Comments on: Ten Things I Hate About Monster.com’s Job Search

By: heycamster

heycamster — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:39:37 +0000

When I receive email from monster.com that starts with the greeting: “Great news! We found new jobs that match your criteria” and I discover that once again the monster search engines have sent me jobs that I am NOT interested in, NOT in my field, or that I am NOT qualified for technically. These emails should be considered spam and I am reporting them and spreading the word warning users from using monster.com.

Stale listings on website are misleading and fraudulent:
Marketing Communications (MarCom) Manager
Everbridge – Glendale,
CA, 91203 -
“Posted 1 days ago”
from my search for “Marketing Communications Manager”
results in a screen stating:
“This Job Is No Longer Available We’ve found other jobs you may want to apply
for. Take a look:”
FRAUD! I am very frustrated that Monster is a waste of my
time! The job as listed was posted on various sites in mid-August when I
applied to it the first time. That is a month-old AND closed. Why would monster.com
knowingly display fraudulent data, unless they were making money and not updating their listings?!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:15:49 +0000

My biggest current beef with Monster.com is that when I look for jobs within a certain distance from my home, I get jobs that are at least 20 miles farther away. I then have to filter through those to find jobs that are actually in my area. I ask for 10 miles, they give me 40 or more miles away….

What’s with that? More ads? More revenue? It’s a pain.

By: EngineerInSiliconValley

EngineerInSiliconValley — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:39:37 +0000

It is true that spam from Monster increased last 8 years. Monster used to be place to get mostly direct contact from companies and I found job via Monster 9 years ago. Now I am looking for job again and signed for Monster as a first priority.

First few weeks there were lot of calls from recruiters but only some resulted in phone and onsite interviews from hiring managers. After that there are not many spam calls, most calls I do not take and prefer to get voice mail. Others are directly from companies which normally as a rule on phone or onsite interview. I got most of real interviews when was contacted directly by company who found me via Monster (or in some cases Linkedin). I suggest to not ignore Monster because you will actually get a lot of interview off Monster.

I personally do not have time to search job boards. Sometime I send my resume to HR via e-mail or file online and in few days get back phone call or e-mail to schedule interview so I prefer to spend time studying something or preparing for interview.

Regarding spam – it is not a problem for me. It takes few seconds to figure out spam and delete it. And most phone calls go to mail box where I delete them too.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 03:27:39 +0000

Dice.com has become just as big a waste of time as Monster.com.

Dice seems to have the same non-jobs posted month after month.

Also, time-waster companies like Dell will post ads on Dice, but the Apply For This Job button will take you offsite to their website where you have to fill out yet another form.

By: K-Dawg

K-Dawg — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 03:15:18 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this. You are truly a hero to me and my friends. We have been job hunting forever and get calls from bogus companies and we make jokes about it all the time. Seriously, have a beer tonight; you deserve it. Thank you again!!!!

By: BG

BG — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:10:42 +0000

It’s been almost three years, and Monster’s still an awful website and a waste of my time.

Anytime I go there, I’m bombarded with postings encouraging me to join the military. Either that or writing blogs for Examiner.com. Pass on both.

I’m starting to think Internet job hunting is just not for me.

By: workthroughit

workthroughit — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:12:18 +0000

I came across your blog while researching opinions on the job boards for my blog.

This post sums up my expirences pretty well so far in my job search. These job boards are nothing more than a place to collect an inventory of people to see to recruiters.

I’ve had my resume up on several of the big sites for months now and not one employer called. All recruiters. I suppose it’s because the job boards have gotten so expensive that real companies shy away from using their services.

It’s a shame that something that could be so good has gotten so bad.

Thanks for the posting.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:55:02 +0000

I had a call back in january from a twat calling himself Justin from Proactive something or other! He had seen my CV on monster and had discussed it with his client who thought i had the right attributes and focus for the post in question. He then proceeded to use the following terms “my client isnt looking for an off the peg manager, he wants a bespoke manager” “my client is in the Saville Row of the Biotech Industry” and my personal fave “Their products are the Armani of cell restucturing stream”
I wasnt sure if i was applying for a job or buying a fucking suit! He then told me how eager the client was to “interface” with me and a quick start was the order of the day and how would my present employer react to me leaving to undertake such a prestigous post at such short notice. If i was happy to go for it he would give the employer the “ok” and ring me back ASAP. I never heard from him again despite ringing him approx 24 times and emailing him numerous times between Jan and Feb. The twat rang me today (26th April 2010) and asked me to supply him with the names of 10 of my friends and their employers names and addresses, im assuming so he could cold call and use my mates names as a foot in the door. I was tempted to tell him to f-off, but decided to make up 10 names and give him 10 companies locally.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:12:33 +0000

I think monster is TERRIBLE. They have DUMB commercials, and their commercials are much LOUDER than the other thing on televison. MONSTER SUCKS! Find jobs on CRAIGSLIST!!! WOOO!!!!

