CareerBuilder
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Employment, Recruitment, Talent management software |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Robert J. McGovern |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Europe, Asia (23 countries) |
Key people | Sue Arthur (CEO as of July 2021) |
| Products | Recruitment services, Talent management software |
| Owner | Apollo Global Management |
Number of employees | 3000–5000 (circa 2012) |
| Website | www |
CareerBuilder is a U.S.-based employment website established in 1995, with operations spanning the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company offers recruitment services alongside talent management software solutions. Its majority ownership lies with Apollo Global Management.
History
Originally launched as NetStart Inc. by Robert J. McGovern in 1995, the company initially focused on providing software that enabled businesses to post job listings and handle applicant responses.
In 1996, NetStart secured $2 million in funding, and by 1998 it rebranded to CareerBuilder, attracting an additional $7 million investment. The firm’s 1999 initial public offering generated $8 million more than anticipated, though it lagged behind other technology IPOs of the period. Microsoft acquired a minority interest in exchange for integrating CareerBuilder’s database into its web portal.
In 2000, CareerBuilder was purchased jointly by Knight Ridder and Tribune Company at $8 per share. The company grew through acquiring competitors such as CareerPath.com and Headhunter.net. By 2001, the classified job sections of major newspapers owned by Knight Ridder and Tribune were consolidated into CareerBuilder’s online platform.
Leadership changed in 2002 when Robert Montgomery succeeded McGovern as CEO. That year, Gannett invested $98.3 million to acquire a one-third stake, connecting CareerBuilder with its network of 90 newspapers across the country. Despite setbacks during the dot-com downturn, the company managed to rebound.
In 2006, McClatchy took over Knight Ridder, which then owned CareerBuilder. That same year, reports surfaced regarding fraudulent schemes targeting job seekers on CareerBuilder’s platform.
By 2008, CareerBuilder commanded the largest share of the U.S. online job market but later announced layoffs impacting approximately 300 employees.
The company expanded its global footprint through acquisitions such as Singapore’s JobsCentral and Germany’s JobScout24 in 2011, followed by the purchase of U.K.-based recruiting technology provider Broadbean in 2014. In 2012, it acquired Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI), which was later sold to Strada Education Network in 2018.
CareerBuilder introduced the RightSkill initiative in 2016 in partnership with Capella University and broadened its services to include background screening through Aurico and post-hire software capabilities via WORKTERRA acquisitions.
In June 2017, Apollo Global Management and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan acquired CareerBuilder, resulting in a workforce reduction of 120 employees by September that year. Irina Novoselsky was appointed CEO in October 2017, with Sue Arthur taking over in July 2021.
In September 2024, CareerBuilder merged with Monster.com, with majority ownership held by funds managed by Apollo.
On June 24, 2025, the combined CareerBuilder + Monster entity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to enable the divestiture of its job board operations to JobGet. Its government-focused software services are slated for sale to Canadian company Valsoft, while military.com and fastweb.com will be transferred to Canadian media organization Valnet. The company disclosed assets ranging from $50 million to $100 million and liabilities between $100 million and $500 million.
Operations
CareerBuilder is primarily owned by Apollo Global Management. In the past, ownership was shared among Tegna Digital, The McClatchy Company, and Tribune Media.
The company’s main headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, while its IT division operates out of Peachtree Corners, Georgia. CareerBuilder’s international headquarters can be found in London, England. Around 2012, the workforce numbered between 3,000 and 5,000 employees worldwide.
International scope
CareerBuilder maintains a presence in more than 60 markets spanning 23 countries beyond the United States. These include nations such as Canada, France, Germany, India, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It holds ownership of various subsidiaries like Kariera.gr in Greece and several French employment websites including Cao-emplois.com, Erecrut.com, Ingenieur-emplois.com, LesJeudis.com, PhonEmploi.com, and Recrulex.com. In the UK market, it controls platforms such as economicmodeling.com, oilandgasjobsearch.com, Jobmedic.co.uk, and Toplanguagejobs.com. Additionally, CareerBuilder operates specialized job portals like Sologig.com, Headhunter.com, CareerRookie.com, MiracleWorkers.com, WorkinRetail.com, and JobsInMotion.com.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Employment websites in the United States
- Apollo Global Management companies
- Business services companies established in 1995
- Internet properties established in 1995
- Companies based in Chicago
- 1995 establishments in the United States
- Professional networks
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025