Thinking about building a new careers website? Or upgrading the one you’ve already got? Smart move. But now comes the tricky part – convincing the people in charge of the purse strings that it’s actually worth the investment. You know it’ll make a difference, but maybe they need a little more than your gut instinct to give it the green light. That’s where this blog comes in. We’ve laid out exactly why having a dedicated, well-built, candidate-friendly careers site isn’t just a “nice to have”. It can be a game-changer. And we’ve backed it all up with solid stats to help you build a proper business case. Let’s dive in.
What a careers website isn’t
Let’s get this out the way first. A “careers page” tacked onto your main website with a few job listings and a blurry photo of last year’s Christmas party is NOT a careers website. It won’t cut through the noise. It won’t excite top talent. And in today’s competitive job market, it definitely won’t convince someone to hit “apply.” So, if you’ve been told “we already have a careers page,” this is your chance to explain why that’s not enough.
What a careers website is
A real careers website is your employer brand’s home. It’s where you get to tell your story, your values, your culture, the kind of work you do, and why someone would want to be part of it. It’s where candidates get that all-important first impression. Done right, it’s packed with real voices from your people, helpful tips, maybe a blog, maybe a video (we’ve made a few for Deichmann), and a clearly mapped out journey from interest to application. It’s engaging, informative, and built around what candidates actually care about. And in a world where more recruitment happens online than in-office? This is your digital handshake.
Because not everyone knows who you are (yet)
If you’re not a household name, you need to work harder to grab attention. A great careers site helps you do just that. Think of it as your online pitch to potential candidates who stumble across your job ad or Google your company. If what they see is dull, clunky, or barely there, they’ll move on. In fact, 86% of job seekers research company reviews and ratings before applying. And 75% consider your employer brand before even thinking about clicking “apply.” (starred.com) A careers site gives you control over that first impression and a chance to make it a good one.
You’ll build a talent pool (and keep people interested)
Not every great candidate will find the perfect role the first time they visit. But if your site gives them the option to register their interest, sign up for job alerts, or read more about life at your company, you’ve got a chance to keep them warm. That way, when the right role does come up, you’re not starting from scratch. Instead, you’ve already got engaged, informed candidates who want to work with you. And an added bonus is you can segment this pool and send them tailored content they’ll actually want to read.
You’ll deliver a way better candidate experience
Let’s talk about candidate experience. It really matters. 60% of job seekers quit partway through online applications if the process is too long or confusing. (onrec.com) That’s a huge amount of missed opportunities. A well-designed careers website streamlines things. It helps people find what they need, understand the role, and feel confident enough to apply. All without jumping through hoops or creating accounts they’ll never use again. It’s smooth. It’s clear. And it leaves a great impression, even if someone doesn’t land the job.
You can link it with your ATS (and make things seamless)
Already using an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)? Great. A careers website can pull your job data straight from it and make it look… well, a whole lot nicer. When we built a new site for The Telegraph, we integrated their ATS (Workable) directly into the site. That meant candidates didn’t have to hop between systems or get confused by inconsistent branding. The experience was seamless from start to finish and it showed in the results. An integrated system keeps candidates engaged and helps reduce that pesky drop-off during the application stage.
You’ll get insights and data to make better decisions
Another big plus? With a proper careers site, you get access to all kinds of data. Thanks, Google Analytics! You can track where candidates came from (job ads, LinkedIn, social, etc.), what content they engaged with, how long they stayed, and whether they actually applied. That gives you clear, actionable insight into what’s working and what’s not so you can focus your recruitment budget in all the right places. It turns guesswork into strategy.
You’ll actually get more applications (seriously)
We don’t just build careers sites because we like how they look (though they do look good). We build them because they work. When we launched the new site for NFU Mutual, it saw a 36% increase in completed applications and a 148% boost in visitors. That’s the power of better UX, clearer content, and a site that actually speaks to what candidates care about.
In short, people want more than a job.
Jobseekers today are looking for more than just a role. They want to know who they’re working for. A careers website gives them the window into your world they need. It’s your chance to show off your culture, values, and team. It helps position you as an employer of choice and gives people plenty of reasons to choose you over someone else. In fact, 81% of job seekers expect a dedicated careers website. And 89% say it’s a key source of information when considering a job.
If you’re trying to build a business case for a new careers website, you’ve got the stats, the strategy, and the why. It helps you attract better people, boost your employer brand, reduce drop-off, build talent pipelines, and gather insights to improve over time. Oh, and did we mention you’ll likely get more completed applications? At That Little Agency, we’ve built award-winning careers sites for names like Clarks, Met Office, Volkswagen Group UK, Berenberg, JLR, Miele X and the Telegraph Media Group. And we’d love to help you too.
Need help making your case?
We’ve even developed a free careers website audit to benchmark how your current site stacks up. It’s packed with useful, actionable feedback that can strengthen your pitch for a new build. Interested? You can find out more here. Or just fancy a chat? Drop us a line. Some of our best work starts with a biscuit and a Zoom call.





