Jobs.theconversation.com

Site's statement

Jobboard Finder’s opinion

Summary: TheConversation, launched in Australia in 2011, and then later in other countries like the US and even France, is a news and commentary site above all else. However, the Australian version includes a specialized job board with some 220 jobs offers, all within universities. So here are some figures to have a better idea of who is reading TheConversation (according to the website): more than 5,200,000 visits each month, with 59% of the people aged 44 and under; there are just as many woman as men and an overwhelming 85% have an undergraduate degree or higher. That said, 82% of the readers are actually from a non-academic or research background, and 35% of them are from overseas.

For more statistics, visit: https://theconversation.com/au/audience. It’s important to remember these figures reflect all of the website usage, not just the job board.

Design: The design is academic. There is a big search bar, and a list of the available positions with the university logo next to them. The job offers are quite long, but they take up most of the page, which makes them easy to read. On the right-hand side, you’ll find an image, possibly a video and the location of the position.

The job board objective: “The Conversation Job Board is a place where smart organizations and clever people meet”. For this reason, expect a job post screening before your advert appears in any searches.

Recruiter observations: Recruiters can include a video as well as an image to advertise their positions. The cost is next to the “post a job” button, and additional information is in the “price” section. It’s always helpful to have clear steps for an advert creation (the job>the preview>the payment).

Jobseeker observations: Since most of the job posts refer you to the university website, there is no point in creating your own account though TheConversation (unless it’s for the forum).

The job offers: Job offers are available mostly available in Australia (215). Even though they aren’t all teaching positions (Policy Officer, Teaching Assistant, Coordinator Veterinary Nurse, etc.), but they are all in universities.

Reactivity: Since the prices are available on the website, you do not the middleman (which is a good thing, because no contact information is provided).

Special features: Discrete jokes in the suggestions or additional information passage; very detailed statistics; the video option.

Verdict: “Brain Surgeons”, “Professors in Something” and the Prime Minister are all subtly encouraged to use TheConversation for job listings. It’s highly unlikely they will, but if you are looking for a position in an university, you probably should.

Written by Ali Neill

As the job board tester and blog editor for the Jobboard Finder, Ali works on job boards from all around the world and keeps a close eye on the recruitment trends thanks to a number of sources, including the website's social media pages.