“Job sites need to expand and diversify their services,”
Brenda Dumont, Working.com
Launched on April 30, the new version of Working.com is easier to use and more interactive. On this occasion, we interviewed Brenda Dumont, national retail recruitment specialist, for more specifics and her point of view.
What are the benefits of this new version of Working.com?
The overhaul is above all a technical optimization of the site that is not necessarily visible to Internet visitors but which was crucial to stay current, since the last technical update was three years ago. The user experience was also enhanced, of course. The biggest innovation, for candidates, concerns geographic searches, which were streamlined and simplified to define a very specific zone in just a few clicks. In addition, we simplified the job search by category and sector pages (e.g. Finance, Health, Retail) to be more accessible. Furthermore, the content of these sector pages was beefed up, the blogs showcased and interactivity strengthened. The upload of CVs is also faster and more visible.
On the employer side, it is now easier to personalize the layout of job ads. You can add an image, select its size, positioning, type of font, add colours, etc. The offers are accordingly more pleasing to read and stand out from each other more easily.
What about your partnership with Adicio?
The partnership with Adicio and its network of U.S. job boards is still active. Recruiters and candidates can continue to benefit from this network on the new site.
Working.com is also getting into virtual job fairs…
Yes, absolutely. From May 28 to June 14, we are holding our first virtual job fair. We have created a dedicated platform in which recruiters can have a virtual stand complete with texts, pictures, and video, and meet with candidates via chat.
After registering and selecting the sector they’re interested in, candidates can check out the companies then have a talk with a recruiter for more information on a particular company. They can ask questions they might perhaps not have dared ask in a face-to-face interview, such as: What do you look for in a candidate? What is your career development policy? Your training policy? and more.
We have planned a vast media campaign to publicize this event, via Canwest newspapers and TV channels.
Are recruiters interested in such an event?
Yes, a lot of them want to give it a shot, just like they are trying Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. We have not had any problems in selling the stands. I think that virtual fairs will continue to evolve. They will never replace face-to-face interaction, but will become a complementary tool. They have already become customary in the U.S.
I think that job sites can no longer content themselves with simply posting ads; they need to expand and diversify their services. Within two years, the entire recruiting industry will have changed the way it operates.
What are the consequences of the crisis for Working.com?
Luckily, we are well positioned in sectors that are resistant to the crisis, such as retail, finance, health care and administration. In addition, Canada has much less greatly affected than many other countries, and provinces like British Columbia have remained active. So despite a small decrease in sales, our numbers continue to look good and the sale of packages has remained stable. 2009 will clearly not be a very good year for recruiting, but then again 2008 was great.
Finally, are you dreading the consequences of Canwest’s economic situation?
Canwest is a strong, diversified company that is not going to disappear overnight. Conversely, its organization is changing, especially on the press side. The online segment, for its part, has been little affected, so the impact for us here at Working.com has been minimal.
For more information about Working.com’s virtual job fair
– Dates: May 28 to June 14, 2009
– Price of a stand: starting from $1500 for two weeks
– Registration until May 8
– Contact: sales@canadianretail.com – 1-866-442-0044