NORA 2014

14 years seems like a long time, doesn’t it? Certainly in Internet-years, 14 years can seem like a lifetime. If you can remember what you were doing in the online recruitment sector in 2001, then you will have seen a world of changes in the subsequent years. Revolution became evolution, newcomers became the establishment, and crazy ideas became relevant, ubiquitous and then often obsolete again.

As we launch nominations for the 2014 NORAs, it is important to restate our purpose, which remains the same now, as it did in 2001. The National Online Recruitment Awards were established in order to demonstrate to candidates and jobseekers the very best available online recruitment services. At that time almost all online recruitment provision was merely emulating the format of print advertising, which was still dominant in 2001. 14 years ago most major publishers were still resisting the notion of advertising jobs online. Today the reverse is true, where almost every major job board is owned by publishers or global organisations.

The NORAs does not tell jobseekers what we feel they need to hear. Rather, the NORAs reflects the opinions of the jobseeking public, through their nominations, feedback, and by assessing recruitment websites from the perspective of a candidate. The NORAs is entirely independent from vested interests, and always will be.

As you will know, the NORAs have now been in existence for 14 years. In that time, we have shortlisted almost 300 separate recruitment websites for our annual awards. These websites, as nominated by the public, and shortlisted by us, represent the very best in our industry each year, in each of our award categories. As a body of websites and organisations, our Finalists and Winners have demonstrated that they are in tune with the needs of the jobseeking public, and have delivered services which excel in this regard.
Equally, throughout the past 14 years the NORAs has benefited hugely from the expertise, credibility and knowledge of our judging panels. Our judges have been crucial to the success and longevity of the NORAs.

We are now going to recognise this more formally by establishing an Academy, whose membership is drawn from past Finalists, Winners, and judges. This will NOT be any kind of industry body, institute or association. This would very simply be a group of like-minded and similarly motivated people and websites recognised in the NORAs.
For the first time also, we are establishing a peer award, voted for exclusively by the members of the NORA Academy. From the Finalists announced this year, each member will be able to vote for the recruitment website they believe represents the very best in online recruitment for 2014.