Google’s API, Indeed’s big quarter, and more: news of the online recruiting industry

We’re past Thanksgiving, and the December holidays are coming up – so it’s time for some industry news! In the interim since our last report, there’s been a U.S. election, Facebook has announced Jobs, and DHI/Dice has put itself up for sale. Amazing! So is there anything left to talk about? Sure:

• Google launches Cloud Jobs API: Google released a new Cloud Jobs API as part of its suit of machine-learning services in the cloud. At least three recruitment websites — CareerBuilder, Dice and Jibe — have signed on so far to use the service. Google said the new service “anticipates what job seekers are looking for, and surfaces targeted recommendations,” using machine-learning that “understand[s] how job titles and skills relate to one another, and what job content, location and seniority are the closest match for a job seeker’s preferences.” Is Google’s API a threat or partner? Seems to be the latter at this point.
• Glassdoor targets non-profits: Glassdoor has announced several initiatives as part of its commitment to the Pledge 1% movement, a corporate philanthropy effort dedicated to making the community a key stakeholder in every business. In addition to offering discounted pricing on its employer branding solutions, Glassdoor will now also offer free job postings to eligible nonprofits via a partnership with TechSoup. Sounds like a win-win.
• beWanted lands some cash: Spanish recruitment site BeWanted, formerly Alumni Global Search, raised €600,000 ($660,000 U.S.) from various business angels. The platform, founded by Juan Torroba of executive recruitment firm Acheron Partners, is designed to help university students and recent-graduates find their first jobs. beWanted’s key feature is that it matches candidates with potential roles via its Job Rank algorithm. Students or recent-graduates create profiles outlining their studies, experience, desired jobs and geographical preferences. Interesting.
• New developer job site in Amsterdam: Honeypot – Europe’s developer-focused job platform – has launched in Amsterdam (Honeypot is already active in Berlin and Hamburg and has now just expanded to Munich and Amsterdam). On the Honeypot platform, companies apply to developers and the coders can then decide whether they want to have an interview with a certain company or not. Iffy name, though.
• JobToday nabs some funding:  Accel-backed Job Today has pulled in a $20 million Series B round, less than a year after it raised its $10M Series A.  The in Luxembourg-based startup, which launched back in May 2015, has added two million registered jobseekers to its platform in the past 12 months, according to co-founder Polina Montano, as well as signing up more than 150,000 businesses.  Discussing Job Today’s new clutch of media investors, Polina says the idea is to use TV as an acquisition and awareness channel to keep growing usage — a strategy that is also being used by other competitors in this space as rivals battle it out to create a dominant mobile jobs network. Everything old is new again.
• Indeed revenue is up – again: Indeed’s parent company Recruit reported that the job board’s net sales jumped 68.5% to ¥56.4 billion (US$556.7 million) in the fiscal second quarter, and focused on strengthening client base outside the US, in addition to user acquisition enhancement. Recruit overall reported net sales rose 3.7% to ¥406.9 billion (US$4.0 billion) in its fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30. I’m impressed. In unrelated news, Indeed has launched its tech staffing product Indeed Prime in the UK.
• Hired raises even more money: Hired, the platform that lets applicants vie for top tech jobs, has announced a $30 million extension to its Series C funding, bringing the total of that particular round to $70 million. This latest extension brings Hired’s total funding to $102 million. How much is enough? Only Hired knows.
• Helpster targets blue-collar workers: Helpster, a Bangkok-based company that matches employers with people seeking blue collar jobs, has banked $2.1 million to expand across Southeast Asia. The service is similar to CornerJob in Europe, in that it helps companies seeking blue collar workers to find candidates, both in temporary and full-time roles. The industries served by Helpster include food and beverage, warehouse, hospitality, customer service, retail among others. Not sure about the name, though.

That’s all for this round. More next month!

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