CareerBuilder Job Posting Instructions and More—Pricing, Best Features, Shortcomings, and Comparisons

Founded in 1995, CareerBuilder is one of the oldest job posting websites on the internet. It initially focused on the U.S. market but has quickly grown and become an international network. 

Offering tailored recruitment solutions and access to a massive pool of candidates, CareerBuilder is one of the favorite online job boards among employers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. Employers can advertise vacancies in all industries, at all levels of expertise, and for all employment types—full-time, part-time, freelance, and remote. 

This article presents the best CareerBuilder features and sheds some light on its shortcomings. You will also find information about its pricing, get a detailed guide on how to post an ad on this job board, and learn how it compares to other popular job posting websites. 

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Overview

CareerBuilder is not only a job board. It is also a comprehensive recruiting platform that provides companies with marketing tools and resources to help them source, manage, and hire top talent. Thanks to its many hiring solutions, it is suitable for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to enterprises. 

The website lets jobseekers upload their resumes for free, which makes identifying qualified candidates easier. It boasts an impressive database of over 87 million diverse jobseekers in the U.S. alone, out of over 140 million resumes. CareerBuilder also lets employers fully integrate their applicant tracking systems to make application management easier. 

The platform offers candidate-matching services, which is also where it falls short. Many jobseekers state that the recommendations they receive based on their resumes rarely make sense. Email alerts with supposedly relevant job listings usually don’t match candidates’ work histories and qualifications. Users also complain that they receive many spam alerts and scam calls. 

Another area where CareerBuilder fails to live up to its users’ expectations is that there are too many inactive resumes. The website appears to have such an impressive user database because it doesn’t do a good job of deleting outdated profiles and job ads. 

Many employers also report that the employer portal is not user-friendly and that communication with customer support is unsatisfactory. 

Features and Highlights

The table below shows what you can expect from CareerBuilder in terms of features:

CareerBuilder Job Posting Pricing

CareerBuilder has four pricing plans:

• Pay as you go—One-time payment of $425. It includes:
  • 1 ad that remains live for 12 months
  • Access 10 resumes per day
  • Up to 10 resume match notifications
  • Targeted emails sent to 35 candidates
• Lite—Monthly payments of $349. It includes the same as the pay-as-you-go option, but your ad remains live for one month
• Standard—Monthly payments of $449. It includes:
  • 3 ads that remain live for 1 month
  • Access 30 resumes per day
  • Up to 30 resume match notifications
  • Targeted emails sent to 100 candidates
• Pro—Monthly payments of $749. It includes:
  • 5 ads that remain live for 1 month
  • Access 50 resumes per day
  • Up to 40 resume match notifications
  • Targeted emails sent to 150 candidates

You get a free trial period for all pricing options except the pay-as-you-go one.

CareerBuilder can also offer customized hiring solutions depending on your needs. You must contact customer support to get a quote for this service. 

CareerBuilder lets you access its resume database without posting an ad. For a one-off payment of $250, you can access up to 75 resumes a day for a month.

How To Post a Job on CareerBuilder

Posting a job ad on CareerBuilder is pretty simple. 

1. Go to the “For Employers” Page on CareerBuilder 

Visit the CareerBuilder website and click on the For Employers button under the search bar and to the right. 

2. Click on the “Post a Job” Button

Once you have opened the page for employers, you will see a Post a Job button in the top right corner.

3. Create an Account and Get the CareerBuilder Free Job Posting Option

When you click on the Post a Job button, you will land on a page where you should specify what position you want to fill as well as the location. You will see an approximate number of candidates CareerBuilder can help you reach.

Once you’re done, click on the Post Your Job for Free button to get a 5-day free trial. 

It will take you to a page where you need to select the pricing plan you want after the trial period has ended.

Then, you must create an account before you can proceed. 

While on this page, you will also need to provide payment and billing information. Note that your credit card will not be billed until the trial period has ended.

Once you have filled in all the required information and ticked the box signifying you agree with CareerBuilder’s terms and conditions, click on the Complete Order button.

4. Create a Job Posting on CareerBuilder

If you already have an account, when you click on the Post a Job button, you will be taken to a page where you will need to choose the product you want and the country. 

You can also choose a template from the drop-down menu. When you fill in all the fields, you can click on Continue to move on to the next step.

You can now start creating a job ad. It would be best to fill out the form completely without skipping any fields. You should also use a simple and recognizable job title because jobseekers will find your ad more easily. 

It’s a good idea to buy the Company Profile product so your ads have your logo. If you don’t want that, you can add your company name. The Job Branding product will also let you select your job skin. You can select None if you don’t want these features. Although they are not a must, these branding tools are helpful as they can attract more candidates and raise awareness of your brand.

You will also need to choose at least one category and one industry. You can assign up to two additional categories and industries by clicking on Add Another Category or Add Another Industry. 

If you have already posted an ad on CareerBuilder or have an account, you will also need to fill in the following form:

You can select a Previously Used Address or Enter a New Location. Adding a street address is not a requirement, but filling it in will help jobseekers locate you on the map and see if you are a good fit for them. 

