What is Job Wrapping? Automatically Import Job Listings
Understanding job wrapping, XML feeds, and how to automatically populate your job board with listings.
Job wrapping is the process of automatically importing job postings from employer career websites into your job board. Instead of manually copying listings, job wrapping automates the extraction and distribution of jobs across platforms.
The term "wrapping" comes from the idea of gathering up ("wrapping") an employer's open positions and posting them on your job board according to a schedule. You may also hear it called job scraping, mirroring, or spidering.
How job wrapping works
Job wrapping operates in three steps:
1. Data extraction
Software scans employer websites or data feeds and extracts job information:
Job title
Company name
Location
Description
Requirements
Salary (if available)
Application URL
2. Data transformation
The extracted information is standardized to fit your job board's format:
Consistent job categories
Standardized locations
Proper formatting
Required field mapping
3. Data distribution
The transformed data is posted to your job board, either immediately or on a schedule.
Two methods of job wrapping
XML feeds
XML (Extensible Markup Language) feeds are structured files containing job listings. They're the standard format for job data exchange.
How it works:
Employers or their ATS provide an XML feed URL
Your job board parses the feed periodically
New jobs are added, expired jobs are removed
Updates happen automatically (typically every 6-24 hours)
Advantages:
Reliable and structured data
Supported by most ATS platforms
Easy to parse and validate
Industry standard
Most Applicant Tracking Systems (like Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, and Workable) automatically generate XML feeds, making integration straightforward.
Web scraping
Web scraping extracts job data directly from career pages by reading the HTML.
How it works:
Scraper visits employer career pages
Identifies job listings in the page structure
Extracts relevant information
Converts to structured data
Advantages:
Works without employer cooperation
Can extract from any public career page
Useful when XML feeds aren't available
Challenges:
Breaks when websites change
May violate terms of service
Requires ongoing maintenance
On this page
Data quality can vary
Benefits of job wrapping
For job board owners
Content at scale: New job boards can quickly populate their platform with relevant listings, solving the chicken-and-egg problem of needing jobs to attract job seekers.
Always fresh content: Automated updates ensure your board shows current openings without manual work.
Reduced operational burden: No need to manually post and manage individual listings.
For employers
Broader distribution: Jobs posted once on their career site appear on multiple job boards automatically.
Time savings: No need to manually post on dozens of platforms separately.
Centralized management: Applications still flow to their ATS, keeping candidate data organized.
Job wrapping vs. backfill
Job wrapping and backfill are related but distinct:
Job wrapping is the technical process of extracting and importing jobs from external sources.
Backfill is the strategy of using wrapped jobs to populate your board with content, particularly when you're starting out or have gaps in certain categories.
In Cavuno, backfill uses job wrapping technology behind the scenes to automatically import relevant jobs for your board.
Setting up job wrapping
With Cavuno
Cavuno handles job wrapping through the backfill feature:
Don't import every job you can find. Focus on relevant, high-quality listings that serve your audience.
Maintain freshness
Remove expired jobs promptly. Stale listings frustrate job seekers and hurt your reputation.
Respect employers
If an employer asks to be removed, honor the request. Building relationships matters more than short-term content.
Complement, don't replace
Job wrapping is a content strategy for growth, not a replacement for direct employer relationships. Your goal should be converting backfilled employers into paying customers.
Common questions
Is job wrapping legal?
XML feeds provided by employers or ATSs are explicitly intended for distribution. Web scraping is more complex—check terms of service and consider the employer relationship.
Do job seekers know the difference?
Typically no. Wrapped jobs appear the same as directly posted jobs. The application process usually redirects to the employer's site.
Can I make money from wrapped jobs?
Job wrapping itself doesn't generate direct revenue. It's a content strategy to attract job seekers, who then become the audience you monetize through direct employer postings and other revenue streams.