Internet based IT recruitment

INFORMATION Technology is perhaps the only industry in which the number of job opportunities is far greater than the number of skilled professionals available. Traditionally, Head- hunters and internal Human Resources (HR) departments have been the main sources of recruitment for IT companies. These modes of recruitment are used even today. However, given the quick turnover and rapidly changing skills, IT companies today prefer web-enabled recruitment.

There are over 40 job sites on the Internet today, and the numbers are on the rise. Most of them are general job sites like Naukri.dot.com and alltimejobs.com. Ranging from beauticians and nurses to lawyers and engineers, anybody can look for a job on these sites. Several horizontal portals like rediff.com, yahoo.com, financialexpress.com and IT specific web sites - and ITspace.com have job sections as well.

We also have IT specific recruitment sites like winjobs.com computerjobs.com, netpilgrim.com, careermosaicindia.com and jobcurry.com.

The shortage of skilled IT professionals with the need for quick deployment of projects and the anonymity offered by the web are major factors that have contributed to the growing popularity of web-based recruitment. Modern day professionals have dismissed the postal service as `snail mail' and do not have the time to depend on the transactions carried out through this mode of communication. For instance, a project slated to begin in four to six weeks, needs to have a task force of 150 in place within a month. Using age old and long drawn recruitment procedures in this situation, is meaningless.

A job seeker's resume is their identity on the web site. Similarly, employers post their job requirements on the web site. Resumes and jobs are matched using basic criteria like skill sets and job location. Once candidates post their resume, they can run a search and view jobs that match their profile. An employer can do the same, search for candidates he requires for a particular job requirement. Sites like careermosaicindia.com and jobcurry.com also have the added facility of an e-mail notification service to keep employers and jobseekers updated about their status. A job seeker is informed immediately if an employer displays an interest in his resume or if a job that suits his profile is posted on the site. An employer is informed if a job seeker applies for his job or if a resume suitable to his requirements is posted on the site.

Despite the speed and efficiency offered by net-based transactions, one must understand that the `virtual candidate' must ultimately translate into a real world person who will ultimately work with the organisation. If a personal interview is not possible, a telephonic interview or video conferencing can be conducted. These are important aspects of recruitment, for the employer needs to know about the candidate he will hire. Apart from matching resumes and jobs, sites like careeermosaicindia.com and jobcurry.com take care of the `real world' processes in the form of White Glove services. If an employer opts for these White Glove services, these sites conduct all the stages of the recruitment cycle.

This includes screening of resumes, short listing candidates, setting up and conducting interviews, document completion and visa processing in case of overseas employers.

Job seekers and employers are both equally important for a recruitment site. It is only because there is a large number of quality ``resumes on the site, that employers post jobs and vice versa. Features like an opinion poll or chat are available on almost all web sites. There are sites that provide information on career building and self-development. Utilitarian features like a Time Converter and a Currency Converter are quite popular.

Technical tests devised by leading web-based certifier Brain bench are available on jobcurry.com. A jobseeker can appear for a test sitting at home in India and the results can directly be conveyed to his prospective employer in another part of the world! Similarly, careermosaicindia offers tests from its associated site that are a useful way of validating ones own preparedness for a career.

Any new technology brings with it, certain doubts and fears about its usage. Jobseekers are usually worried about goof ups like resumes landing on the current employer's desk. The most common query coming from employers is that ``Would a resume search will yield a host of junk mail''?

Jobseekers can use the Security Option available at almost all the sites by which a resume withholding the job seeker's contact and project details can be circulated. Besides, it is essential for employers to fill in their URL in the job posting form. This ensures that a jobseeker is always aware of the name of the company before he applies for a job.

The back end infrastructure at sites like careermosaicindia.com and jobcurry.com weed out junk resumes on a daily basis. Good but incomplete resumes are updated by interacting with the job seekers via e- mail. As employers post jobs on the site, they should give an accurate description of their requirements. Search engines of sites like careeermosaicindia.com and jobcurry.com ensure that only those resumes that match the specifications will be displayed. However, any body, anywhere can post his resume on any web site. It is impossible to control this exercise. After all, the Internet is a democratic medium.

Manjiri Kalghatgi is a Content Manager with jobcurry.com