By: Dwheels76

Dwheels76 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:50:39 +0000

Funny how here it is now February 7th, 2010 and this posting still is so relevant.
I too don’t get the “saw yourresume please sens me a copy”. And now it seems to work like some friends you get on Facebook. They send you a request and then never speak to you. No call. It’s like wait you chased me down.
Yet if you really read my profile it says “will not relocate” so why are you calling me about jobs in New York when I’m in Texas.
In this market it’s horrible and it’s breaking my heart 18 months now. I did get a 7 week contracting job. Now I’m looking at homelessness too!. WOW

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:44:01 +0000

There’s a difference between it being a good site and “working.” It could very well be luck or happenstance that it did work.

I’m really, really bad at hitting a baseball, but once in a couple thousand pitches, I can hit it really well. If someone sees me hitting it well that one time, it’s easy for them to infer that I was good hitter. If Monster.com works for one person and strikes out badly for many, many, we must conclude that Monster.com is not a good player.

By: meggles

meggles — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:40:33 +0000

Ok, first of all….all those that did actually get a job on this site, should not be allowed to make a comment!!!!!!!! Seriously, it worked for u than get over it!

I hate this site, and now all the local newspapers are teaming up with it. What if I am willing to do any job, why do I have to select specific fields, I have my bs degree in criminal justice, and there are NOOOOO jobs anywhere. I work at a f&*(&% daycare changing diapers all day….yep true story. I always worked and went to school full time…adn yet I am nowhere and don’t have a dime to my name. And now, I can’t even look for a job becuase monster is making it too difficult and too specific. what a great life.

By: anthony

anthony — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:54:18 +0000

Re #47
4X what you expected!!! Low expectations. Did you do any research on typical wages for the job.
I expected $22/hr for my job and only got offered $26.00. Imagine getting $88/hr instead of only $22 WOW is an understatement.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:12:25 +0000

You should try planetforhire.com Even though they are newer and may not have tons of members yet, they have a great search engine and they don’t allow duplicate postings. It’s also free. I’m sick and tired of getting spam and recruiter junk. I waste more time filtering through unwanted and dead end mail than I do sending out resumes to legit jobs.

By: Living Off Dividends & Passive Income

Living Off Dividends & Passive Income — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:50:45 +0000

i actually did click on one of those interstitial ads – got calls for student loan refinancing for over a month!

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:43:32 +0000

Mixed bag…Monster seems like a “have to do” kind of thing, just so you’re out there. I’ve always had really good luck with CareerBuilder. It seems that their search algo goes after recently-updated resumes. I got into the habit of “updating” my resume (changing one character then changing it back) every day and got several *qualified* emails and phone calls every day. I haven’t started my new job search yet, but you can be sure I”ll try that method again!

By: lukas

lukas — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:56:15 +0000

Wow, I’ve actually had a GREAT experience with monster.com About a month ago I posted my resume and worked on my profile. I applied for a handfull of jobs that seemed appealing to me and waited…About 2 weeks later I received a phone call from the HR director for a coorperation that makes medical equipment. They brought me in for an interview. The job description looked amazing! I was worried about how much they would offer me. Well, I had the interview and they hired me on the spot. I was floored when they offered me a pay rate 4 times what I expected…I almost cried the whole drive home. I really really love monster :)

By: Colourful Money

Colourful Money — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:52:56 +0000

I hated Monster ever since they changed their site layout. Workopolis is the way to go, especially for Canadian residents!

By: joe

joe — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:41:33 +0000

monster fucking blows

By: Horlic

Horlic — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:35:08 +0000

Hi Lazy Man,

Regards the Mystery Companies, I have some extra point for you here. Yes you are right one of the reasons is for fear that you’ll just apply directly to that company. Second reason is the recruiter did sign confidentially agreement with the client. The client requested the search to be kept confidential due to several reasons: 1. they are looking for some one to replace the existing staff. 2. They are doing search for the talent available in the market. 3. They are looking for key person in the company and this is highly confidentially. Third reason is the client would like the recruiter to manage the candidate and less hassle for them. What is your right then? If you are comfortable with the recruiter and you trust him / her. You may request your resume send to the â€œMystery Companiesâ€ as blind resume. You may also tell recruiter directly that you are not keen to be approach for position based in company A, B, C and etc.