Write the decision first
State what the data will help someone do: find a role, research an employer, compare markets, or study skills demand. Name the roles, locations, time period, and fields the task needs. This keeps a vendor demo from setting your requirements for you.
Test representative records
Request examples across several employers, regions, and source types. Include long descriptions, multiple locations, duplicate postings, and null salary values. Compare each record with its original source and mark which fields your product can actually use.
Ask what each date means
Separate the employer’s published date from when a record was first observed, last checked, or considered closed. Write down the definition, time zone, and update method for each date in your acceptance notes.
Calculate the whole workflow
Compare the data allowance and request allowance separately. Add integration work, monitoring, deduplication, attribution, storage, and the rights your product needs. Do not compare monthly prices until the included units mean the same thing.
Agree on a pass/fail test
Choose a small set of measurable checks: required-field presence, source match, duplicate handling, and acceptable record age. Keep the sample and the test date so another reviewer can reproduce the decision.