Build Guide

Build a Job Board Without WordPress

WordPress job board plugins feel like they're from 2010. Build a fast, modern job board that employers and candidates actually enjoy using.

Start Building
The Old Way

The WordPress Approach

Required Plugins

1WP Job Manager (free + paid addons $29-129 each) — core job listings
2WP Job Manager Applications ($29/year) — application management
3WP Job Manager Resume Manager ($49/year) — candidate profiles
4JobBoardWP ($149-249/year) — full job board solution
5Simple Job Board (free/$49/year) — lightweight job listings

Limitations

Search is slow — database LIKE queries don't scale past 1,000 listings
Job application workflow requires 3-4 addons stacked together
Employer dashboard is an afterthought — clunky admin interface
No real-time notifications for new applications or listing approvals
Mobile job browsing experience is dependent on theme quality

Typical Cost

$200-500/year in addons + hosting, or $149-249/year for an all-in-one plugin

The Modern Way

The Modern Approach

Next.js + Payload CMS + Algolia + Stripe

Payload CMS manages job listings and employer accounts with custom collections. Algolia provides instant search with faceted filtering by location, salary, and role. Stripe handles paid job posting credits.

Instant search across thousands of listings with typo tolerance
Custom employer dashboard for managing listings and viewing applicants
Real-time email notifications for new applications
SEO-optimized job listing pages that rank on Google Jobs
Each listing is a unique page — pSEO goldmine for organic traffic

WordPress vs. Modern Stack

WordPress

  • Search is slow — database LIKE queries don't scale past 1,000 listings
  • Job application workflow requires 3-4 addons stacked together
  • Employer dashboard is an afterthought — clunky admin interface
  • No real-time notifications for new applications or listing approvals
  • $200-500/year in addons + hosting, or $149-249/year for an all-in-one plugin

Modern Stack

  • Instant search across thousands of listings with typo tolerance
  • Custom employer dashboard for managing listings and viewing applicants
  • Real-time email notifications for new applications
  • SEO-optimized job listing pages that rank on Google Jobs
  • Each listing is a unique page — pSEO goldmine for organic traffic

Recommended Tools

Payload CMS

Job listings, employer accounts, and application management

Free (self-hosted) or $50/month cloud

Algolia

Instant job search with filters for location, salary, type

Free up to 10,000 requests/month

Stripe

Paid job posting credits and featured listing upgrades

2.9% + 30¢ per transaction

Resend

Application notification emails to employers and candidates

Free up to 3,000 emails/month

Vercel

Hosting with ISR for new job listings

Free hobby tier, $20/month pro

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1

Set up Payload CMS with collections for Jobs, Employers, and Applications with appropriate field schemas

2

Build the Next.js frontend with job listing pages, search interface, and employer dashboard

3

Integrate Algolia for instant search with filters for location, category, salary range, and job type

4

Add Stripe checkout for paid job postings with different tiers (basic, featured, premium)

5

Create the application flow — candidates apply, employers get notified via Resend, and can review in the dashboard

6

Add Google Jobs structured data (JobPosting schema) to each listing for search visibility

7

Deploy and set up ISR so new job listings go live within minutes without full rebuilds

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I monetize a job board?
Common models: charge employers per listing ($50-200), offer featured/promoted listings at a premium, sell monthly employer packages, or charge candidates for resume visibility. Stripe handles all of these.
How do I get job listings indexed on Google Jobs?
Add JobPosting schema markup to each listing page with title, description, salary, location, and datePosted. Google picks these up automatically. ISR ensures new listings are indexed quickly.
Can I start with free listings and add paid later?
Yes. Start free to build inventory and attract candidates, then introduce paid tiers once you have traffic. This is the standard playbook for marketplace businesses.

Job Board Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Build Your Job Board?

Skip the plugin bloat. Build with modern tools or migrate your existing WordPress site.