There are a myriad of websites on the Internet where job seekers can seek a position and where clients can recruit staff. Here is a short list of what we think is essential for a top quality site to provide:
1) Extensive Industry Knowledge and Expertise
Most job sites are generalist, covering all industries. However it is helpful if you can find a specialist website covering only one sector. If the site is local to your area all the better. For example, if you are a mental health nurse who wishes to find work in Newcastle, MTrec Care is an agency which provides a tailored service to those looking for RMN jobs in Newcastle as well as related health and social care positions. Bespoke agencies like MTrec can provide a complete service, as they not only serve as a recruitment agency but as a provider of training to the health and social care industry. Being grounded in specialist knowledge and with consultants and managers having themselves acquired years of experience in the field means they can keep industry best practice and new developments at the forefront of their recruitment process.
2) User Friendly Format
With all the will in the world, no matter how many good intentions and brilliantly designed services a business has, if it’s website is not well designed and easy to navigate it will not be fit for purpose. Good search facilities are essential, and a comprehensive filtering system is a must. Candidates and clients must be able to search for vacancies or personnel to fit a multitude of circumstances and settings. For example, it is paramount that a job site enables users to search for part/full time, temporary/permanent and to search by location. For a really exemplary search facility, a site could expand on the above to include selecting by sector, job type, salary and date added. The best job sites also allow you to create a user account where you can save and view your applications online. This is incredibly helpful to candidates because it means you can “cut and paste” from past applications rather than start completely afresh each time.
3) Advice and Support
Some of the best job sites on the web also abound with tips and articles to help you negotiate your way through the recruitment process. CV writing advice, interview tips and company reviews from former employees are just some of the additional content available on certain high quality job sites. As mentioned above, some of the best websites are specialist ones, run by organisations who also provide training and are at the forefront of industry developments.
Every job seeker has vastly different needs, however, and it is always worth experimenting with different sites to see what works for you. Despite the abundance of online opportunities, don’t forget that most people eventually find a job through personal contacts. Spending time on job sites is a valuable resource but it must be balanced with time spent networking and following up leads.