Why couldn't SkillSyncer read the job posting from that link?

Why some job sites refuse an automated reader, what to do instead, and how reporting a site gets it fixed.

The site would not hand the posting over, so copy the job description off the page and paste it in instead. The scan you get back is identical either way, because the score is calculated from the description text rather than from the link.

Most likely cause: the site blocks automated readers

Plenty of job boards refuse any visitor that is not a person in a browser, and some keep their postings behind a login. Each of these messages names the site it applies to:

  • is a private job board that our parser cannot access
  • requires a login to view this posting
  • is blocking our automated parser
  • has a security certificate problem, so we cannot reach it safely
  • Our parser is having trouble connecting to

All five end with the same instruction, and it is the one that gets you scanning: copy the job description from the posting and paste it below. Include the responsibilities and qualifications, and leave out the company blurb, the benefits, and the legal boilerplate, since none of that is scored.

We read the page but only got part of it

We could not read the full job description means we reached the posting but the description came back incomplete. That usually happens on sites that load the body of the posting only after you scroll or click something. Pasting the description in brings the missing part with it.

  • We could not find a job listing at that URL. Either the posting has been taken down or the link points somewhere other than a job. Open it in your browser to check which.
  • Please enter a valid URL. The address has to be a full link starting with http or https, rather than a search result or a partial address.
  • File or Document URLs are not supported. A link that resolves to a PDF or a shared drive file cannot be parsed, so open the file and paste its text.
  • A link longer than 2,000 characters is refused. Trimming everything after the question mark removes the tracking parameters and usually brings it under.

Telling us about a site actually fixes it

Some sites we can support are not yet handled well, and the Report this job URL button on the parse dialog is how those improve. It files a report containing the URL and everything we managed to pull from it, and the extraction rules get rebuilt from exactly those reports. Adding a line about what came through wrong, the company name or a missing duties section for example, makes your report considerably more useful.

Reports are limited to 6 a minute, and past that you will see You have sent a few reports already. Please try again in a minute.

Still stuck?

Email support@skillsyncer.com with the job link. Pasting the description gets you scanning right now, so do that first and send us the link afterwards.