Job feed or jobs API?
An XML job feed gives you one big file of jobs. A jobs API lets you ask for just the jobs you need. Here is when to use each.
Updated
The short answer
A job feed is one big file with many jobs that you download on a schedule. A jobs API lets you ask for exactly the jobs you want, when you want them, and tells you what changed. APIs are easier to filter and keep up to date.
What is a job feed?
A job feed is a file, often XML, that lists a company’s or a job board’s jobs. You download the whole thing every time.
What is a jobs API?
A jobs API is a service you can ask questions. You can say “only nursing jobs in Manitoba” and get just those.
Side by side
| Job feed | Jobs API | |
|---|---|---|
| Get only what you need | No, you get the whole file | Yes, with filters |
| Know what changed | Compare files yourself | Use the change feed |
| Many employers in one format | Rarely | Yes |
| Good for | One employer’s jobs | Boards, apps and research |
Does The Jobs API have feeds too?
Yes. Besides search, we have simple JSON feeds for new jobs, changed jobs and expired jobs. They are made for loading into your own database every hour or every day.
Questions people ask
Can I get jobs as XML?
The API returns JSON. Most languages can turn JSON into XML in a few lines if your system needs XML.