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In recruitment, a lot of terms get used interchangeably — job board, marketplace, recruitment platform — but for those of us working in the job advertising space, the differences really matter.
If you’re running a job board or investing in job advertising, understanding these models isn’t just “nice to know” — it can influence how you position your product, partner with other platforms, and speak to your clients.
Here’s how they differ, and why it’s important.
Job Boards – The Specialist Publishers
Job boards are the publishers of the recruitment world. They make it easy for employers to advertise roles and for candidates to find them. Their strength lies in reach, niche focus, and brand reputation.
How they work:
– Employers pay for listings (duration-based, per click, or per application).
– Candidates search, browse, and apply directly through the site.
– The job board’s main role is to publish and promote vacancies effectively.
Strengths:
– Scalable and straightforward to monetise.
– Opportunity to specialise in industries, skills, or geographies.
– Brand positioning can attract loyal candidate audiences.
Challenges:
– Competition from aggregators.
– Need to maintain strong traffic and candidate quality.
Examples: Reed, Caterer.com, Technojobs.
Marketplaces – The Active Matchmakers
Marketplaces operate differently from traditional
HR TECH MARKETPLACE
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