Get Yourself Found ñ Be Headhunted

The explosion in jobseekersí use of the internet for recruitment has fostered the rise of many online job search portals offering themselves as a medium between employers and job-seekers. Industry and discipline specific websites such as oilscareers.com and general sites such as S1Jobs.com are extremely useful to the jobseeker in that they are free, easily accessible and by using them much of the legwork involved in job hunting can be avoided. Hazel Smith of Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) advises on such online recruitment sites and explains why, for agencies like Carlton, they can be an effective headhunting tool.

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Hazel says, ìToday, for the jobseeker, online recruitment sites are probably one of the first points of call in the hunt for new employment. Internet recruitment has created an ideal marketplace where a vast amount of advertised jobs can be compared in one place. These sites are a great starting point and their accessibility means that job seekers can access large banks of potential jobs at their convenience, using search engines to narrow down the type of job or area they are looking for. However, there is also another benefit to using online recruitment sites that can not be translated into the more traditional job seeking methods and this is the opportunity to be ëheadhuntedí.

ìRegistering a CV on a recruitment website opens up a wealth of opportunities, exposing the CV to thousands of potential employers and in turn greatly improving a jobseekerís chance of finding employment. Those who submit their CV can tailor it to target different jobs and highlight strengths specific to the various roles they are applying for.î

Recruitment agencies like Carlton regularly use recruitment sites such as jobsite.co.uk and industry specific or niche sites such as oilcareers.com as a headhunting tool for browsing CVs and identifying potential candidates for clients.

Hazel continues, ìRegistering a CV with an online recruitment site can also be extremely beneficial for those who are not actively seeking new employment. By ëputting yourself out thereí you are creating opportunities for career progression which may have not have occurred otherwise. Most sites allow you to remain anonymous, allowing you to be discreet so that you donít alert your current employer.

ìAlthough online recruitment can be simple, easy and in many cases quite effective, to get the most out of the job hunt and to gain a bigger picture of the variety of roles out there, job seekers should use a combination of job seeking methods. There are many advantages that scanning the job supplements in newspapers and using recruitment agencies have, that websites cannot offer.î

ìMany smaller companies advertise in their local newspapers and not online,î continues Hazel. ìAnd where it may be convenient to submit a CV online and wait for a response, there is a more personalised experience when using an agency as you can discuss your career in detail face to face with a consultant. A consultancy will also give advice on how to construct your CV to showcase your relevant strengths.

ìThrough using a recruitment agency or local newspaper you can also gain access to job vacancies which are not advertised elsewhere. Many companies prefer to discuss their requirements with an agency to ensure that the correct level of candidates are sourced - from high-flying positions at the top end of the market all the way to temporary work. For people looking for work overseas, an agency is also one of the best routes to take. Using a recruitment agency will maximise your efficiency as a jobseeker, as in effect youíre getting someone else to help you look for a job, giving you more time to concentrate on other issues involved in relocating.

Hazel concludes with advice to job seekers, ìOnline recruitment portals can be an excellent way to ëget yourself foundí but are a relatively new concept for many and should be used as just one component when looking for employment. By using a combination of job-seeking methods, you will open yourself up to a world of opportunity and not isolate your prospects.

ìKey information can be lost in ëcyber spaceí and for those looking to ëprivatelyí seek employment then a consultancy would be a more appropriate option. A recruitment consultant can put you at ease, allow you to convey your needs and wants from future employers and assist you in carrying out a more structured and targeted search.î

Established in Aberdeen in 1981, Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) has grown and developed to cover all geographic regions through its operational hubs in Aberdeen and London. Recruiting for a wide range of technical and non-technical opportunities, Carlton matches candidates to employers across the full spectrum of occupations in the accountancy and finance, commercial, HR and training, industrial, information technology, technical and engineering disciplines, in both public sector and other corporate environments. Carlton recruits for permanent, contract or temporary placements. For more information call 01224 650500 or visit: