Get a Job, Gen Y!

Way back in 1999, Business Week proffered some sage advice. It told its readers this:

“The marketers that capture Generation Y’s attention do so by bringing their messages to the places these kids congregate, whether it’s the internet, a snowboarding tournament or cable TV.”

It seems that finally, after all this time, some folks in recruitment are taking on board the advice.Speaking of Gen Y’s, remember when News Corporation purchased the in social networking site MySpace and made some Gen Y’s very rich? CareerOne, also part of News, has now officially integrated its job search into MySpace.I’m sure you’ll agree that the page looks great. And I’m a bigger supporter than anyone of the growing need for businesses of all descriptions to use the internet as their primary marketing tool. However, there is a glaring problem with the way the team at CareerOne has executed this innovative marketing plan.Consider for the moment that you’re a 20-something gen-yer, ipod eared and determined not to take a 9 to 5 job, but aware that your parents are getting narky about your not paying board…food…your own toiletries…I’ll stop now, before I sound like a moaning Babyboomer.Anyway, you’re on MySpace, checking out your own profile, and think that you might start your job search. You type in “jobs”and search myspace. I’m pretty certain that the crew at CareerOne would like it if that particular search produced their page. Instead, this is what our Gen-yer would get:Sure, there’s a link to MySpaceJobs on the homepage, but guys, let’s face it, the only people who enter MySpace through the homepage are the Boomers and Gen-xers who go in posing as 25-year-olds!Point is and this one extends across the board in internet marketing, when you’re sitting in your board rooms, guys, when you’re huddled over your copies of the latest McKinsey propaganda, have a think about how users approach their search and make yourself available within the spaces where you want to advertise. Marketing 101.

Get Paid to Interview For Jobs

A new US based company NotchUp brings a novel twist to the hiring formula – companies pay applicants to come in for an interview.Before you start thinking of this as a way to make some quick bucks:

At this time, we’re only accepting applications from US-based professionals. We’ll be launching NotchUp in more countries in mid/late February 2008.

The site makes money by charging 15% to 20% of the money deposited by interested companies. The site officially launched on January 28.How it works:Firstly, jobseekers fill out a profile. You can import your LinkedIn contacts also.Secondly, jobseekers decide on a minimum fee that they’ll charge potential employers for interviews. NotchUp offers a calculator to help – you enter information such as education, salary and work experience, and the calculator gives you a suggested price.Then sit back and wait for the call.Will this really fill employers’ needs? Are they willing to pay those interview fees?Obviously the plan is to cut out the middleman, the recruiter, and allow employers to approach the candidates direct. What happens when the employers make an offer to the candidate and they decline? Will the company still want to pay for the interview and will the candidate still get paid?Companies get their money back and the individual isn’t paid for the interview if:

The individual no-shows or shows up late for the interviewThe individual fails to take the interview seriouslyThe individual has lied on their profile

Who defines whether an individual takes an interview seriously? How late is late?NotchUp’s business model is based on candidates being very sought after. Will this model sustain itself if we went go back to the times of 2000 when the IT bubble burst! Then you’d have the candidates paying the companies instead!

New Look Linkme.

Before: ( Snap shot has some formatting errors)After:The new design is an improvement and the logo has also been brought up to date. The new features that have been added revolve around giving the candidate more control over their visibility. The basic settings allow you to choose how much the employers/recruiters can see about you. The advanced settings are the same thing but for friends and other members.Basic Settings:Advanced Settings:The job search seems to have missed out on the overhall and is still one of Linkme’s worst features – perhaps this will receive some attention in the next update…Overall it still feels a bit underdone. It’s a plain, simple site which is doing an OK job at offering advertisers an up-to-date candidate database.

These Guys Are Switched On!

Free Wi-Fi for Jobseekers?

The local council for The Rocks in Sydney now offers free Wi Fi access for all.However the major media companies are yet to get on board and take advantage of this idea.Why not?For instance, Fairfax Digital or News Limited could partner up with a Telco and offer free Wi Fi access to its newspaper subscribers or registered job seekers. Seek could leverage from such a partnership with a ripper marketing campaign. In turn, perhaps Jobx could create a hot spot interview zone where its users could be web-cam interviewed while they’re on the move.Here’s an opportunity to extend marketing scope a little. Waddyasay, guys?

Lauchlin Murdoch’s Influence at CMH Felt.

Lachlan Murdoch is back in business with his old One. Tel mate James Packer as part of a $3.3 billion joint deal to privatise Consolidated Media Holdings. What does this mean for Seek.com.au, of which CMH has a 27% interest?

They will receive $4.06, plus 0.1116 of a Seek share, for each CMH share that they hold, valuing their shares at $4.80. However, shareholders will be able to receive more in cash or shares.

Time will tell. But is the demise of 120-odd-year-old ACP publication The Bulletin indicative of Mr Murdoch’s plans for rampant cost-cutting? True, it must be difficult to justify the costs of the magazine when most folks receive their news and current affairs from the Internet. However, it shall be interesting to monitor the changes these two new bedfellows bring about and what impact such changes make on interests concerned with the recruitment sector, such as Seek.

JobX, Search More Find Less!

I received an email from Jobx.com.au containing a bold statement regarding their job search functionality.

The JobX email here.

Search less, find more

Our search is faster, more efficient and is more likely to deliver what you are looking for than any other career site in Australia. Yes it’s a big claim, but we stand by it wholeheartedly.

I was excited by that statement and road tested it by checking out the search results from Jobx and then comparing the results with those from the major job sites. My results were as follows:

I typed in the keyword, “Account Manager” and chose location anywhere;

- Jobx – No1 result: Recruitment Consultant. Search results here

- MyCareer - No1 result:Business Development Manager, Key Account Manager. Search results here

- Seek – No1 result: Account Manager – Direct Marketing – 100k Search results here

- CareerOne – No1 result: Account Manager / Online Account Manager Search results here

Notice something disappointing?

While all the other jobsites came up with jobs directly related to my keyword search, Jobx’s results gave me a role for recruitment consultant as its premier listing. The Jobx role does not have the word ‘account manager’, my keyword search, in either its title or its short description. What of Jobx’s claim that it is more likely to deliver what I’m looking for than any other site in Australia? It seems that the other sites gave me what I was looking for…

Now, if you’ve got time and you do manage to get to the fortieth page of jobx’s search results , you will see that the final listing is for an account manager, but it’s dated September 18, 2007 – four months old and still listed.

C’mon, Jobx. Jobseekers want tight search results from current jobs.

Seek Video A Big Tick

Candidates have given a big tick to the idea of adding video to job ads. Whether the videos are humorous or a genuine description of an employer’s work environment, they add another dimension to the public image of a company. Online Recruitment’s Charles Young says;

‘It helps break the ice and form a connection between us. I have been asked to ring the bell.

We have since recorded a series of videos providing the candidates with a better idea about who we are looking for and resasuring them we will be in touch if they apply. Based on the positive feedback so far this will be a standard part of our job ads on Seek.’”

Employers and recruiters should both see the benefits of video job ads/profiles. Xpand Group.If this has got you thinking, check out some good examples of career videos at CareerOne.

Unemployment rate Falls to 4.3%

November was 4.5% and 50,000 new jobs. December 4.3% and 20,100 new jobs created.Tough times for employers, good times for job boards.

Interviewing the Wrong Guy.

Even if you have seen this, watch again. This so funny that I had to share.

Interviewed live on BBC News 24, when he was actually there for a Data Support Cleanser job interview.…BBC News 24 Guy Goma.

You Tube video here

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