Introduction -the following article summarises the functional and technical capabilities of online job search websites to deliver job listings, job resources, employment guides and training assistance…
Job Search Capability - many websites that provide job listings, provide a variety of ways to search for a job vacancies. This provides the user with the ability to browse and search through millions of job positions in seconds. Nearly all job listings website provide the ability to contact the advertiser via some kind of secure message contact form. Some employers will advertiser directly, adding their telephone number and contact details to the advert. Others prefer to hide their contact details and use a recruitment agency to field enquiries. This saves employers the time and hassle of sifting through large number of potentially inappropriate applications. Most provide the ability to search via a combination of the following criteria:-
- Industry Vertical - accountancy, clerical, IT, science, construction etc;
- Geographical Location - countries, states and towns;
- Salary Ranges
- Basis of Remuneration - wages per hour, per day, annual salary or a fixed contract
- Hours of Work - full time or temporary position
- Closing Date for Applications
Post Your CV - many job listing websites provide their members with the capability to upload and post a curriculum vitae to their website. Some even provide a form based wizard tool, for the user to build their own CV online, by filling in the gaps. An increasing number of employers are cutting out the recruitment middleman, and browsing job listings websites themselves, to find suitable candidates from their CV's.
Employers A to Z - when jobseekers know the type of employer, or even the name of employer they wish to contact, it is a simple exercise to browse through lists of well-organised local employers, structured alphabetically or by geography. The ability to organise employers alphabetically is a simple exercise, when a job listings website effectively capitalises on database technology.
Careers Advice - many of the larger job listings websites are run by experienced recruitment agencies with the expertise of recruitment professionals. This provides an ideal opportunity to offer articles on careers advice for users to browse through at their leisure. In particular, details of local career advice centres, employment seminars and trade conferences can be posted, providing up-to-date information and resources for jobseekers. Many job listing websites also provide useful and interesting articles on specific issues such as writing a CV, interview techniques and business training.
Saved Searches - some job listing websites have the ability to save a specific search that interests them. Most provide the ability to register and login. This provides the capability for a user to save a specific search result so they can review the latest job vacancies at a future date.
Jobs By Email (Message Alerts) - many job listings websites also provide the functionality of an e-mail alert to their registered members. The purpose of this function is to provide a customised message alert, defined by the member, to send the latest available jobs by e-mail. Most online job listings web sites provide the ability to customise the content of this e-mail, by their chosen industry or local area. The message is delivered by either e-mail or SMS text message to their mobile phone. When a job is posted which matches their alert criteria, the message is instantly sent, prompting them to browse the details of the vacancy online. As a jobseeker, use an e-mail address that is not normally deluged with spam, as your antispam software may inadvertently delete a vital job alert.
Traditional Recruitment - the recruitment industry has capitalised on the Internet by offering some of the most advanced job websites, with a huge number of openings, backed up by a national chain of recruitment offices. The main advantage recruitment agencies have over online only job listing websites, is that local advisers can provide a 'human face' to help people locally in a local recruitment branch office. At the same time, a large number of smaller recruitment agencies that do not have national capabilities, (or the financial resources to create national or international job listing website), have suffered in recent years, from the explosion of online recruitment websites. The incestuous nature of the Internet means that jobs can be advertised on multiple competing sites, and from multiple recruitment agencies, based anywhere in the world.
Data Sharing Using RSS/ XML - many of the larger job listings website and job portals provide the ability for other websites to use 3rd party data on their own website, via RSS and XML data feeds. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows you to keep up to date with new information as soon as it is added to a website. RSS/ XML technology provides the ability to post data in a universally recognized format, so that other websites can use that data themselves within their own search results. It is also provided for users who have XML and RSS News Readers located on the users computer. Examples of news readers are Bloglines, Newsgator and Google Reader, located on their computer. This means that users can browse the latest job openings without having to visit multiple websites. The job data simply appears within the data reader located on the users computer. This saves them the hassle of navigating and locating the latest jobs from multiple websites.
Qualifying Job Adverts - with literally millions of adverts accessible with a few clicks of a mouse, it is important for job seekers to obtain as much detail on any possible job opportunity as possible. Always check the deadline for applications to ensure it is not passed. If the deadline is not listed on the advert, telephone or e-mail the advertiser to check whether it is still worth pursuing a job application. This also provides a good excuse to ask any other general questions and introduce yourself. Beware of advertisements from recruitment agencies that do not provide very many contact details or excludes the name of the employer. This may be a sign that they are more interested in registering jobseekers on their website. If the website is encouraging you to post your resume, read the terms and conditions very carefully and check the authenticity of the company that runs the website. Make sure the company concerned has registered to protect any personal data, according to the laws of the land where they are based. Read the 'about us' section to understand how data is secured an encrypted, to protect it from hackers, seeking to retrieve personal information.