Online recruitment companies prosper

Written by Editor-in-Chief: Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, The News International

For every industry or organisation, human resource is like a lifeline. Every organisation wants talented and hard-working employees who can generate revenue in a competitive market. But it is hard to get talented workforce.

Online recruitment services companies are bridging the gap between the employer and employee by developing a path between them. Like other countries of the world, it is becoming a new emerging industry in Pakistan, which is successfully running its business throughout the country.

Those who frequently use the computer are well aware and availing themselves of the opportunities offered by e-recruitment companies, which have launched a massive advertising and marketing campaign through their websites, links with other websites, newspapers and billboards.

Bayt.com, pindionline.com, workjunction.com, naukrijunction.com.pk, rosy.com.pk, Pakistan.olx.pk, mustaqbil.com, tiptopjob.com and many other Internet-based job service providers are successfully boosting their businesses throughout the country.

It is observed that youngsters, who have good educational background and also possess degrees in some fields, are unable to get handsome or appropriate jobs and often complain about unsatisfactory level of job opportunities in the city. As a result, they become disappointed and start doing minor jobs, which are not only irrelevant to their area of interest, but also offer low return.

On the other hand, different organisations including domestic and multinational companies complain they are unable to get talented and hardworking employees in the job market despite heavy advertisements in newspapers. Consequently, they say they hire irrelevant staff, who do not achieve desired results.

These organisations are making efforts to solve the problems of employers and jobseekers. National and multinational companies, including pharmaceutical firms, healthcare centres and hospitals, media and public relation firms, marketing and advertising companies, auditing and accounting firms, computer and information technology houses, engineering and telecommunication companies, management firms, banks, educational institutions, insurance companies and many others are the main clients of online recruitment centres in the country.

Abdul Ahad, an executive of a mobile phone company, told The News the company had been making efforts earlier to recruit professionals, but failed to hire sufficient number of employees. However, he said, after getting the services of online recruitment organisations, the company got a choice among talented professionals and employ them without further interviews.

Ahsan Jabbar, Regional Manager Bayt.com, a Gulf-based online recruitment service provider, said subscription by jobseekers and companies was increasing with the passage of time because this service was facilitating both the employers and the employees, bridging the gap.

He said every day more than 12,000 jobseekers subscribe the service all over the world and about 100 aspirants get themselves registered in Pakistan daily. Comparing the local online recruitment industry with India, he said Indian online industry had touched Rs80 million per annum benchmark and it would cross Rs100 million by next year whereas in Pakistan the industry could not touch even a single million.

But he hoped the industry would flourish rapidly with the passage of time as his company had registered 100 companies within two years of operation in Pakistan and facilitated more than 500 jobseekers in getting employment.

He said the company would also open branches in other metropolis of Pakistan due to the success achieved by the business. An interesting thing of these online organisations is that they need some experts in the field of computer database and networking who will look after all the online programming. Besides, some gurus of marketing are required who attract clients. Most of these organisations are being run by five to seven employees.

An Islamabad-based online recruitment organization - brightspyre.com - has been working since 2002 and providing client services to more than 100 local companies and has facilitated about 300,000 job-seeking subscribers so far.

CEO brightspyre.com Faisal Chuhan said the usage of Internet was increasing in the cities and towns of the country as people had become aware of Internet advantages. ìThe number of jobseeking subscribers stood at 130,000 in 2003, which has risen to 300,000 this year,î he added.

Distributed by www.thenews.com.pk