Running a WordPress-based job board should be an energizing experience—not a taxing chore. Whether you’re managing a recruitment website, a company’s internal job listings, or a niche talent platform, having the right tools can make your life exponentially easier. One such tool is the popular WP Job Manager plugin. While it’s known for its simplicity and elegance, most users only scratch the surface of what this powerhouse can do. Let’s take a fun, deep dive into the clever tricks and features that make posting jobs actually enjoyable.
TL;DR
The WP Job Manager plugin is more than just a job-posting framework for WordPress—it can be customized for creativity and usability. With the right tricks, like automatic job expiration, custom application workflows, live previews, and smart notifications, you’ll turn tedious posting into a stress-free and even fun experience. This article reveals insider tricks to turbocharge your job board and engage both applicants and admins alike. Posting jobs doesn’t have to be boring—it can actually be the part you look forward to!
1. Get Creative with Custom Fields
The default job fields (title, description, location) work for basic job listings, but you can seriously level up your listing quality with custom fields. Want to include salary ranges, required certifications, remote-work availability, or even quirky day-to-day fun facts? You can!
- Use the WP Job Manager Field Editor plugin to add, edit, or remove any fields you want.
- Add star ratings or skill sliders to visually represent job requirements.
- Make fields conditional—only showing more fields if certain boxes are checked.
This not only makes your listings more engaging, but it also helps applicants better self-assess their fit for each role.
2. Live Preview That Wows
Why not inject a little real-time magic? By integrating a live preview plugin or extension, you give the poster a chance to see exactly how the job listing will appear before it goes live.
It’s like adding a “what you see is what you get” editor (WYSIWYG) sprinkled with purpose. Applicants will appreciate the polished touch, and posters will love being able to tweak their info on the spot with no surprises after publishing.
3. Application Workflow Automation
Combining WP Job Manager with tools like Gravity Forms or Ninja Forms lets you craft dazzling custom application forms with logic-driven questions. Route resumes to different inboxes based on location or skills, track candidate submissions, and export applications with ease.
You’ll also benefit from autoresponder emails, attachments, and admin notifications that streamline your hiring funnel like a pro recruiter.
4. Scheduled Posting and Expiration Dates
Nobody wants to manually remove stale job posts. Here’s where WP Job Manager’s Job Expiration feature becomes your best friend.
Set an automatic expiry date for each job—in 30 days, for example—and the plugin quietly archives the listing for you. Combine this with scheduled job publishing (with an editorial workflow plugin), and you can line up a month’s worth of job posts all at once and forget about babysitting your listings.
5. Front-End Submission Portal = More Fun for Employers
Enable front-end job submissions so employers don’t need access to the WordPress backend. This creates a smooth, professional process and keeps less tech-savvy users from getting overwhelmed.
With a clean submission form, plus optional moderation tools, you get the best of both worlds: admin control and user freedom. Add a premium touch with drag-and-drop file uploads or employer dashboards using compatible add-ons.
6. Spice It Up with Badges and Labels
Ever seen those “Urgent” or “Remote Only” tags on job listings that seem to demand attention? You can replicate and customize this using class-based CSS or with a plugin like Job Tags.
- Add colorful job category labels for industries, job types, or perks.
- Use icons to indicate “Featured”, “Hot”, or “New” listings.
- Highlight remote-only gigs with a floating badge or ribbon.
It adds a splash of design, a pinch of gamification, and a dash of professional polish to your page layout.
7. Geo-Location Made Easy
Let’s face it—location matters. With the WP Job Manager – Locations add-on, you can enable location-based filtering, maps support, and even geo-targeted listings. This means users can search “jobs near me” or employers can target specific regions.
The bonus? Integrate with Google Maps or Mapbox for visual listings that blow static tables out of the water.
8. Smart Notifications that Keep Everyone in the Loop
Don’t rely on default WordPress email settings. Integrate with tools like WP Mail SMTP and third-party services like Mailgun or Sendinblue to ensure that both employers and applicants receive confirmation, interview invites, rejections, or follow-ups—automatically and reliably.
You can also set up Slack or Microsoft Teams alerts using Zapier if you’re managing job listings as a team and want real-time alerts.
9. Turn Listings into Marketing Moments
Each job post you add is actually content. So why not maximize its reach?
- Use social sharing buttons on every listing to make spreading the word easier.
- Add Open Graph tags for better link previews on social media.
- Enable email newsletters via Mailchimp to alert subscribers of new openings.
By syndicating job listings to your social media or even third-party job boards using a feed plugin, you increase visibility tenfold—and make your site a destination for job seekers.
10. Collect Feedback (and Have Fun Doing It)
Want to really find out what job posters or applicants think of your listings? Try embedding a simple feedback form after job completion or on job detail pages. Ask what they liked, what was confusing, and what they’d change.
Over time, you’ll gain valuable insights that help you improve listings—and clients will appreciate being heard. Plus, collecting kudos or testimonials from satisfied job seekers and employers adds credibility to your platform.
The Bottom Line
Who said posting jobs has to be dull?
With a few smart tweaks and strategic use of WP Job Manager—and the extensions and theme customizations that come with it—you can transform your site into a dynamic, fun-to-use, and even aesthetically pleasing job board. The ease of automation, the beauty of live previews, and the excitement of badge-based gamification make job posting something to enjoy—not endure.
So take the plunge. Enable those nifty features, play with new fields, and turn your mundane job listings into rich, engaging content. You’ll attract better employers, more qualified candidates, and spend less time fighting with your CMS. Job well done!