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Home > Guides > Technical Guide > Understanding the Careers Component > To iFrame or Not to iFrame

To iFrame or Not to iFrame

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The iFrame is essentially a “picture-in-picture”-type situation. iFrame's are not a new concept but the trend seems to be picking up related to the usage of the tool.  Before choosing this option for the careers site connected to Cyber Recruiter, make sure that the solution is good from both a technical standpoint and a recruiting one. 

 

NOTE: While you may use iFrame's with the Careers module for Cyber Recruiter this is a customized installation. If you are having trouble with the application process or the Self Service module and you are using an iFrame, we will not be able to support the careers module. You may be asked to remove or disable the frame for troubleshooting issues when an iFrame is involved. 

Below are the PROs and CONs to think about related to Cyber Recruiter.

Pros

iFrames are good for websites that change frequently.  For the Cyber Recruiter pages, this would be a good option if the navigation along the top, a news or stock ticker panel on the left, etc. changes frequently.  This way the web developers can change items in one place instead of having to re-do a template frame.  

Cons

  1. This configuration cannot be used if Cyber Recruiter is in the Visibility Software "cloud".
  2. "Back" Buttons don’t always work because the address line does not change. While this may not seem like a big impact, it can be frustrating for an applicant. 
  3. Redirection and bookmarks don’t work because the URL in address bar is always the same.  This affects applicants who may bookmark certain jobs but, more importantly, will prevent re-direct links from external sources (like Job Boards) back to the individual position which was displayed.  So, the re-direct will point back to the main careers site and the applicant must research for the position before applying.
  4. Sometimes nested components don't work - like javascript components which allow for pop-up messages about required fields.  This is called "Broken Frame Set" (Reference in the Article below).
  5. iFrames don’t grow as the page grows - they have specific sizes, heights and widths - so if there is more data on the page than is allow by the formatting, it can exceed the size so the vertical scrolling bar appears. If that is the case and the applicant tries to print, only what is visible on screen will print.
  6. Parsing cannot be used with using an iFrame
    1. When using the parsing tool inside an iFrame with IE9 not in compatibility view, the resume will not parse and the applicant will be in a loop and not get past the intro page.  
    2. When using the parsing tool inside an iFrame with other browsers (Chrome and Edge have been tested) the resume parses and adds the data to the user's view but the applicant doesn't not see the data in his/her view.  So, it looks like the information was not entered and the applicant then enters the data and if the data creates a duplicate record he/she cannot complete the process.  
  7. If the social media buttons (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) are posted on the job description page, the link produced to re-direct the viewer back to the job will be the URL of the true careers page and not the summary URL.  For example, if the iFrame URL is www.visibilitysoftware.com/careers but URL for the actual careers site is employment.visibilitysoftware.com/careers/careers.aspx, the URL used in on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn will have the URL to employment.visibilitysoftware.com/careers/careers.aspx.
  8. Applicants may not be able to login to self service as the page never accepts their login and redirects as expected. 
More light reading on the topic:
http://www.mediacollege.com/internet/html/frames/pros-cons.html



See also