Yet more whitenoise - thanks for that

OK – so we all know that this particular blog isn’t a fan of the (in our personal opinion) too hyped, too mis-sold, too inadequate NORAS product. Well it seems on reading this industries press release machine (ONREC) that there’s a new addition to the “planning your online media spend can be easy – but don’t look at what we’re offering too closely” brigade. Welcome www.whatjobsite.co.uk “a website dedicated to helping small and medium-sized employers with online recruitment.”

Now I know there’s a (probably quite good) case against us specialist and passionate online media types over complicating our own lives by considering all feasible options to the detail that we do (clients tend to hold us accountable for our advice and consultancy don’t you know). But when I see something out there professing to be another great panacea then you’ll have to forgive me for approaching with just a little cynicism. And yep – what d’you know? It seems that making the right decision ain’t actually that easy.

Apart from a ridiculously oversimplified search (whether that’s the straight search or the “advanced search”) there’s no advice or assistance given (at least NORAS does that)  – it’s just a listing of publisher provided details (as far as I could be bothered to wade through). And do you really need that advice? I’d reckon so – search on “Advertising, Marketing & PR” and everyone and their brother seems to come up in the 5 pages of results. Everyone that is, other than a glaring MAD.co.uk omission (and probably many more – who knows). Perhaps MAD aren’t really that relevant to that type of role anyway - what do I know (jobswales and welshjobs.com was there though – so that’s nice, isn’t it).

So clearly we’ve yet another site / product launched that professes to be all things to all people but actually turns out to be no particular use to anyone. Certainly no where close to delivering on it’s own hype.

If you wanted a list of how many options you have then the afore mentioned press release channel has 4,255 listed job boards (not that that search is any better / worse – although a search on marketing did at least bring up Mad.co.uk). Seems like just another way of someone (Karl Schweppe in this instance) pouncing on a confused and crowded market and flogging a second rate product / service / website on the back of it. Difference is, this time all it will waste of a clients resource is their time – the focus for revenue generation here I guess is the media. Here’s hoping that those media colleagues who have paid for inclusion or advertising have it on a PPC basis.

Comments

[Kork Desai]

Thanks for raising this Alex, i saw the website yesterday and saw mad was not on there, obviously "nixers.com" is more relevant...

mad=MARKETING, ADVERTISING, DESIGN!!!! I mean how obvious is that?

What worries me more is that clients are left to make an informed decision from this website?

There are currently many websites that offer a directory of job boards and the sectors they operate in. This site is just another one of those. Thing is it's the small to medium companies that can't afford to make the wrong choice on where to place their jobs online, this site (at present) does nothing to help them.

[Ben]

Hold on a second though - I think you're all missing an important publication that helps the industry clarify the complexities of UK recruitment website selection for the remainder of 2007 and into 2008...

http://www.onrec.com/content2/pdf/top100.asp

Surely, if we're gonna debate this properly, let's compare new with existing... Has anyone got a copy? I need a laugh.

Actually, probably best you don't.

[Richard Purvis]

You're right in every way, I can't quite believe what a waste of time this site is. I'm not saying that TTJ (I prefer that to tiptopjob) has much standing at the moment but surely we deserve more comment about our offering than this.

TipTopJob
TipTopJob is the International Job Portal offering a unique service to job seekers and clients alike. (Source: TipTopJob website)

Website: http://www.tiptopjob.co.uk

EVEN THE LINK IS WRONG!!
These people are idiots idiots, idiots, fools and jokers. They deserve to lose every penny they put into this.

I feel better now, now who wants to buy my website?