Definition of Job Portals

Job portals connect recruiters with job seekers.

According to the Pew Internet Project, nearly 60 million Americans used the Internet for job searches in 2006. Users enter job portals to find openings and submit their credentials. Job portals are typically job boards or company websites with career sections.

History

The concept of job portals originated in 1979 when the first computer bulletin board system went public, enabling users to post, read and respond to messages. Sites posting information technology jobs emerged in 1990, led by DICE (Data Processing Independent Consultants Exchange) to supply talent to the dot.com boom. Within six years, job banks for advertising, marketing and sales came on the scene led by The Monster Board (TMB), NetStart Inc. (re-named CareerBuilder in 1998) and Online Career Center, which merged with TMB to form Monster.com. According to "Electronic Recruiting News," thousands of job boards existed by 2000, and within five years, the traditional way of looking for work was re-vamped.

Job Seekers

Job portals have become "the most popular and widely used recruitment tool," according to Arokia Web Solutions. Job portals allow users to search for open positions but require applicants to register. Registration entails creating an account with a user ID and email address. Once registered, users can submit, store and edit resumes and profiles, apply online and track applications. They can also request email alerts on future openings or click links to company, industry and career-specific information.

Employers

Filling positions faster from a broader candidate base at a lower cost through job portals has changed the face of recruiting. Technology gives employers the capability to conduct resume database searches using a variety of parameters, store recruitment information for EEO compliance, correspond with applicants via email and track candidates. Company website job portals serve as a selling tool to attract talent, with video profiles of the organization and commentary from existing employees that present corporate culture and values.

Features

Some features that job portals offer include resume-building; search options, such as location, keyword, job type and experience level; audio and video resume recording; job agents for position matching and interview tips.

References

• Pew Internet: The Internet's Growing Role in Life's Major Moments
• BBSing: BBS History
• Electronic Recruiting News: What Happened II
• Arokia Web Solutions: Job Portals
• Dice Holdings: Company History

Resources

• RightwaySolution: Job Portal
• RecruitersNetwork: Internet recruiting statistics