First the penny is going – and now Monster.
When I first started out as a web developer, Monster.com was one of the first websites I used to look for job opportunities. I remember carefully formatting my resume and uploading it, hoping a recruiter would see it and reach out. It wasn’t perfect or flashy, but it was the go-to site for job seekers at the time.
That news marked the end of an era for one of the internet’s earliest and most recognizable job platforms.
What Happened?
In 2024, Monster and CareerBuilder merged under private equity ownership in an effort to strengthen their position in the competitive online hiring market. However, less than a year later, the combined company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 24, 2025.
Their reported assets range between $50 million and $100 million, while liabilities are estimated between $100 million and $500 million. To support ongoing operations during restructuring, the company secured $20 million in debtor-in-possession financing.
The company is now selling key parts of its business:
- The main job board platform is being acquired by JobGet Inc., a newer recruitment startup focused on hourly and gig workers.
- Media properties such as Military.com and Fastweb.com are being sold to Valnet.
- The government contracting division will be purchased by Valsoft, a Canadian software firm.
These initial bids may be outbid during the bankruptcy auction process.
Related: Craigslist is not free anymore – you have to pay to post gigs and resumes too
Why Did This Happen?
Despite being early pioneers in the online job search space, the merged Monster and CareerBuilder company struggled with:
- Rapidly evolving market demands: Newer platforms offer faster, more intuitive experiences optimized for mobile.
- The rise of AI and improved scam protections: Essential features that Monster and CareerBuilder were slow to fully adopt.
- Strong competition: Platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed grew rapidly by innovating ahead.
Even the 2024 merger, backed by private equity, was not enough to overcome these challenges.
What Can You Learn?
If you’re building a website, job board, or any online platform, here are some important lessons:
- Keep your platform fast, clean, and user-friendly. Modern users expect speed and simplicity.
- Control your platform. Relying on third-party services for core features can be risky.
- Stay adaptable. Technology and user needs change quickly – plan to update regularly.
- Build trust. Users want secure, reliable, and easy-to-navigate experiences.
Related: 👉 Why plugin-free sites give you an edge
👉 How clean code boosts SEO, accessibility, and trust
👉 What makes a website builder the best for SEO
Build Your Own Job Board with UltimateWB
You don’t need to be a giant to run a successful job board. UltimateWB lets you create a fully customizable, scalable, and easy-to-manage job platform – no coding required. Use the built-in Classifieds app.
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The online hiring landscape is changing — make sure your website keeps up.
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