{{Short description|British employment website}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2013}} {{Use British English|date=August 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} '''Universal Jobmatch''' was a British website for finding job vacancies. The site was developed in a collaboration between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Monster Worldwide, an American provider of employment services that operates Monster.com, a global employment website.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joint letter from Neil Couling (Head of Jobcentre Plus, DWP) and Sal Iannuzzi (CEO, Monster)|url=http://info.monster.co.uk/jobcentre-plus-monster-joint-letter/article.aspx|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>
==History== ===The concept=== The website replaced the JobCentre Plus' Job Search Tool and Employer Services Direct, which were part of the Directgov online system set up in the UK's New Deal employment system. The service was introduced as part of a Government project to enable the DWP to monitor client's jobsearch activities directly, and as part of its "Digital By Default" agenda to migrate more British citizens to subscribe to an online process when claiming both unemployed and in-work benefits.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DWP's Digital Strategy|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193901/dwp-digital-strategy.pdf|last=|first=|date=December 2012|website=gov.uk|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> At the same time that Universal Jobmatch was switched on, the DWP closed its existing processes supporting Job Search and Employer Services Direct, migrating its customers to the new system, and reported that 460,000 employers were posting jobs and the site was receiving over 6 million searches per day.
By February 2013 there were 2 million registered users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.managers.org.uk/news/universal-jobmatch-service-getting-6-million-searches-daily |title=Universal Jobmatch service getting '6 million searches daily' |publisher=Chartered Management Institute |date= |accessdate=5 November 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102133130/http://www.managers.org.uk/news/universal-jobmatch-service-getting-6-million-searches-daily |archivedate=2 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The site was also more user-friendly and less verbose in mid 2013.<ref name="wordpress1">{{cite web |date=15 November 2012 |title=Universal Jobmatch: How On Earth Can It Work? |url=http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/universal-jobmatch-how-on-earth-can-it-work/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106051716/http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/universal-jobmatch-how-on-earth-can-it-work/ |archivedate=6 November 2013 |accessdate=5 November 2013 |publisher=Ipswich Unemployed Action |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Mooted demise=== According to a report in ''The Guardian'' in March 2014, leaked documents from the DWP indicated that the government had formulated plans to scrap Universal Jobmatch when the contract for the site came up for renewal in 2016, due to the numbers of fake and repeat job adverts posted to the site and because of cost concerns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/16/dwp-jobs-website-universal-jobsmatch|title=DWP draws up plans to ditch ridiculed jobs website|last1=Malik|first1=Shiv|date=16 March 2014|website=theguardian.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319034755/http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/16/dwp-jobs-website-universal-jobsmatch|archivedate=19 March 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=19 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Replacement=== On 26 April 2018 a message was placed on the home page saying the service would be replaced by "Find a job" on 14 May 2018.<ref name="UJBanner">{{cite web|title=Universal Jobmatch (homepage)|url=https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/register.aspx?redirect=http%3a%2f%2fjobsearch.direct.gov.uk%2fhome.aspx|website=Universal Jobmatch|accessdate=11 May 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511215817/https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/register.aspx?redirect=http%3a%2f%2fjobsearch.direct.gov.uk%2fhome.aspx|archivedate=11 May 2018|quote=Universal Jobmatch will be replaced by the Find a job service on 14 May 2018. Important: If you have an existing Universal Jobmatch account it will not move to the new service. Save any information you want to keep, like your CV, cover letters and application history by 17 June 2018.}}</ref> Users were advised to save their information by 17 June 2018 as logins would not be moved to the new system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adzuna.co.uk/blog/2018/03/20/adzuna-wins-contract-for-universal-jobmatch-service/|title=Adzuna Wins Contract for Universal Jobmatch service – Blog|website=www.adzuna.co.uk|date=20 March 2018 }}</ref><ref name="UJBanner" />
==Security problems== Hacktivists created an plug-in addition for the Google Chrome browser to allow the automatic distribution of CVs to any recruiters through Universal Jobmatch.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/07/jobseekers-site-spammed-with-cvs-by-activists|title=Jobseekers' site spammed with CVs by activists|author=Alex Hern|work=the Guardian|date=7 December 2013 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916181755/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/07/jobseekers-site-spammed-with-cvs-by-activists|archivedate=16 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
From January 2013, Universal Jobmatch stated regularly on their relevant web pages that users should "never ever give out things like scanned passports, national insurance numbers or bank account details until a job offer has officially been made".<ref>{{cite web |title=JobSeeker's Allowance (JSA) |url=https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/safety |work=www.gov.uk}}</ref><ref name="JobSeeker's Allowance JSA">{{cite web |title=JobSeeker's Allowance (JSA) |url=https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/further-information |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011045000/https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/further-information |archivedate=11 October 2015 |work=www.gov.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Safer Jobs |url=https://www.safer-jobs.com/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106013205/https://www.safer-jobs.com/ |archivedate=6 November 2015 |work=safer-jobs.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Universal Jobmatch jobs and skills search - Help |url=https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/help/help.aspx?k=/inline#searchtips |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129210500/https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/help/help.aspx?k=%2Finline#searchtips |archivedate=29 January 2018 |work=direct.gov.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
