What should we do with all these jobs?

[Pat Coyle]

Based on the number of job postings inside our forum, there seems to be a need for a place for folks to publicize job openings and for job seekers to find opportunitites. Seeing this need, James Welsh, created a job board in his free time and offered it to Smaller Indiana. We posted an RSS feed and linked to the board from this site. Since then a few dozen jobs have been posted on the free board, but even more jobs and other classified ads keep showing up in the Forum. The job board software is open source, so that application could be tweaked to better fit our needs, but regardless of its features, folks would need to use the app in order for ito be most useful. So what do you guys think? Should we make a concerted effort to flesh out the job board...and maybe even grow a classifieds seciton? Should we re-direct all classified listings out of our forum and force them into a separate area just for classifieds? Or should we just leave things the way they are? Which strategy would help more folks find jobs? And which strategy would allow for better forum discussions? Please share your thoughts here.

[Dave Goush]

Being "in the Business" I would suggest having a seperate section with a click through on the front page or tab for all users to see and make it evident for all first time users to see. In that section you could also have a blog or forum to specifically address questions job seekers woudl need answers for IE: Resume help, Companies coming to the area, strategies for marketing, etc. There are not enough job to have a full blown classified section so that would be somewhat of an overkill.

[Taylor Martin]

Somehow, I think we should keep it in the Smoosier Family. This way we can see if it's working by being in control of it. Stay away from Craig's List. Scandal ridden is not what we need right now.

[Dave Goush]

I agree, Keep it in the state and local area. I am constantly sending people to the site to sign up who are looking for jobs and suggesting they contact some of the small business owners about opportunities with their companies. So exposing it to too many eyes is just going to cause an excess of unnecessary traffic to the members.

[Noah Coffey]

You'll probably continue to have this problem until you either fully embrace job postings in the forums or using the 3rd party site. Right now, I think people are not clear on what to do. Chris makes a good point that the job board is slanted towards specific industries and probably confuses people who want to post new jobs to "the job board," but their job doesn't fit into those categories.

If you want to use the third-party site, I would suggest a few things:
- Expand the categories on the job site to include all the common industries / job-types
- Skin the job site identically to SmallerIndiana.com so there is less of a visual disconnect when people click over to it.
- Add a "Jobs" (or "Employment", etc.) link to the main navigation for Smaller Indiana
- Bonus points: I know Ning can be limiting in some ways, but you should be able to set up a subdomain and have it point (or even mask) the jobs website (i.e. jobs.smallerindiana.com). This would also help the job site look and feel like a part of SI.

[Pat Coyle]

I like your suggestions, Noah. I'm hoping James will do this for us.

[Noah Coffey]

Maybe you could even pay him. :)

[Pat Coyle]

Good idea...and if anyone buys tix to Bigger Ideas conference, maybe I'll have money to do so :-)

[Noah Coffey]

Fair enough :) Is there going to be a dedicated site or page just for the conference and info about the conference (besides the registration page on EventBrite)?

[Pat Coyle]

Hadn't planned one...but I'm going back to the drawing board now since sales are lot slower than I expected they'd be...assuming we pull this off, I anticipate a stand along micro site to host the videos.

[James Welsh]

Sorry I'm late to the party. The board up now was originally built for jobs surrounding what I do. I'd be happy to add more categories to broaden it up, but it seems to make the most sense building/implementing a board into Smaller Indiana. Seems users would rather it be integrated, and maintaining it becomes simple for you guys. I just wanna see more people sharing and finding jobs. *And personally find the best web developer indy has to offer :)

Not sure on your limitations with ning, if you wanna talk about it I'm always available (see profile). I can play with the current board to hold through transition. What categories make the most sense to everyone?

[Nicki Laycoax]

If there's a way for the entire job classifieds section to populate a separate section, similar to how the current Indy Job Board, groups, and forum are on the side- That that would be the best way to address the issue. One thing that I think the Indy Job Board section is lacking is the icons/avatars with the job board feed. They don't demand enough attention to make users aware.

So... maybe shorten the forum section to 5 topics, and then expand the Indy Job Board to include avatars and increase them to 3-5 jobs, and move the Group section to only appear on the home page, which would free up real estate on the right side.

A suggestion that I have is that the Indy Job Board be expanded to not just Marketing, Designers, and Programmers, but to all industries, and a larger area than Indy... After all, we are not Smaller Indy, we are Smaller Indiana. :)

Also, the opportunity for job seekers to post what jobs they are looking for would be a great addition. There are so many folks seeking employment, that this would eliminate the posts in the forum section of people seeking employment.

[Marita Topmiller]

I am totally unfamiliar with the Indy Job Board. In terms of simple functionality, I like the idea of
job board and classifieds being in house, or at least looking as though it is not outsourced.

I like Nicki's suggestion of avatars. I really want the job board to be a link on the home page.
Classifieds - a link on the home page. I don't think it has to be too fancy, just a place to link
up. A members only virtual bar would be nice! lol I also like she and Chris's suggestion that
all industries be included. In fact, why not allow each submitter to title their own listing when
they place it under one of several broad categories, ie Home Services; Manufacturing; Office
Environment; Seeking Employment; etc.

Real Estate: For Sale; For Lease; Wanted; Advice. I give a lot of free advice on Trulia now. One of my
clients was just featured in her new home on The Early Show a week or two ago. Not sure this is what
Niccki is thinking, but it might be another way for members to get active on our site.