CV database statistics on job boards

Many job boards will quote a plethora of CV statistics. But what do these quoted CV statistics actually mean and why are they important?

CV database statistics

In addition to allowing recruiter to post vacancies on their websites, most job boards now also offer recruiters the option to access a CV database. Long popular with recruitment agencies, the CV database is now becoming an increasingly popular sourcing tool for employer recruiters too. In general, job board tend to quote the total number of CVs on their database.

A CV database is simply a secure database which contains CVs that candidates have uploaded to the job board. Candidates may uploaded the CV in order to apply for a job or they may have uploaded the CV in order to allow recruiters to find them. Whatever the case, most job board CV databases allows recruiters to search the database for suitable candidates. Recruiters can search the thousands of CVs for specific skill sets, salary experience, work experience etc.

CV database statistics for recruiters

A job board with a million CVs will give a recruiter a good indication of the popularity of the site with candidates. Candidates wouldn’t upload their CVs if they didn’t think it was worth it. And popular sites spend a lot of money encouraging candidates to upload their CVs. But again, total CV numbers can mean different things to different recruiters. Once again, it all depends on relevance.

Firstly, the key to a useful CV database is that the CVs on the database are up to date. Some job board keep CVs on their databases for a long time. But this means that when recruiters go to contact that candidate they find that the candidates has been happily ensconced in a new position for six months without any desire to move on. This CV, therefore, is useless and should really have been cleansed from the database.

Secondly, like unique visits and registered users, the CVs in the databases are only good if they are relevant. A million CVs means nothing if not one of them belongs to the kind of person you are looking for. A CV database of 500, on the other hand, is invaluable if it contains 500 candidates with the skill set you are looking for.

There are some job boards which allow recruiters to conduct searches on candidates in the CV databases to establish how many relevant ones there may be. The contact information is ‘blacked out’ and must be purchased in order to contact candidates. This can be a good option if available. However, most of the time, recruiters will have to ring up the job board and talk to the CV database account manager to get detailed information. That being said, most quality job boards will be able to help you in this regard.

Next step? Read the next article in the series

1. Unique users and visits on job boards
2. Registered users on job boards
3. Job application statistics on job boards
4. Email subscribers on job boards
5. CV database statistics on job boards
6. NEXT>> Page impressions and hits
7. Audited statistics on job boards
8. Using statistics to choose a job board