Advertising Startup positions, part 2

Conor O'Neill of Argalon Solutions has followed up on an earlier converation we had regarding the disintermedation of jobs listings for Irish startups.

The job-seekers have no easy way to identify which start-ups are looking for people whilst start-ups like ourselves find the cost of advertising nationally on a regular basis prohibitive.

Our comment to James was that we found the costs too high and the results to be mediocre in using both Monster.ie and The Irish Examiner. The cost of The Irish Times was unacceptable and we figure there is not much difference between Monster, IrishJobs and RecruitIreland apart from cost.

The reality is that the services offered by the online job sites are simply overkill for companies such as ourselves. All we want is somewhere to post basic job descriptions and receive CVs in return for a minimal fee.

As Conor points out there could be an issue with building up enough momentum but I feel that Feed Grazers like OPod and Taskable, which allow us to nibble at feeds without subscribing, will greatly help. If any other startup has positions to 'advertise' or would like to be added to my startups Reading List please email me or comment here.

Comments

[Alan O'Rourke]

I cant help but feel that the issue is being sidetracked by the technology and is being talked about in circles without tackling some key central issues.
I have read the three posts on this. Each time I have read them I have thought there is a great idea and resource in here somewhere but left with no clear action at the end.
As a Joe blog employer the following comment means little to me. "I feel that Feed Grazers like OPod and Taskable, which allow us to nibble at feeds without subscribing, will greatly help."
Also the employee I need might be an expert in a particular area but not have or need experience with feeds.
I think if you want to gain momentum you need to make the technology invisible.

As I see it the main points are:
- I want to find someone good to employ.
- Someone good wants a job.
- Existing online recruitment sites are expensive.
- Existing online recruitment sites are bloated with features.
- The results are not worth it for certain types of jobs.

The solution is:
- An easy central point where Start-ups can post a job for little or no cost.
- An easy central point where talent can view and find jobs to suit them.

The problems:
- How is this central point to be maintained?
- What is an "easy central point" for employers and job seekers?
- How will people find out about this central point?
- What will make the level of applicants any better?

[James Corbett]

Patience Alan, patience! Rome wasn't built in a day and the World Live Web -

http://eirepreneur.blogs.com/eirepreneur/2005/11/world_live_web_.html

is only out of starting blocks. Did you use OPod to browse down through the hierarchy? Did you think it difficult? When I show OPod to internet newbies I'm amazed at how easily they browse through it. But I shouldn't be because Apple obviously cracked it with the iPod interface.

The action points are to build out the Open Irish Directory (more node editors would be greatly appreciated - want to volunteer?) and to build a 'proper' version of OPod, not just a widget app. But Rowan is a busy guy so I'm not sure if he'll be able to get around to that any time soon.

Last count we had 7 node editors for the OID. Anyone who can post to a blog can master services like OPMLmanager.com and OPMLworkstation.com so I'm looking forward to many new node editors joining us to help build it out this year. One type of node everyone can help build is one for their own local community. I'm in the process of getting my onboard..... more anon....

[James Corbett]

By the way Alan, why are you convinced about the necessity for centrality? RSS is all creating a distributed web - we can use aggregation to consume centrally but that doesn't mean we must publish centrally.

[Alan O'Rourke]

Sorry, maybe i am jumping the gun a bit :)

I guess i am not convinced it would work without a central point, at least in the early stages.
Aggregation to consume centrally may be the key.

[Paul Browne]

Basically, all blogs are doing is an extension to the social networking idea: I trust my friend, so I trust (to a slightly less amount) the friend of my friend.

They also make it harder to forge your CV.

If you're looking to hire people / find work , you could also do worse than linkedin.com , that also works on a 'friend of friend' principle.