Cheezhead Recruiting News and Opinion

Alarm:clock broke the rumor that Google is interested in acquiring vertical job search engine Simply Hired (Cheezhead advertiser). The blogosphere is abuzz.

Simply Hired almost seems like it was built to be acquired by Google. Its angels are GOOG angels, its based in Mountain View, it targets the long tail and landed a MySpace deal, and Google doesn’t have a job search tool.

Never say never, but put me in the skeptical camp on this one. I’ve said from early on that acquisition was the name of the game for all the verticals, but it’s just not Google’s style to acquire a business model like Simply Hired’s.

With the exception of bringing in Simply Hired’s very talented workforce, there’s just not a lot of value there for Google: No particularly unique technology. An over-reliance on unstable content from job sites (remember Craig turning off the faucet last year). The model has little comparison to Google Base. And even partnerships with sites like MySpace ring hollow when Google’s already in bed with them.

And speaking of MySpace, that’s a much better fit in my opinion. Other suitors that make sense include IAC and maybe even Microsoft, who’s on a buying frenzy right now in hopes of competing with rival Google. No surprise to see both Simply Hired and Indeed gobbled up by the end of the year. Just don’t think the gobbling will be done by Google.

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