I started my first internet company back in 1996, GO Jobs, the year Netscape went public.
At the time, I was a recent graduate from UCLA, working domestically and internationally, as a business process and ERP software consultant for Fortune 100 companies. I was very fortunate to consultant and work with global companies like Dole Foods (Costa Rica), Chevron (Venezuela), and Gateway2000 (now Acer), (Iowa), implementing business process and ERP software (JD Edwards, at the time). This gave me a real insight into how large global enterprise businesses worked, from both a process-side to a human-side.
Between consulting projects, my brother and I started tinkering around with building an “Internet Job Posting Service”. Back in those days, we’d stay up late “burning” and mailing our “Internet Job Posting Software”. The software distributed our client’s job advertisements to multiple job boards at on time. At that time, most companies didn’t have email or Internet connections. Our software helped them get around this problem, so they could post jobs on sites like Headhunter.net, DICE, CareerMosaic, OCC, Net-temps, Monster, and a couple others.
If there is one thing I have learned in the last 15 years of being one of the early founders of the Internet Recruiting and job search industry, it’s this:
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Over the last three decades we have come to believe that Internet job boards and Internet recruiting has changed how people find jobs and how employers find candidates.
In truth, many job seekers and employers use job boards like a baby pacifier… “Put it in their mouth. Let them chew on it… It will keep them busy for a while.”
In reality, job boards alone are not the answer to a job search or recruiting.
Anyone who has been deeply involved in this industry, has known this for a long time.
Ask any recruiter, or career coach, they’ll agree with me.
Look at the stats… the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The number one source of new employees for corporations in the US is employee referrals. It’s been like this for as long as I have been in the business. Not job boards. Not corporate career sites. Not newspapers. Not staffing firms or third party recruiters. And, not job fairs.
Employee referrals beat them all.
And we’re talking about by a very large margin here too!
Don’t get me wrong, job boards and corporate career centers are a critical component in today’s Internet recruiting and job search, but –
Computers don’t hire people! People Hire People!
The more things change, the more the stay the same.
If you’ll looking to hiring someone, connect to people who might know someone.
And if your looking for a job in a specific company, connect with people who work at that company.
No computer can do that for you.
While continuing to run GOJobs.com, I write, speak, and consult with corporations and job seekers on how the latest Internet tools like social and professional networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are changing our behaviors.
I strongly believe that the future of all Internet Recruiting and Internet Job Search will evolve around social and professional connections. This isn’t really a brave statement, because ever since I’ve been in the business, I’ve known this.
The new “Social Recruiting” and “Social Job Search” is here!
It’s time to get on board. It’s the way of the future!
If your interested in some of my more recent projects visit these sites:
Mastering LinkedIn – LinkedIn Video Training, teaching Job Seekers, Business Executives, Sales Professionals, and Business Owners how to Master LinkedIn for growing their business and professional brand.
Profile Launch Pad – Professional Branding services; providing personal branding websites, LinkedIn profile building and optimization, and professional network building.
SEO4Jobs – Corporate Career site Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Corporate recruiting consulting, speaking, and training.
You’re also welcome to view The Best LinkedIn Profile – mine! or my blog Jonathan Duarte Blog.
