It's the future of the job hunt. As part of a broad job search strategy, online recruitment can make looking for a job easier than ever before. As technology and the Internet have exploded in popularity, online recruitment has also become extremely popular with job searchers.
Many job searchers love using online recruitment sites because they are so easy to search and find open job positions. There are a wide range of such sites available on the Internet, so finding one that is appropriate to your needs is not too difficult. When used as part of an overall job search strategy, online recruitment sites can be very helpful and time-saving.
Understanding how online recruitment Websites operate will help you understand the power of online recruitment. Employers may pay a fee to post their open positions on a particular Website, and might also pay additional fees based on the number of CVs they receive and any special handling or processing they want the web site to handle. The Website is responsible for advertising and promoting jobs/vacant positions site to help attract the most qualified candidates possible. Recruiters can promote their vacancies directly to the site's community of candidates, or search the databases for the people they need.
For the job seeker, online recruitment Websites offer access to job postings and the ability to post their CV/profile online, excluding personal identifiable information. Most offer a variety of search functions for finding vacant positions, as well as articles and information on how best to conduct a job search. These services are typically free when the job seeker registers with the Website.
Job Websites usually fall into two groups. Some of them are recruitment sites that list the job vacancies and you apply directly to the company. Sites such as www.stepstone.com collect various Website links to different recruitment sites and agencies enabling you to browse general recruitment sites, find holiday work and placements or look at sector-specific recruitment.
The second type of site is run by recruitment agencies. These are sales-driven and require job seekers to fill their vacancies. You register your application and/or CV with them and possibly have a chat about the type of work you're looking for so they, in turn, can assist you find a suitable job.
Recruitment agencies work in two ways, firstly by approaching companies and offering candidates from their own files/databases; and then by advertising jobs on behalf of companies and producing a shortlist of candidates for interview.
The advantages of using online recruitment sites are that recruitment consultants are recruitment experts and it's free to register with them and you benefit from their contacts. The online application saves time when you want to apply for multiple jobs at one time, or apply for several positions throughout the year.
You will be able to learn about job openings and apply for positions at any time and from any computer with access to the Web. There are clear advantages for those employees that have been made redundant. A candidate using the Internet can discover and apply for new positions more regularly than a candidate who waits for the weekly publication of a newspaper or trade magazine.
Serious recruitment agencies ask for the candidate's consent before forwarding his/her CV to a prospective employer. Furthermore, candidates also have the right to choose whether their CV/application is forwarded to a particular client or not.
Other more advanced services on a recruitment Website are available to job seekers for a fee. Examples of these services may include CV writing assistance, information boards and forums for job searchers, and other products or services designed to assist with a job search.
These sites have a huge database of job postings and candidate CVs and are excellent sources of information about various professions, industries and career fields. They are a good resource to consult if you are not sure what career field is most attractive to you or if you want to research different professions.
As online recruitment sites have surged in popularity, more and more specialised Websites have emerged. You can search out online recruitment sites that specialise in a particular profession, geographic region, or even a specific city or community.
These sites generally have more detailed job postings and are usually favoured by employers who do not want to deal with the huge quantity of resumes that typically come in from one of the larger sites.
Online guides are provided to give insights into motivating the most qualified candidates to respond to your company's job postings and how to prepare compelling job descriptions to target qualified candidates.
As a job seeker, finding a specialised recruitment Website is relatively easy. You can search using the name of your profession, or check with one of your industry's trade or professional organisations. Many of these groups maintain their own postings of job openings and if not they likely can refer you to an appropriate online recruitment site.
Also, most online recruitment agencies have their job search split by category, making it relatively easy for the job seeker to browse specialised sections.
Online recruitment has proved particularly successful for IT and Website programming; technical jobs (or jobs that require a definable skill-set); contract work; temporary recruitment; graduates and senior positions.
Sites such as E-lance in the US and Smarterwork and Mondus in Europe match employers with providers of business services such as software programming, design and editorial services, which bid online for the business. These sites charge employers a commission on the contract value. Employers describe the type of worker they need and the nature of the project. The request is matched to a pool of temps, mostly from the books of partner recruitment agencies.
All university graduates have Internet access through their institutions, and most final-year students seek employment via the Internet. However, for very senior placements, face-to-face contact clearly remains an essential part of the recruitment process.
Yes. It is cost-effective, gives added value and saves time. A recent testimonial shows how a diving instructor who is a member of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors recently applied for a job in the Bahamas that was advertised in the association's e-mail newsletter.
He got the job online without even a telephone interview and was off there in a couple of weeks. His experience alone was what got him the job. The online application was so detailed and professionally set up that he knew beforehand exactly what would be expected of him, and what would be coming his way. It was the simplest and most straightforward job search of his life.
This experience is mirrored in a recent poll of visitors to the US-based Recruiters Network Website, where 77 per cent of firms said Internet job postings had been more effective than other advertising mediums in the past three months.
Online recruitment is extremely good value for money. It works out far cheaper than other forms of advertising.
Applicant tracking software can provide detailed information on who applied for your advert, when and where from. You receive this information instantly, allowing you to monitor your advertising campaign and make it even more effective.
If your company is not advertising its positions online, or at the very least on its own company Website, they will miss out. When companies advertise in a newspaper they will probably place the advertisement online as well.
CSB, operators of VacancyCentre.com, has been supporting the local business community since 1987. For more information write to CSB at 185D, Old Bakery Street, Valletta VLT 1455, call 2123 2224 or 2123 2225, fax 2123 2226, e-mail support@vacancycentre.com or visit the recruitment portal www.VacancyCentre.com.
© Copyright 2007. Commercial Services Bureau (CSB) Ltd.