Great points, critical mass is one challenge that we are faced with.
To answer your questions, I have the ability to offer discounts to new clients, but currently anyone can post unlimited job opportunities for free without any obligations...hence the pilot. We feel that this format will give business owners the ability to learn how our service works before they truly invest in it.
ExcaliberJobs.com (eJobs) was created to offer an affordable, innovative solution that will
facilitate the creation of business relationships. The strategy of most job search firms is to
service the global market and focus on big businesses. The scope of "eJobs" is to bridge the
gap between professionals, freelancers, small/mid size businesses, non-profit organizations,
and start-up companies at a local level.
eJobs began as a continuous improvement project for a consulting company in an effort to streamline the candidate search for business owners. The project sought out to impact a small or mid size business by targeting their current process of workforce planning. After surveying business owners about the methods they use to recruit and/or discover talent, we found that each have similar approaches.
- Business or Personal Referrals
- Advertisements in Classifieds or in Trade Publications
- Internet Sites for Freelancers, Contractors, etc.
Some observations about the above methods,
1. Referrals are a great source for candidates but the motive of the person giving the
referral is not always clear.
2. The majority of job search engines are tailor made for big businesses. They have many
postings for fortune 500 companies, but there are few postings for small to mid size
businesses. They are also expensive (ranging from $100 to $400 per (1) thirty day ad). What if you don't have a college degree (yet) and are looking for a local job or you're a college student looking to work part-time/intern/freelance? Can start up comanies afford several hundred dollars per ad?
3. With temporary agencies, there are many compatibility issues because the skill levels of
candidates are either too high or too low. Many contingent workers lack commitment to
the organization when compared to core workers. Contingent workers have a higher
turnover rate and may pose a security risk.
4. Classified advertising companies typically do not specialize in job recruiting. They are
looking to attract business from a larger scope, not just job placement.
5. Freelancing websites only connect freelance professionals to opportunities. What about
small to mid size businesses looking for full-time candidates?
I have found at least one internet site that publishes local classifieds and forums for
multiple cities in the U.S. This site concentrates on classifieds for jobs, housing, goods,
services, romance, local activities, and advice. Its ads run from $25 - $75 per ad, depending
upon the location. Although this service is an excellent classified source for just about
anything, it does not offer the same online tools of the "major players".
