The job classified competition with CareerBuilder has heated up, with Monster.com readying new strategies to fight back against the news publisher/Microsoft-controlled site.
CareerBuilder’s win over Monster on MSN in European markets followed its success in pushing monster aside on MSN’s US web properties. Like a certain Japanese monster movie icon, Monster is rising from the depths it has reached recently.
Classified Intelligence reported how Monster will respond to events like the million-share selloff its CEO and chairman, Andrew McKelvey, just conducted. Classified Intelligence writer John Zappe cited stock analysts who perceived the stock sale as meaning Monster isn’t going to be sold at a premium anytime soon.
They will build on their success internationally. Monster ranks well in Europe, with comScore figures showing the cumulative Monster properties ranking first in traffic there.
Some price cutting will take place, as they seek to undercut CareerBuilder for listings:
Monster, like CareerBuilder, took a price increase at the end of last year that raised the single job-posting price to $475 (vs. $419 at CareerBuilder and $349 at HotJobs for a specific geography). Monster now cut its single-listing price back to $395 and reduced its multiple posting packages as well.
Monster will take other strategies from Europe, and bring them to the United States. One of those will be the implementation of mobile services for US customers. Monster Mobile will come to the US, but a date has not been announced.
Another hasn’t been connected to a US move, but we would be surprised if it didn’t happen. Zappe said Monster wants to grab passive job-seekers, those who have a job and are desirable to other companies due to their skills and experience.
That passive market has been coveted in the US as well. Monster will have to communicate to people the adage that the best time to look for a better job is when you already have a job. First, they will refine that strategy in Europe and build on their existing strength on the Continent.