If you are hiring remotely, you will also need to specify if your company will cover the relocation expenses. 

5. Write a Job Description

The next step in posting a job ad on CareerBuilder is writing a detailed job description and providing the requirements. The more specific you are, the better the chances of attracting relevant, qualified, and truly interested candidates. 

Make sure to write a detailed list of responsibilities the position entails, salary details, perks like career advancement opportunities, bonuses, etc.

Add a list of requirements as well. Include the necessary skills, minimum years of experience, required certifications and education levels, and soft skills (such as organizational and communication skills). 

6. Specify Candidate Requirements

CareerBuilder will ask you to fill out a form that specifically deals with candidate requirements. You will have several options here:

• Employment type—Part-time, full-time, contract, etc.
• Minimum and maximum experience required—You can click on Not Specified if you don’t want to include this information
• Degree required—You can click on Not Specified here as well
• Requirement details—This section is not mandatory, but it can help to attract the right candidates. Select whether the position implies managing others and ask candidates to confirm they match the requirements listed in the ad description

7. Specify Compensation

Adding compensation is not a mandatory step, but it is helpful as it will bring more exposure to your ad. You can decide whether the compensation is Per Hour or Per Year, add the minimum and maximum salary for the position, and disclose bonus and commission possibilities. If you tick the Do not display Compensation in job posting, salary will not be visible in your ad.

8. Set Posting Options

CareerBuilder lets you decide if you want your job ad to auto-renew after one month.

You can also take advantage of the Auto-Response Letter option. A personalized response will be sent to every candidate who applies for your job opening. 

If you want and it is applicable, you can add client tracking codes.

Once you have completed the entire form, click on Continue to go to the confirmation page. Alternatively, you can save the draft for later. 

9. Set Up How You Want To Receive Applications

In this section, you can add screening questions from the drop-down menu to help you determine if an applicant is qualified for the position.

You should select whether you want candidates to apply via CareerBuilder—doing this will enable you to review resumes from your account or via your website if you have your own application process. 

You can add a direct contact name and phone number. 

Once you have completed the entire form, click on Continue to go to the confirmation page. Alternatively, you can save the draft for later. 

10. Post Jobs on CareerBuilder

You can click on Post Now if you want the ad published on the same day or Post Later if you want it published on a different date. Once you’re done, press the Post Job button. 

CareerBuilder vs. Other Job Boards

There are many job boards similar to CareerBuilder, so it pays to see how it compares to some of the big names, like:

1. Monster
2. ZipRecruiter
3. Indeed

CareerBuilder vs. Monster

CareerBuilder and Monster are similar in that their features include an international job board, candidate-matching services, and access to an extensive resume bank. Posting an ad on CareerBuilder starts at $349 a month, while Monster’s pricing plans start at $279 a month. Both offer a free trial period. 

Here’s an overview of the similarities and differences between the two:

CareerBuilder vs. ZipRecruiter

CareerBuilder and ZipRecruiter differ in the way that ZipRecruiter syndicates job posts to over a hundred other job boards, which CareerBuilder doesn’t do. Pricing plans on ZipRecruiter start at $299 a month, which is much more affordable than CareerBuilder’s lowest plan, costing $349 a month. 

Here is what the ZipRecruiter and CareerBuilder look like side by side:

CareerBuilder vs. Indeed

CareerBuilder and Indeed have a similar focus and share most of the features. The main difference is in their pricing plans. While CareerBuilder has several pricing packages, Indeed functions on a pay-per-click model, so you can control your hiring budget. Indeed has a free posting option, but your ad won’t get much visibility in this case. 

Here are CareerBuilder and Indeed side by side:

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding CareerBuilder.

What Counts as an Action in the Resume Database?

When you purchase a particular job posting package from CareerBuilder, you get a specific number of Resume Actions. The first action you take with a resume profile counts as one action. For example, if you want to view a resume, it counts as an action. If you decide to email the same candidate on the same day, it won’t be counted as an additional action. 

CareerBuilder counts the following as resume actions:

• Viewing a full profile
• Printing a resume
• Forwarding a resume
• Downloading a resume
• Saving a resume to a folder
• Viewing a saved resume on a different day
• Emailing candidates

How To Reactivate or Deactivate an Account on CareerBuilder

If you wish to deactivate an account in CareerBuilder, follow these steps:

1. Access My Accounts through AdminTools on your Recruiter Desktop
2. Click Company Admin, then Account Information
3. Click on the Deactivate link, under Actions

If you wish to reactivate an account, instead of clicking on the Deactivate link, click on the Inactive Accounts tab and then on the Activate link.

How To Delete a CareerBuilder Job Post

You can delete an ad from the CareerBuilder job board before the 30-day timeframe has ended. 

Here’s how:

1. Go to the My Jobs tab
2. Select the posting you wish to delete
3. Click on the Delete button above the listings 

What Are Some Alternatives to CareerBuilder?

Besides Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter mentioned above, there are many more alternatives to the CareerBuilder job board. Some great options are:

• LinkedIn
• Glassdoor
• Snagajob
• Mashable
• Lensa
• Ladders
• CareerBliss
• The Job Network
• Dice
• Nexxt

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