Our number one overall choice for finding talent is ZipRecruiter.
ZipRecruiter and Monster represent two of the largest job search sites on the internet. Both companies have one central goal — help find people jobs. While both sites are helpful to job seekers and offer many of the same features, ZipRecruiter and Monster are two very different job sites. Keep reading to learn about both sites, how they compare for employers and job seekers, and how to use both to navigate your job search.
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter was founded in 2010. The Santa Monica, California-based company is one of the largest job search sites in the world. The site offers paid services for employers (with a free trial available) and a free account for job seekers.
ZipRecruiter As An Employer
Using ZipRecruiter as an employer is a breeze. The site offers several pricing options depending on your needs and how many positions you’re trying to fill. The company claims that “80 percent of employers who post a job get a quality candidate through the site on the first day.”
ZipRecruiter plans are paid month-to-month or annually, providing some flexibility for companies who may not need recruiting help year-round.
With ZipRecruiter, employers can post job openings to over 100 of the top job sites online.
ZipRecruiter doesn’t limit how many applications you can receive per job opening. The site’s easy-to-use employer dashboard allows you to sort through resumes quickly to find the best matches.
With a ZipRecruiter plan comes an allotment of slots for job postings, with premium accounts getting access to more slots. The good thing is that as you fill positions in your company, slots become available to use again. There’s no waiting until the next month to add more posts. You can also opt to add TrafficBoost, an add-on service that allows employers to send job postings via email. You can also pay extra to get job postings top placement on the job site.
ZipRecruiter As A Job Seeker
ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers to use. You can sign up for a free account, create a profile, and load your resume. Other options include adding social media handles, a profile picture, salary requirements, and references. Despite being free, ZipRecruiter offers fairly comprehensive services for job seekers. Your ZipRecruiter profile is public to employers when you apply for positions. You can also set your profile to public so other companies can seek you out without you first apply for a job.
ZipRecruiter also boasts the highest-rated job-seeking mobile app. Available for iOS and Android, the mobile app helps you search for jobs while on the go. Whether you’re online or using the app, you can search based on location, keywords, and even salary requirements. ZipRecruiter’s interface is easy to navigate and offers a clear communication structure when you connect with a potential employer.
Monster
Monster is one of the originators of online job searching. With over 25 years of experience, Monster knows all about finding people the right job. The company offers extensive services for job seekers and employers trying to locate quality candidates.
Monster As An Employer
Monster offers three packages for employers. All three packages come with the option of a free trial so that you can test out its services. The packages are based on the number of active job postings and the number of resume views they allow. The two higher tiered packages also offer a performance boost which automatically sends your job postings to hundreds of relevant job sites. There’s also a customized option for enterprise customers.
Like ZipRecruiter, Monster doesn’t cap the number of applicants for your job openings. With all of the packages, employers can set up email alerts, reuse job postings, access a library of pre-written job descriptions, and more. An account also comes with tools for team collaboration if you aren’t the only person involved in the recruiting process. Some of Monster’s plans let you proactively search a candidate database to find people instead of waiting for the right people to apply.
For more information, read our Monster review.
Monster As A Job Seeker
Monster recently revamped its site to provide a better user experience for job seekers. Like ZipRecruiter, Monster is free for individuals who want to create an account and search for jobs. You can create a free account and profile and upload resources like a resume, cover letter, and more.
The site also boasts extra tools that most job seekers will find valuable, like salary tools and an online career advice knowledge base.
The Difference Between ZipRecruiter and Monster As An Employer
ZipRecruiter posts job openings to hundreds of popular online job boards with all of its employer packages. With Monster, getting similar service isn’t available unless you opt for the Standard or Premium employer packages.
| ZipRecruiter | Monster |
|---|---|
| Pay per post | Pay per post |
| Price varies | Starts at $279/month for one slot |
| Cost varies depending on number of reusable slots | A 4-day free trial is available with all of the Monster packages |
The Difference Between ZipRecruiter and Monster As A Job Seeker
ZipRecruiter and Monster are free services for job seekers. Other than the time required to set up profiles and search for jobs, there’s no downside to trying both services out. If your goal is to find the best job openings, why not use ZipRecruiter and Monster to ensure you see the latest listings. Also, both sites offer extra features for job seekers to help throughout the job search process.
The Bottom Line
ZipRecruiter and Monster are both top job search sites for employers and job seekers. You may save money using ZipRecruiter depending on your specific needs since its basic package is slightly cheaper than Monster (and posts to hundreds of job sites).
For job seekers, we recommend trying out both sites since they are free and may contain different job listings. After trying them out, you’ll know which one works best for you.
