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The purpose of this document is to specify the RSS interface for use by third party job boards.

PageUp offers two types of RSS interfaces:

• Standard - This interface is an RSS feed of all jobs posted but the data elements are PageUp's data elements. For example, the category list is specific to that client, it is what to configure in PageUp.
• Ultimate - This model matches the data element attributes of the job board. For example, the list of values for work type is the same as that found on the job board. This makes the mapping task much easier. This model involves PageUp importing your list of data attributes and may attract a fee.

This article describes the ultimate interface and not all job boards will align with this approach. It also contains technical information and is intended for readers who have a working knowledge of XML and data integration.

Job boards looking to be implemented under the ultimate interface must first go through a PageUp due diligence process. This is due to the development and costs associated with this interface.

Overview

The ultimate RSS interface provides software-readable access to a list of jobs for a PageUp client using an industry standard protocol. The feed is publicly accessible and lists the currently available jobs relating to the respective client.

The RSS feed complies with the RSS 2.0 specification and displays a real-time list of jobs currently available for a client. Job boards can retrieve this information by hitting the RSS interface using a software application, parsing the XML, and importing the data into their own system. The RSS feed is also updated every 15 minutes.

PageUp must first enable the job board for a specific client, and assign a unique code to the job board. Once this has been configured, jobs that are sourced to the job board can be viewed in the RSS feed using the STP parameter.

Job board specific information

Information specific to a job board, such as locations, work types, categories and sub-categories need to be inserted by PageUp as a once-off task. Future updates are managed ad-hoc and the job board will need to advise the mutual client as well as PageUp of the updates as we won't know when you make updates to your data elements.

The benefit of this is it allows clients to specify job board specific information when they source jobs to the RSS feed. The information will also be automatically displayed in the RSS feed. For example, the list of values for categories, locations and work types matches that of the job board. This promotes effective searching from an applicant's point of view.

Implementation

Job board requirements

Refer to the Ultimate jobs RSS details and example (requires login) for information on what the third party job board needs to supply to PageUp.

Any item which is job board configurable will need to be provided to PageUp before work can begin. This information will be standard across all clients who want to use the job board’s RSS feed.

PageUp can supply a sample Excel file containing category options such as location, work types etc, in order to facilitate this information exchange. The third party job board is to provide the options which define each category and should include any relevant identifier that is meaningful for them (identifier and display name).

Client requirements

A signed statement of work is required before PageUp begins working with the third job board to set up the RSS feed. During setup, the client may be consulted with questions and may also be provided with the ability to test the feed before going live.

Setting up an RSS feed

PageUp has a full integration with Broadbean and we recommend this option to clients and job boards. If Broadbean is not an option and a client wants to move forward with an RSS feed, the client needs to sign a statement of work prior to any work commencing.

Once the signed statement of work is received:

• The third party job board can then define the configurable information.
• The setup of the defined configurable information can be scheduled.
  • Typically, it takes two weeks to set up the RSS feed once all the information is received, however, timelines for setting up an RSS feed are dependent on the third party job board.

Once the RSS feed is set up, the information will be sent to the third party job board and a test job will be posted to the feed. This allows the third party job board to test the consumption of the RSS. Once the client, third party job board and PageUp have signed off on the RSS feed, the functionality will be released and the client can start posting jobs to the website.

How it works

The feed

Each client will have their own feed which contains their job information and appropriate tracking details although the structure of the feed will be the same for each client.

Certain information within the feed, such as the structure of the location, can be job board specific and will be the same for every client. For example, a job board may define a location broadly as Sydney or may choose to break it down more such as Newtown and Surry Hills.

A signed statement of work from each client is required prior to setup as work is involved with each one. For example, if client A has an RSS feed with job board Y and client B wants to begin sourcing to job board Y, there is setup and work involved.

Client side

When a recruiter is sourcing a job, they have a list of job boards to select from.
A job board with the RSS integration for that client will appear in the list. The recruiter selects the job board and can update the copy of the job, close dates or whatever other information may appear there. Once the job information is saved, the information is pushed to the RSS feed for the job board to consume and place on their site.

Tracking application sources

The apply link we provide in the RSS contains tracking information that shows where the applicants came from in the Sourcing Report. If this apply link is not used, applicants will not be properly tracked in the PageUp system. The apply link is the URL that sends applicants to the client’s application form. It must be appended with the Application Sub Source ID. Contact the PageUp representative for assistance with obtaining the Application Sub Source ID.

An example process for extracting jobs from the RSS feed

Below is an example of how a job board could extract jobs from the RSS feed:

• Contact the PageUp representative of the mutual client to obtain the specific URL configured to list jobs that are to be posted to your job board.
• Hit your designated RSS feed for that specific client each hour.
• A list of jobs will be returned. Using an XML parsing object, for example, XmlDataDocument in .NET, iterate through the jobs. You could use the following logic:
  • Compare the unique <guid> for the job with the jobs already posted on your job board. If the job already exists, update the information instead of creating another job.
  • Create/update jobs in your own database based on the XML data in the feed. The locations, work types and categories can be configured to use your own terminology – contact the client and PageUp to discuss and mutually agree to have this configured.
  • Jobs that have closed will no longer appear in the RSS feed. Compare the most recent job list with the last import performed. If jobs have been removed from the feed, remove the job from your job board. Alternatively, you can store the <job:closingDate> node of each job, and delete jobs based on this date.