggravation.
There are over 20 vendors offering a software as a service, many of which you can find on my sidebar advertisers. These vendors are affordable and pricey depending on which one you choose but lets breakdown the prospects of buying a job board software tool versus building one from scratch:
Buying a Job Board Software Tool:
Pros:
- Faster Time to Market: Existing software is ready-made, allowing you to launch your job board quickly. With some of these tools you can get started the same day!
- Lower Cost Upfront: Buying software eliminates the initial development costs associated with building from scratch.
- Reduced Development Risk: You avoid the technical challenges and uncertainties of building your own system.
- Ongoing Maintenance: The software vendor handles updates, security patches, and bug fixes.
- Scalability: Many job board software tools offer scalable plans to accommodate growth.
- Features and Functionality: Established tools typically offer a wide range of features like job posting management, applicant tracking, and integrations.
- Focus: using an existing provider allows you o focus on the #1 priority (marketing/building audience)
Cons:
- Customization Limitations: You may not be able to customize the software to perfectly fit your specific needs. Most of them are template and look the same among the client base.
- Vendor Lock-in: Switching to a different platform later can be difficult and costly.
- Recurring Costs: You’ll likely pay a monthly or annual subscription fee for the software.
- Limited Control: You rely on the vendor for updates and functionality additions.
Building a Job Board Software Tool from Scratch:
Pros:
- Complete Customization: You can tailor the job board to your exact needs and target audience.
- Full Control: You have complete control over the software’s development, features, and security.
- Potential Cost Savings: In the long run, building may be cheaper, especially with significant customization.
Cons:
- High Upfront Cost: Development costs can be substantial, including programmers, designers, and ongoing maintenance.
- Time-Consuming: Building a robust job board takes time and resources.
- Technical Expertise Required: You’ll need a skilled development team or partner to build and maintain the software.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Maintaining a custom system requires ongoing development and security updates.
- Scalability Challenges: Scaling a custom system to accommodate growth can be complex.
If you need a job board quickly, on a budget, and with minimal customization, buying an off the shelf software tool is a good option. If you need a highly customized solution with complete control and potential long-term cost savings, building from scratch might be preferable. However, it requires significant technical expertise and resources. Don’t underestimate that fact.
Additional factors to consider:
- Your budget: How much can you afford to invest upfront and ongoing?
- Your technical expertise: Do you have the development resources to build and maintain a custom system?
- Your specific needs: How important is customization and unique features for your job board?
- Your timeline: How quickly do you need to launch your job board?
By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about whether to buy or build your job board software tool. If you need help deciding which job board tool to use consider hiring me an hourly consulting call to guide you on your journey.
