Today Microsoft launches their new Vista operating system, and I thought it might be fitting to blog about Wishware 1.0, not a Microsoft product, although also extremely sought after. What is Wishware you might ask? Well Wishware, much like the mighty Wand 2.0 application, will magically fix all of your technical problems relating to recruitment. Yes that’s right, no more technical problems or hassles with recruiting as we know it. Wishware matches, pre-screens, video interviews, and hires candidates with no-hassle. Finally a program that ties together your partially implemented ATS platform, fully leverages all of your vendors, while creating missing candidate process and protocol, and most importantly Wishware orders pizza and has it delivered for lunch during those pesky OFCCP audits. Amazing…

Okay so Wishware does NOT exist, even though many are asking for technology to magically make their staffing world incredibly easy. Personally, I’m not interested in the creation of “THE KILLER APP“, just trying to help companies understand why their current apps aren’t already KILLER.

Here’s my take, yours might be different, before we create this omnipotent recruiting platform, we should fully understand and integrate our current applications and vendors, take a look at the market and see what’s already available, and most importantly connect with like minded recruiting leaders to explore and create best practices, instead of having our very own “special” process.

I’m a big believer in creating more cost effective and time efficient technologies, plug here, although I do not believe we, as an industry, are leveraging all of the power available to us.

I did forget to mention that you have to say “PRESTO!” extremely loud for Wishware 1.0 to reboot correctly? Don’t worry I hear there’s a patch in the works.

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Any company exploring better avenues to communicate with candidates, current employees, and the general public about opportunities and events should check out Vontoo?

What is Vontoo?
“Vontoo is the first permission-based, on-demand voice messaging system ever created, allowing you to send audio messages to any cell or home phone in the United States.”

Companies are currently using similar systems to invite hundreds or thousands of candidates to their job fairs, and other events with great success. What about a cost effective and more personal way to let down rejected candidates, or maybe even reconnect with them upon another opportunity opening? Companies looking for more personalized, yet cost-effective, means of communication will create better relationships with their candidates, customers, and community without breaking the bottom-line. Oh yea, it also integrates with your OEM.

Is Vontoo the answer?

It was for the Memphis Grizzlies. Vontoo helped the small market NBA franchise boost ticket sales. Here’s the case study.

“With over 18,000 seats to sell for each game, we need to be creative to entice fans to fill up the arena.” - Dennis O’Connor, Grizzlies Ticket Sales

So Dennis had to fill seats and get creative. Sound familiar?

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While job boards continue to jockey for position and Job Search Engines solidify their place in the market, Hitwise recognizes a new category:

“Top Five Most Visited Company Employment Websites”
1) Target jobs
2) United State Office of Personnel Management jobs
3) UPS jobs
4) Wal-Mart jobs
5) United States Postal Services jobs

Well I’m quite impressed that Hitwise broke out the above employer numbers, I’m even more impressed with Target’s clobbering of retail giant Wal-Mart, while scoring extremely high in the overall “Most Visited Employment Websites” category. Target Careers is the 12th overall most visited employment site on the internet, yea that’s right an employer career site is actually looking to crack the Top 10, while out performing many other popular job boards on their way up.

How you might ask?

Well I’m sure these three points are not the only reasons but… First and foremost they receive an incredible amount of traffic from online shoppers, Sunday sales inserts help out tremendously, which easily turns into job seeker traffic. Second, they point most of their job board candidates to apply via their Target Careers Page, nothing out of the ordinary yet. Third and the separating factor, awesome SEM. Buying terms like “retail jobs” on Google and Yahoo has scored some big traffic numbers for Target Careers, which separates them from the rest of the Employer Pack.

I believe companies who learn how to generate, harness, and manage this level of candidate flow, into their corporate resume databases, will have a decisive advantage over all others. Moreover, companies committed to building their own world class database of candidates will leave themselves less dependant on job board databases in the future.

It’s the circle of life, ah kuna matata!

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Sponsorship won’t change me! - Joel Cheesman

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What’s an Age-o-matic? Job seekers visiting CareerBuilder are presented with a banner asking the question “What is your job doing to you?”, soon after clicking the banner, the Age-o-matic talking head starts out with….

“Welcome to Age-o-matic, find out what your soul sucking job is doing to you…”

At this point you’re suppose to download a picture of yourself, and answer a few questions. No matter what you choose you’re turned into a frail wrinkled up individual who has obviously been working entirely too hard. It is apparent you need a new job this instant! (Inject a large amount of sarcasm here)

Is this the type of creative message companies want their vendors to use to bring in “Top Talent”? Soul Sucking Jobs or asking me to Sell my Soul? Is this the trendy and cool new recruitment marketing vehicle now made available, or the utter lack of it?

The bigger question is, does anybody really care?

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