From humble beginnings as a single page in Junk Mail in 1992, Job Mail has grown considerably. It was later launched as a stand alone paper - as part of Junk Mail Publishing's stable of niche publications - in 1997 and hit the shelves with a selling price of R4.95, containing just on 1800 vacancies.
Today, Job Mail is allegedly the country's largest, dedicated career classifieds, boasting about 10 000 vacancies in each issue, with approximately 30 000 active jobseekers purchasing the publication.
"The content has increased five-fold in the last nine years and, selling at a price just over double the initial selling price in 1997, Job Mail is now a better value for money publication," says de Klerk.
Job Mail is available in print, online and via mobile phone, providing jobseekers with an integrated service which allows them to search and apply for jobs in three convenient ways.
The Job Mail website, which was launched in 2000, averages 5000 visitors each day, with about one million page impressions a week. Over 1500 new CVs are uploaded weekly, providing about 6000 active employers with online access to about 26 000 active jobseekers.
Earlier this year, Job Mail introduced its mobile service, providing users with instant and easy access to thousands of career opportunities using any WAP-enabled cell phone. Using the Job Mail browser, jobseekers are able to search for vacancies advertised on the Job Mail site with a cell phone. Users who have registered and posted their CVs online are also able to apply for positions via SMS and their CV is delivered immediately to the advertiser.
In just a few months, the mobile offering has become extremely popular, with over 260 visitors accessing the Job Mail site via mobile phone every day and recording almost 100 000 mobile page impressions a week
"Competition in the online recruitment industry is fierce and we believe that our mobile offering gives us something unique to offer compared to the rest. Our mini-browser allows mobile-users to search for career opportunities advertised online even if they do not have access to the internet," says de Klerk.
She points out that Junk Mail's three tiers of advertising options is another key differentiator.
"We provide our advertisers with three options, allowing them to choose the format of their ads and where they want to appear. Our premium account holders have free access to manage their online accounts and upload new vacancies on a daily basis.
"Our free ads cost nothing. No other publication offers free advertising space, with the choice to market positions both in print and online," says de Klerk.
Over the last few months, Job Mail has also focused on creating other value-adds for its customers and readers. The company recently introduced monthly supplements, featuring vacancies in specialist fields including engineering, medical and international.
Felix Erken, MD of Junk Mail Publishing, explains that the company places enormous emphasis on innovation and, is constantly evolving to ensure that it remains on the cusp of new trends and ahead of customer wants.
"We pay acute attention to what our advertisers and readers want and, we deliver on that. Job Mail's metamorphosis from a one-pager to a dedicated, stand alone weekly publication is proof that we are committed to keeping pace with the changing demands of our invaluable customers," concludes Erken.
