Reed

Overview

Reed operates as a United Kingdom-based online job board and recruitment service, established in 1960. It serves both job seekers looking for employment and employers seeking to fill vacancies. The platform encompasses a range of core products, including job search functionalities, CV upload and management, and comprehensive recruitment solutions for businesses. Reed's primary focus remains the UK job market, offering a localized resource for employment opportunities across various sectors.

For developers and technical buyers, Reed offers an API designed to facilitate the integration of its job listings and job seeker data into third-party applications. This API is particularly useful for companies developing applicant tracking systems (ATS), job aggregation services, or internal HR tools that require direct access to a curated database of UK jobs and candidate profiles. The API's capabilities allow for programmatic interaction with the Reed ecosystem, supporting processes such as posting jobs, searching for candidates, and managing applications. Developers can find detailed information and example code within the Reed developer documentation portal.

Integration with the Reed API can streamline recruitment workflows for businesses operating in the UK. For example, a company might use the API to automatically publish new job openings from their internal system directly to Reed, or to retrieve applications submitted via Reed for processing within their own ATS. The API supports common programming languages, including C#, PHP, Ruby, Python, Java, and Node.js, providing flexibility for different development environments. Adherence to GDPR compliance is a stated feature, addressing data privacy requirements for operations within the European Economic Area (EEA).

The platform's emphasis on the UK market makes it a focused tool for businesses with recruitment needs in that region. Its ability to integrate job listings and candidate data can enhance the reach and efficiency of recruitment efforts, offering a centralized point of access to a significant volume of UK employment data. The provided API keys manage access and ensure secure communication between integrated applications and the Reed platform, as outlined in the Reed API reference documentation.

Key features

• Job Search API: Programmatically search and retrieve job listings posted on Reed, filtering by criteria such as location, salary, industry, and job type. This allows for custom job board creation or integration into existing HR systems.
• Job Postings API: Employers can post new job vacancies directly to Reed through an API, automating the publication process and ensuring consistency with internal job descriptions.
• Candidate Data Access: Access to job seeker profiles and CVs (curriculum vitae) for recruitment purposes, facilitating candidate matching and outreach.
• Application Management: Integrate with application submission processes, allowing for the tracking and management of job applications submitted via Reed within an external system.
• Multi-language Code Examples: Developer documentation includes code examples in C#, PHP, Ruby, Python, Java, and Node.js to assist with rapid integration.
• API Key Authentication: Secure access to the API is managed through individual API keys, ensuring that only authorized applications can interact with Reed's data.
• GDPR Compliance: Adheres to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards for data handling and privacy within the UK and EEA.

Pricing

Reed's job posting pricing structure varies based on the package and volume of job listings. The standard package generally includes a single 28-day listing. Volume discounts and enhanced visibility options are available for businesses with higher recruitment needs.

For detailed and up-to-date pricing information, including various package tiers and optional add-ons, refer to the Reed recruitment pricing page.

Common integrations

Reed's API is designed for integration into various recruitment and HR technology stacks. Common integration points include:

• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Syncing job postings from an ATS to Reed and pulling applications back into the ATS for streamlined candidate management.
• HR Information Systems (HRIS): Publishing job openings directly from an HRIS module to Reed to centralize recruitment efforts.
• Custom Job Boards: Developing bespoke job search portals that display Reed's UK job listings alongside other sources.
• Talent Pools & CRM: Building and populating talent pools or recruitment CRM systems with candidate data and CVs from Reed.
• Recruitment Dashboards: Creating custom analytics and reporting dashboards that incorporate data on job post performance and application volumes from Reed.

Alternatives

• Indeed: A global job site offering extensive job listings and resume search capabilities, including a significant presence in the UK market.
• Totaljobs: Another major UK job board that provides job postings and candidate search services, often used by employers alongside Reed.
• LinkedIn Jobs: A professional networking platform with integrated job search and application features, leveraging professional profiles and connections.
• Google Cloud Talent Solution: A set of APIs for job search, job recommendations, and company profiles, designed to enhance job discovery and matching experiences.

Getting started

To begin using the Reed API, developers typically need to obtain an API key from the Reed developer portal. This key authenticates requests and provides access to the available endpoints, which include functionalities for searching jobs and accessing job seeker data. The following Python example demonstrates a basic API call to search for job listings using a hypothetical API key:

import requests
import json

# Replace 'YOUR_API_KEY' with your actual Reed API Key
API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY'
BASE_URL = 'https://www.reed.co.uk/api/1.0'

def search_jobs(keywords, location=None):
    headers = {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'api-key': API_KEY
    }
    params = {
        'keywords': keywords
    }
    if location:
        params['locationName'] = location

    try:
        response = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/search", headers=headers, params=params)
        response.raise_for_status() # Raise an HTTPError for bad responses (4xx or 5xx)
        return response.json()
    except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as http_err:
        print(f"HTTP error occurred: {http_err}")
    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError as conn_err:
        print(f"Connection error occurred: {conn_err}")
    except requests.exceptions.Timeout as timeout_err:
        print(f"Timeout error occurred: {timeout_err}")
    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as req_err:
        print(f"An error occurred: {req_err}")
    return None

if __name__ == "__main__":
    search_term = "Software Developer"
    search_location = "London"
    
    print(f"Searching for '{search_term}' jobs in '{search_location}'...")
    job_results = search_jobs(search_term, search_location)

    if job_results and 'results' in job_results:
        print(f"Found {len(job_results['results'])} jobs:")
        for job in job_results['results'][:5]: # Print first 5 results
            print(f"- {job.get('jobTitle')} at {job.get('employerName')} (Location: {job.get('locationName')})")
    elif job_results is not None:
        print("No job results found or unexpected response format.")
    else:
        print("Failed to retrieve job results.")

This Python script uses the requests library to make a GET request to the Reed search endpoint. It includes basic error handling for common HTTP and connection issues. Developers should consult the Reed documentation for the Jobseeker API for specific endpoint details, required parameters, and response formats to tailor their integration.