homegirl - 7:15 pm on Jan 23, 2003 (gmt 0)

Hmm, maybe I should have been clearer. I agree that the FAST option "enables" CareerBuilder to (their words) "automatically return matches from pay-for-position clients rather than only returning results based on traditional search-term relevancy". That's all I meant by "customizable"; customizable for CareerBuilder since their definition of relevancy will encompass paid-positions.

I suspect this sort of customization will not lead to greater relevance; however, insofar as it's a free resource, it provides a model for profitability.

The article also says that FAST "offered speed far beyond what CareerBuilder had experienced". Assuming CareerBuilder reviewed several search engines, including Google, I'm sure a lot of factors went into their decision. However, I suspect the "customizability" factor and their flexibility (to accommodate both real-time updates AND turn over control of both the apps/servers to CareerBuilder) plus unspoken-things such as price were key to the final decision.

Should also add "THANK GOD Google's app doesn't allow for that 'customizability' yet." because you know some people in Google marketing will be wondering that. If its algos did, then it would be open to even more manipulation of the wrong kind.