Job sites come and job sites go, with regularity and frequency. I usually don't miss them, because the good ones usually get to stay. The end of MonsterTRAK tugs at my heartstrings a bit though.JobTRAK was founded by Connie Ramberg, Ken Ramberg, and David Franey in 1988 with the brilliant (and cutting edge idea) of getting jobs to college career offices in a new and different way. First by fax, then via the Internet. Ken, Samantha and the other JobTRAK staff, were, for us who were in the career services world, more than just a vendor. They got us started, helped with what was then new technology, and supported us as we transitioned from paper (yes, it really was mostly paper back then) to the Internet.
JobTRAK was acquired by Monster in 2000 and rebranded as MonsterTRAK. Nothing was supposed to change, but, of course, it did. The hands-on customer service that can be provided by a small dedicated company often loses a bit when a larger company takes over, and it wasn't ever quite the same as it was in the old days.
There was an announcement on MonsterTRAK last week to be sure to save all your information because there was going to be a change. The MonsterTRAK URL now redirects to a page searching Monster entry level jobs and internships.
There's still advice and tips for students, but, it's, nonetheless, the end of an era. Farewell, JobTRAK (and MonsterTRAK) - you helped countless students and grads find a job and start a career and you'll be missed.
More: Entry Level Jobs
Image Copyright MonsterTRAK
In many ways, JobTRAK created not just an on-line job board for college recruiting but it also paved the way for the proliferation of niche job boards. To virtually all of us in that world, we owe the founders and many good employees of JobTRAK / MonsterTRAK our gratitude.
It is so sad that a good job site is gone. I went back to school to gain an edge on life, so I decided to get a B.S. from Calstate L.A. I received my degree in 2004. Right before my graduation date; I was offered my first job as a field engineer. I was able to get my real job thanks to MonsterTRACK.
In the past, I was working as a school bus driver for a local school district and I remember sign in up at my university. “There are two job sites in the internet; one is for the entry level and the other is for more experienced people. MosterTRACK is entry level, and monster. Com is for experience.”
Not only I got my first job, I continued with my account with MonsterTRACK, and very often I was able to keep getting jobs. With the exception of last year during the hard economic time, in fact the current job I have; it was because of MonsteTRACK.
Thank you, MosterTRACK!
Awwww…I received the best job ever at monstertrak after leaving college and I am still currently employed there, going on 3 years in october. Monstertrak was the best.
I worked at JobTrak from 1994 to 1996 as a proofreader. Didn’t know about the buyout. Sad to see it go.
Got my first job in 1997, 2 weeks before graduation. thanks Jobtrak!
Awe, very sad to hear. Nothing will ever compare to JobTRAK. It was definitely the only place for students to search for real (existing and career transitioning) jobs and not deal with administrative bs and 1 million other applicants in the way. Some local and small business plans are good for communities. This was one of them.