Community Employment Resource Centre

E-Hiring: The New Twist in Job Search and Recruitment

In the past, many employers viewed the then upcoming on-line hiring process with some skepticism. However, those views are changing. Why? Partially because of the statistics regarding the number of job searchers using the Internet as a tool (2.2 million Canadians visited Monster in September 2003!! This translates into approximately 77% of those looking for a job!) and partially because of the reduced costs (average cost per hire was found to be $377 in 2003 versus $3,295 from major metro newspaper).

At last count, there are now 4 million employer websites!!! While many companies post some of their vacancies on sites like Monster and Workopolis, (approximately 10%), companies are now directing people to their own website’s Career section where all the vacancies are posted.

What people don’t see “behind the scenes” is an applicant tracking system. This is a database that allows the HR department to manage the entire recruitment cycle complete from the advertising to the job offer. Hence a large chunk of savings both in expense dollars and time saved!! One area where on-line recruitment has provided immediate impact is in graduate recruitment.

What about the myths, though? One major myth that has disappeared through public access to computers and Internet is that the Internet does not reach minorities and lower skill employees. In March 2000, the number of blue-collar workers on-line was 6.3 million, but in just one year (by March 2001), the number had increased to 9.5 million!!

Do’s and Don’ts of Applying On-line:

• Do use a combination of resources to maximize your visibility to employers
• Sign up to sites like Workopolis, Job Shark and Monster
• Apply on-line by targeting company websites directly
• Do your homework
• Research the companies you are interested in (don’t assume there isn’t a job)
• Check out their website and look at recent press releases and news coverage (indicator of stability)
• Pay attention to how the company presents itself and reflect that in your communications (mandate, who, goals of company)
• Do make sure that you take the time to read through the application instructions before you fill in any information (company able to identify time spent to fill out application while searching for information and if you “quit” part ways through)
• Do make sure to verify that all the required fields of information have been completed properly (checks basic ability to follow directions)
• Copy and pasting of text resume still preferred unless stated otherwise (with new scanning and importing features, translation of documents from one program to another can often result in misinterpretation of words or program codes – notepad avoids code problems)


• Do check your spelling and grammar
• Any typed sentences and/or paragraphs should be first typed in a word processor (allows you to check spelling and grammar – tracking systems will disqualify candidates with spelling or grammar errors)
• Do make sure resume is neat and consistent, with plenty of white space
• Pick a format for relaying employment history and remain consistent throughout the document
• Don’t overload resume with keywords from a company’s job description
• Scanning technology will red flag the resume
• Add words from the job description as they apply to your experience (content is still important)

o Purpose of Effective Keyword Resumes

· Ensures resume is viewable on any computer

· Increase likelihood that resume will be found in a database keyword search

• Don’t be late in any stage of the process – apply asap as over 10,000 resumes are typically received in one-hour
• Don’t use an inappropriate e-mail address to send a potential employer (ie. goofy@yahoo.com)
• Keep address easy
• Better to have e-mail address especially if employer is looking for computer experience

The skcepticism mentioned earlier has not all been one-sided. There are Internet users who are wary of placing their contact information on the Internet. If you are one of those individuals, take a moment to look at Canada411. You will see that, most likely, your information is already well publicized on the “net”.