A Click Too Far (The Painful Recruitment Process)

March 11, 2010

Recently, while deeply engaged in one of my typical “the Internet has revolutionised recruitment” rants, I was cut off mid-sentence by the comment “yes, but not all revolutions are for the better”.

Despite my protests, my Job Seeking Friend (JSF) quickly demonstrated one of the problems online recruitment has brought to the process.  Let me lead you through the conversation:

JSF: “I want a PHP developer role in London”

Me: “Workhound is a good place to start, try that”

JSF: “Ok, here’s what I get”

Me: “The second one looks good, click on that”

JSF: “Ok, but now I’m on another site”

Me: “That’s because workhound is an aggregator”

JSF: “I thought I was on a job site”

Me: “No, we’re using an aggregator so we can look at jobs on lots of sites, like you would with Google or GoCompare – do you really work in IT?”

JSF: “OK that makes sense.  I want to apply for this job, I click on Apply…”

JSF: “…now I’m on another site, and there’s another Apply button” (looking smug)

Me: “That’s because JobSearch is also an aggregator (sort of), you’ve not reached the original advert yet” (looking like it should be obvious)

JSF: “So one alligator searches another alligator?”

Me: “It’s aggregator not alligator, and yes that’s right, keep going …”

JSF: “Look, there’s an ASP Web Developer role for 40k” (moving mouse towards the More Jobs Like These Box with clear intent to click)

Me: “Stay focused, your trying to apply for the PHP job”

JSF: “Fine, I’ll click on Apply again”

JSF: “Still no application form, just the job advert again, great this Internet recruiting” (smirks)

Me: “Click on the apply button” (frustrated)

JSF: “Oh look, the job advert again, another alligator?” (poor attempt at humour)

Me (triumphantly): “No, you’re into the Application Tracking System now, click on Apply and you’ll be able to put in your details” (punches the air)

JSF: “No, it originally had a salary of 45k now its 25k – 45k”

Me: “Oh go and see a recruitment consultant!”

In the space of a five minute conversation I was forced to accept the fact that for all of the good online recruitment brings, from a job seeker’s perspective it can be a painful process.  And that’s before the application process has even started.

Try it yourself with a Job Seeking Friend (one that’s not got aspirations of being a comedy stand-up), it’s an education.

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© Ingrid Prats | Dreamstime.com

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Monster Hotjobs

February 4, 2010

In case you’ve missed it, something big has happened across-the-pond in the world of digital recruiting.  Two of the big players in the sector, have now become one, with Monster buying Yahoo Hotjobs for USD 225 million (GBP 143 million).

It’s an interesting development, particularly given the ill health of the recruitment sector both home and abroad, but the deal is unlikely to have much to do with the economics of the sector.  Yahoo, who have had a history of bold acquisitions, are clearly “tidying shop” at the moment.

Some might see the deal as a cost effective purchase for Monster, after all Yahoo paid $436 million for HotJobs in 2001, after Monster’s parent company TMP Worldwide stepped out of the acquisition race.  Others will see it as a defensive move, to prevent a competitor (CareerBuilder for example) snapping up the company, with it’s important newspaper consortium.

We’re asking the question, if Monster’s got the cheque book out in the states, is it looking for acquisitions in the UK also?

Online Recruitment 2009

December 19, 2009

It’s been a difficult year for the online recruitment sector. Like many industries, the recession has bitten hard; the plummeting job numbers on job boards has been an obvious sign of the pain the sector has experienced. But it’s also been a year of unfaltering optimism for the value technology can bring to the recruitment process.

Take social media for example. The explosion in companies using Facebook as a communication tool and social branding platform has been impressive. Personally, I’ve been impressed by the use of Facebook Groups, particularly as a tool to maintain connections with casual or occasional workers. The jury might still be out on whether recruiting via Facebook will be a winner, but it is now almost impossible to dismiss Facebook as an employment messaging platform.

 

The same can be said for Twitter, which this year has emerged from its ‘geeky origins’ and gone main stream. We’ve seen great innovations like TwitterJobSearch, together with some impressive advice on how to use the platform for recruiting purposes. Many employers are still asking themselves the question “To tweet or not to tweet?”, the answer to which is hopefully being driven by ROI analysis.

But of course, what is more encouraging than ever is the growing number of sites and individuals offering valuable information to those new to the online recruitment process. This year CareerPlayer emerge as a valuable source of guidance for graduate job seekers, which was underlined by the site winning not one, but two, NORA categories. Couple that with CareerSiteAdvisor arriving as a resource for the employer market and it’s hard not to feel optimistic; after all education is the key to greater adoption.

 

The recession might have bitten hard this year, but the industry has certainly bared its teeth back and prepared for the fight. With this much energy in the sector, 2010 is set to be a very exciting year. 

Merry Christmas!