Article
One: Exec Appointments Job Board Review by James Swift
Job Board Name – Exec Appointments Ltd
URL – www.exec-appointments.com
Key Stats
157,201 unique users (ABCe October 2006)
120,000 registered users
34% Director/CO level
88% AB professionals
Description
Global executive level job board covering the private and public sectors, as well as non executive and trustee roles.
First Impression/appearance
A traditional look and feel gives the impression that its style is based on the appointments section of a broadsheet newspaper. The site appears to be full of interesting and relevant content for the exec job market, and you’re instantly encouraged to investigate further. There appears to be plenty of relevant homepage advertising options without going overboard, although the site appears to be a little text intensive for a homepage. The ‘newspaper style’ job ads look extremely professional and appropriate for the target market the site caters for.
Navigation
The job search navigation is quite unique in how it works. You’re taken to a dashboard style search criteria which helps simplify what could otherwise be very complex. This type of navigation encourages users to choose multiple criteria which can only help deliver the most relevant results.
Once you’ve set the criteria, there are only 18 jobs on each page and you don’t have to look ‘below the fold’ to find jobs at the bottom of the page. Each job ad allows 2 separate external links which helps advertisers promote their own careers’ website if required and there is consistent and professional look to every single job that is advertised.
Tools on offer for candidates
There are extensive and relevant tools for candidates, ranging from comprehensive information on preparing for interviews, CV writing and interview skills. However, the majority of these appear to be promoting external advertisers and not actually written by the site moderators themselves(?) .
The ‘jobs by email’ facility mirrors the search criteria on the site itself. This will encourage candidates to be very specific when selecting their criteria and the site allows you to save each individual search to use for future reference. An automated email is sent immediately to confirm registration.
There is no facility for candidates to upload their CV, however their sister sites (www.mba-direct.com
and www.non-execs.com) offer this service. This might result from the reluctance for senior job seeking executives to openly place CV’s on a public domain.
Tools on offer for clients
There is a plethora of tools on offer for clients, all of which are much more advanced than your ‘run of the mill’ banners, buttons and keyword sponsorship. Although every job placed on the site looks very professional, the site offers a customised template to create ads in a clients’ ‘house style.’ Once this has been created, a client can use this template for future campaigns at no extra cost.
Clients can also take advantage of their excellent presence on the major search engines by sponsoring keywords on e.g. google which directs targeted traffic directly to a specific job on the site, therefore by-passing the homepage and capturing candidates right at the very first point of search.
The site offers real flexibility for placing job ads by allowing clients to advertise weekly instead of the customary 28 days. This is complimented by the additional custom html email and email alert sponsorship options.
Additional services include bespoke microsite development for specific campaigns, sponsorship of key doorway pages, search results sponsorship and various homepage advertising options. There are also numerous advertising options via their sister sites
and clients can also take up the option of advertising in two of their affiliated publications, The Daily Telegraph and The Business Magazine.
The big gap in their armoury, however, is the lack of CV database options which some of their main competitors offer as a huge part of their advertising solutions.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
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No CV database facility (although correspondence with their Chief
Executive informs me that they view this as a strength – “It encourages candidates to set up email alerts and not ‘wait’ for someone to contact them”)
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Lack of regularly updated content
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Too many 3rd party suppliers for e.g. career advice - this could be done in-house more
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Text intensive homepage
Summary
Exec-Appointments have really thought about their target market and offer a great service for both clients and candidates alike. Professionalism is stamped all over the site and the variety of advertising options and career content will encourage users to re-visit the site regularly. However, this career information content could be updated more often than it currently does. The site functionality is one of the easiest to use in the market and the vast number of leading recruiters on the site ensures that Exec-appointments are right at the top of their game.
James Swift is the founder and Managing Director of the digital recruitment advertising agency, Beyond Interactive Communications
Ltd (www.beyondinteractive.co.uk). James’ main role is to help clients embrace and implement new, innovative online attraction and conversion solutions which are tailored to their overall resourcing strategy. He has worked in the online recruitment industry since 1997 on both the media and agency sides of the fence.
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