Online Technology March 2000
Pentawave helps find right
employee in sea of candidates
By Kevin Juhasz
Editor
New orleans -- Many newspapers have a straightforward approach when it comes to classifieds on the Internet -- take the print, repurpose it on the Web.
The Internet, though, is much more useful than just repurposing content.
Pentawave is using the technology to do more than just allow readers to print job ads. And it gives readers a way to search for local jobs better than plowing through the dozens of pages of classifieds every day.
The company has introduced a product called IdealHire, a recruitment matching software that allows readers to get their skills to employers beyond just a list on a resumÈ. The company showed the system at Interactive Newspapers in February. It can also help employers find the skilled employees they need for a particular opening.
One of the first newspapers to give the Pentawave system a go is the Denver Rocky Mountain News, which started using it in November 1999 as a beta site.
The newspaper did only a soft promotion in the Careers section of the Web site, but got a good response on it.
Since this was the first time the system was used, the feedback was important for the shaping of IdealHire.
"From the beginning with the beta, we got some feedback that it was a little bit confusing, [users] had a hard time navigating around," said Megan Stockton, Internet Project Coordinator at the Rocky. "Which is to be expected -- it really wasn't a finished product at that point. The functionality was there but not the ease of use. That has been corrected with the new user interface."
Job seekers visiting the newspaper's Web site register and create a profile.
The profile will ask users basic information, such as address, phone number and e-mail. Users then choose multiple industries and jobs. Each time one is chosen, the user is then asked to choose from a list of skills relevant to that job.
After selecting the skills, the computer will then ask the user to give the number of years they have possessed that skill and what level of expertise they have.
After the user has provided that information, they are also asked what level of education they have.
That is all the basic information that the system requires to begin matching the prospective job seeker with employers registered on the site. Users may also add a resumÈ to their profile, as well as attachments such as artwork.
Employers who use the Rocky Mountain News also fill out a similar profile for each position they need. The system will then match up those jobs with the job seekers.
"There's a learning curve with the employers," said Stockton. "They are used to job boards where they throw out keywords and see what comes back. It takes more on their part to enter a job and really get specific with the job, but I think the candidates they are getting back are much better matched."
It will notify job seekers with the jobs that may suit them and employers of any employees who wish to be contacted about a job.
One of the benefits of the system is the level of security it offers job seekers. They have the option to allow all information, including name and contact numbers, to be given to the companies.
However, if they wish to remain anonymous, the system will give the company seeking the candidate a code number. The employer may e-mail the person, but the companies will never see any names, numbers or e-mail addresses. All of that is kept hidden by IdealHire. Then, the candidate can contact the prospective employer at any time.
Candidates may also keep their profile from being viewed by anyone but still be matched up with employers. This will allow them to see what jobs are in their field and how they are faring in the market.
"It gave us a solution that we did not have," Stockton said. "We had the classified search, but we didn't have a job search. It gave us another option Ö we know that our print advertisers are using the Internet and are using the job boards.
"We also know that our strength is in the local market. We needed to give them a solution for reaching the local candidates, and a way besides just the paper. It's given us another weapon in our arsenal of ways to help the employers."
IdealHire will soon begin to link all of the outlets to allow employers nationwide to seek out candidates in other cities.
The company deals in revenue sharing, so that if a company finds a candidate in another city, the newspaper that holds that profile will get a part of the revenue generated by the company using the system.
Stockton is also happy with the way Pentawave helps the Rocky, giving them one representative to talk to about problems or changes who will direct them to the appropriate department within Pentawave.
"I think that's the way to do it rather than have a million contacts in one place," she added. "That's worked well."
Pentawave
480.281.0300
www.pentawave.com