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The Standard RSS interface provides software-readable access to job listings for third-party job boards using industry-standard protocols. The feed complies with the RSS 2.0 specification, updates every 15 minutes, and displays a real-time list of active vacancies that job boards can parse and import into their own systems.

PageUp must first enable the job board for a specific customer and assign a unique code to the channel. Once configured, jobs sourced to that channel automatically populate in the customer's dedicated RSS feed.

Audience

This document contains technical specifications intended for software developers and third-party job board technical partners who have a working knowledge of XML and data integration.

Job Board-Specific Information

Job post criteria is not specific to a job board but rather what the customer has configured in their PageUp system. As such, the third-party job board will be required to map and align the criteria(s) that are defined by the customer versus those of the 3rd party job board. For example, if we look at "Industry", "accounting" in PageUp would map to "Business & Finance" on the third-party job board's end and will automatically display in the RSS feed.

Sample Job Extraction Process

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

• Contact the PageUp representative of the mutual customer to obtain the specific URL configured to list jobs that are to be posted to your job board.
• Hit the designated RSS feed for the mutual customer each hour.
• A list of jobs will be returned. Using an XML parsing object, e.g., 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 or update jobs in your own database based on the XML data in the feed. Locations, work types, and categories can be configured in the PageUp system to use your own terminology – contact the customer and PageUp representative 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.

Implementation

Job Board Requirements

Refer to the Standard jobs RSS details and example (requires sign-in*) 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 then be configured against the Standard RSS sourcing channel.

Customer Requirements

PageUp requires a signed statement of work (SOW) before work can begin with the third-party job board to set up the RSS feed. During the setup, the customer 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 customers and job boards. If Broadbean is not an option and a customer wants to move forward with an RSS feed, the customer needs to sign a SOW before any work commences.

The Standard Jobs RSS interface does not require any development work by PageUp. All configurations can be completed by a partner implementer and/or PageUp.

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 customer, third-party job board, and PageUp have signed off on the RSS feed, the functionality will be released, and the customer can start posting jobs to the website.

How It Works

The Feed

Each customer 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 customer.

Certain information within the feed, such as the structure of the location, is specific to each customer and is not job board specific. For example, a customer may define a location broadly as "Sydney" or may choose to break it down further, such as "Newtown" and "Surry Hills".

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

Customer 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 customer will appear in the list. The recruiter can select the job board and update the job description, closing dates, or any other information displayed there. Once the job details have been saved, it is pushed to the RSS feed for the job board to consume and place on their site.

Tracking Application Sources

The "apply link" is the URL that sends applicants to the customer's application form.

The "apply link" we provide in the RSS contains tracking information that shows where the applicant came from in the Sourcing Report. If this apply link is not used, applicants will not be properly tracked in the PageUp system. For more information, see Application Tracking for Job Boards (requires sign-in*).

Configuration

For job boards following the Standard RSS model, the following steps need to be completed by the partner implementer and/or PageUp.

1. Create a new RSS (standard) type sourcing channel, giving it the same name as the third-party job board and a unique source pointer value.
   
2. The above step allows for only specific jobs to be posted to this job board.
3. Once the source channel has been created in Step 1, submit one or two test jobs to it.
4. Return to the sourcing channel listing in Settings and select the About link.
   
5. The About page lists the RSS feed URLs that must be provided to the third-party job board for testing or consumption.