The Beginning of a Digital Recruitment Revolution
In 2003, from a modest flat above a bustling café in Slough, England, a bold idea took shape. Alexander Paterson envisioned a new era of recruitment — one that would break free from the limitations of the high street.
That vision became Check4Jobs.com, a pioneering job search aggregator designed to revolutionize how recruitment consultancies showcased their vacancies. For the first time, agencies could connect with candidates at scale through a streamlined digital platform — a major leap toward the future of online hiring.
Growth and Transformation
By 2011, what started as a small job board had evolved into a powerful search engine, growing from 100 job listings to more than 500,000 across the UK.
Recognizing the changing tides of digital recruitment, Alexander led a bold rebrand — transforming Check4Jobs into AdView in May 2011. The platform introduced real-time job alerts via email, RSS, and XML, setting a new standard for job discovery in the UK.
Vision for Expansion
A pivotal moment came in 2016 when Shane McGourty joined as the company’s first Sales Director. His arrival brought fresh strategic insight and a roadmap to elevate the business from a regional site into a global force.
Together, McGourty and Paterson set out to build a leading online job search brand. Over the next three years, they laid the foundation for WhatJobs.com, fostering credibility across the industry and preparing for expansion into the United States and beyond.
Establishing Global Influence
2017 marked a strategic turning point as the team began recruiting top industry talent to bring their vision to life.
This year also saw the launch of AdView’s Global Publisher Program, quickly earning industry acclaim and positioning the brand as a leader in performance-based recruitment marketing.
Strategic Alliances and Growth
In 2018, Alexander — with Shane’s introduction — brought Adil Rehman on board. The Managing Director of Gigajob.com, Adil played a key role in extending AdView’s reach, especially across the DACH region of Europe.
Convinced by the company’s vision, Adil joined the board of directors that same year, marking a new chapter of strategic leadership and growth.
Technological Excellence
2019 ushered in a new era of innovation with the appointment of Sudhakar “Sudi” Gunaseelan, a standout software engineer endorsed by Adil.
Sudi’s arrival as COO marked the beginning of a technological renaissance — driving performance, scalability, and advanced infrastructure across the platform.
A Bold Response to Global Challenges
2020 brought unexpected global upheaval. Yet amid the pandemic, McGourty and Paterson — alongside Adil and Sudi — chose bold action over retreat.
The result was a strategic rebrand: AdView became WhatJobs, signifying a renewed commitment to international expansion. By the end of the year, WhatJobs had launched in 31 countries across all continents.
Rising Stars and Celebrating Our Team
In 2023, we proudly celebrated the achievements of Brandon East and Alex McDowell, two early contributors whose dedication helped shape our journey. Brandon was appointed Creative Lead, and Alex stepped into the role of Operations Director.
Their growth exemplifies our belief in recognizing and rewarding talent. At WhatJobs, we invest in our people — because their success is our success. Join us, and you could be the next great story we celebrate.
Today and Beyond
As the world continues to change, WhatJobs’ mission remains more relevant than ever. We’re constantly evolving our offerings to meet the needs of a diverse, global audience.
With innovation at our core and entrepreneurship in our DNA, we’re committed to expanding opportunities for job seekers everywhere. The journey that began in a small flat in Slough continues to shape the future of recruitment — and we’re just getting started.