== Issues ==
===Early teething problems=== Early controversy arose due to some of the people who registered with Universal Jobmatch being targeted by dubious organisations and individuals in financial scams.<ref name="wordpress1" /> ''Channel 4 News'' ran a feature, in December 2012, which explained how this new government service was being used to obtain personal details of jobseekers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Universal Jobmatch Alternative - We Respect Your Privacy |url=http://www.universaljobmatchplus.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927013617/http://www.universaljobmatchplus.co.uk/ |archivedate=27 September 2015 |work=Universal Jobmatch Plus |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Tender controversy=== On 12 February 2014, it was revealed in a Freedom of Information Act request<ref>{{cite web |date=19 March 2013 |title=Universal Jobmatch procurement (first tender) |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/universal_jobmatch_procurement_f |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221184953/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/universal_jobmatch_procurement_f |archivedate=21 February 2014 |work=whatdotheyknow.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref> that Monster did not win the Universal Jobmatch tender, falling into last place on value and second to last place on evaluation scoring,<ref name="wordpress.com">{{cite web |date=12 February 2014 |title=Universal Jobmatch – Tender Scam - Ipswich Unemployed Action. |url=http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/universal-jobmatch-tender-scam/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303175717/http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/universal-jobmatch-tender-scam/ |archivedate=3 March 2014 |work=Ipswich Unemployed Action. |df=dmy-all}}</ref> until the service was put back out to tender.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 March 2013 |title=Universal Jobmatch procurement (first tender) - a Freedom of Information request to Department for Work and Pensions |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/153748/response/390213/attach/3/FOI+1309+Response+150513+Final.pdf |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083131/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/153748/response/390213/attach/3/FOI%201309%20Response%20150513%20Final.pdf |archivedate=4 March 2016 |publisher= |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The UK Government paid £950,000 in compensation to Methods Consulting Limited and Jobsite UK (Worldwide) Limited,<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact (for personal messages only, not advice or guidance) |url=http://refuted.org.uk/2013/12/20/bungabungle/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217005858/http://refuted.org.uk/2013/12/20/bungabungle/ |archivedate=17 February 2014 |work=refuted.org.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref> who should have won both tenders when the new contract was awarded. Concerns were raised as to how Monster's "satisfactory" evaluation score and high bid during the first tender, were followed by a near-perfect evaluation score and a bid of under half the original in the second tender. This change made them competitive, but resulted in allegations of insider dealing and corruption.<ref name="wordpress.com" />
=== Benefit sanctions for non-compliance === From 1 March 2013, JobCentre Plus advisers could, if giving a good reason, require Jobseeker's Allowance claimants to use the site through a JobSeeker Direction. If they refused to comply, they could be recommended for a benefit sanction. A decision-maker took the final decision over whether benefit should be removed, which as a consequence of the UK Government's Welfare Reform Act 2012, could lead to a loss of state benefits for up to 3 years.<ref name="JobSeeker's Allowance JSA" /><ref>{{cite web |author= |date=4 March 2013 |title=JobSeekers required to use Universal Jobmatch |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2013/mar-2013/dwp030-13.shtml |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411022911/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2013/mar-2013/dwp030-13.shtml |archivedate=11 April 2013 |accessdate=5 November 2013 |publisher=Department for Work and Pensions |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref> {{cite web |title=Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/further-information |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011045000/https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/further-information |archivedate=11 October 2015 |accessdate=2015-11-03 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Registered users had the option to allow the DWP to have access to their account to allow the department to monitor their activity,<ref>{{cite web |title=Universal Jobmatch jobs and skills search - |url=https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/Account/TermsConditions.aspx?mid=302375&did=302376&md=15/11/2012%2011:58:00&opt=1073&mp=upd |work=direct.gov.uk }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> as requested by Monster, the site provider on behalf of the DWP. Whilst this was not mandatory, some claimants were threatened with benefit sanctions for not doing so.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 December 2012 |title=Log on or stop signing on, Iain Duncan Smith says in warning to job seekers |url=http://metro.co.uk/2012/12/20/log-on-or-stop-signing-on-iain-duncan-smith-says-in-warning-to-job-seekers-3326097/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106212614/http://metro.co.uk/2012/12/20/log-on-or-stop-signing-on-iain-duncan-smith-says-in-warning-to-job-seekers-3326097/ |archivedate=6 November 2013 |accessdate=5 November 2013 |work=Metro (British newspaper) |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)] at GOV.UK * [https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job Find a job] at GOV.UK
{{DEFAULTSORT:Universal Jobmatch}} Category:Business services companies established in 2012 Category:2012 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Department for Work and Pensions Category:Employment agencies of the United Kingdom Category:Government services web portals in the United Kingdom Category:Internet properties established in 2012 Category:Unemployment in the United Kingdom Category:Welfare in the United Kingdom Category:Employment websites in the United Kingdom Category:Business services companies disestablished in the 21st century