Thoughts on Employment Websites and the Future of Business-Part 2

Any new business endeavor begins with an entrepreneur examining the drawbacks of a specific market environment, and then offering solutions to fix these issues in the most efficient and value-adding way.

So what are the main problems with employment websites in today’s market environment?

I have been able to identify several. These include poor design, difficulties related to navigation, lack of user input, and no kind of understanding of basic human emotion to name a few.

Now is time to offer solutions. So what is my plan for fixing this problem and changing the way companies recruit, retain, and educate employees?

Well let’s start with the basics. The type of companies that post jobs on these sites are mostly small to mid-size companies that have little funding for an actual human resource department. When these companies post jobs they generally do it the most traditional and boring way. Why not actually make it sound exciting? Make it sound like more than something that will pay the bills. At least stray away from the traditional scripted bullshit. Try to show employees that they will actually make a difference. That they won’t get lost in the crowd. The goal should be to broadcast how this position will be fulfilling to you. To actually relate to someone in a human way is foreign it seems. To show that your work will mean something and that you will be truly happy with what you produce. Of course this ignores the fact that a lot of the jobs that are posted on these websites might actually be meaningless. This is a whole other issue. To fix that will take more cooperation than is currently possible or likely. However, putting this issue aside [which I agree seems pretty devastating] it will be still be possible to actually create a connection that is real.

I kind of went on a little bit of a rant there, but I think it is pretty coherent.

Now on to more technical issues…

First and foremost stop sending useless automated emails that say nothing. This distracts users and DESTROYS value. My general rule of thumb is that if you are not saying something that creates value and you are not offering anything then don’t send it. Believe me there is no quicker way to lose a customer then to fill their inbox with meaningless bullshit. Why not move past automated emails and try to make an actual connection with someone? Maybe have a person who is the company’s “connector.” This person would be in charge of sending personalized emails to their customers monthly. This would establish a REAL conversation and would allow the company to gather huge amounts of useful information about their users.

You can even take this one step further [which directly relates to my next recommendation]…

When you register to one of these sites you are asked a few questions (to create your profile), and then you post your resume and/or cover letter. Then, the site attempts to connect you with companies that have answered similar questions the same. How superficial is this? This is not real. I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER. The way I see it all this does is prove to the website that you are not, in fact, a machine. Do four key words (finance, banking, sales, marketing-for example) and your resume really describe you as a person? Do these things show your work ethic, dedication, and passion. After all are these not the important things? How does a resume SHOW what you have accomplished. It doesn't. It simply TELLS things that you might or might not have done. But where is the section in the resume about passion? Where is the section that says that you work hard and you will do whatever it takes? It is not there. You know why? Because you can’t TELL about passion. Passion is SHOWN through blood, sweat, and tears. Passion is getting up every day and doing what you were put on this earth to do. Not because you simply want to, but because you need to: You were put on the earth for this purpose, you were born for this and if you believe this and put it into action you will change the world.

I remember reading Mark Cubans blog a while back and he had a three part post about his beginnings as an entrepreneur. I can’t seem to find the link for it right now, but if someone could find it feel free to post it. His story is very powerful and he clearly understands the business world. However, there is one quote that sticks out from this series of posts that relates to the resume issue-

“These companies wanted to work with me not because I was the most knowledgeable about computers, but because they knew I would do whatever it took to get the job done”
-Mark Cuban

This is powerful. It shatters the idea that to be successful all you need is talent. Hard work, dedication, and passion are much more difficult to find. However, it is these qualities that will make you stand out. Talent is ordinary and will only give you a shot. If you want to change the world you MUST have a strong-work ethic. You must CHOOSE to wake up every day ready to engage your mind, ready to continually strive for self-improvement (in life and in business). Constantly hold a mirror up and CHOOSE to make things better. Not tomorrow. TODAY.

Now to tie this back into resumes and employment websites. As I stated earlier Resumes, at least in their current and traditional form (expect a future post on real time resumes of the future) simply LIST your semi-accomplishments. Sure, they can be personalized to an extent, BUT, the important aspect missing is SHOWING what you have done. SHOWING that you work hard, are persistent, and will do whatever it takes to get a job done. After all, that is what I would want in an employee. So why don’t these sites, or any company for that matter, have a reasonable way of evaluating this if it seems to be so important? Who knows. BUT, herein lies the opportunity to truly change the world. You don’t even need to come up with this one on your own. The Internet and the free distribution of content and ideas is already here. Waiting for you. The possibilities are endless. Right now I have my Internet browser open to three of my favorite websites. I consider these three people to be some of the most inspiring individuals on the Internet. AND, more importantly, all three can be contacted IN REAL TIME with the click of a mouse. I can connect with ANYONE I WANT these days. I can ask Mark Cuban business related questions (assuming I have something to offer). I can ask Ryan Holiday about the importance of following your dreams. I can email Tucker Max and learn about strategy, business, and not letting others define your life. Connect with these people and you can change the world. What do you have to lose? You can establish and ongoing conversation with two of the most influential Internet entrepreneurs for free or you can pay 100,000 dollars to attend business school to learn about business models that are becoming obsolete. The CHOICE is yours.

THE POINT OF ALL THIS is that it is now possible to use the Internet to SHOW the world what you have done. Start a blog, or an online business for minimal cost and a resume becomes obsolete. No one will care about you TELLING them what you have done when you can easily SHOW them. Show them that you worked hard, that you got up every day and dedicated you time to something worthwhile. So why don't careerbulider or monster allow you to do this? I would suggest having that same “connector” from above administer a REAL interview (via email or whatever) before allowing someone to post anything on their site. This would allow companies to truly understand the real emotions and type of people they are looking to hire. Ask these people the questions that matter. Questions that actually relate to actual human feelings. Questions that SHOW these companies that these are actual people. This would be WAY more efficient. Think of how many hiring mismatches occur because of mis-judgements. What if there was a way to vastly eliminate this? Companies could run must smoother and their employees would be happier. How much money and time would this save? So much that it is very unclear why it has not already been adopted. Find a way to personally connect with your employees and your company can change the world.

Well that was way longer than I anticipated, and I have not even covered everything I was meaning to. Sorry for some of the endless tangents, but I don’t think they detracted too much from the message. Part three of this series will deal with the use of customer-company collaboration and its implications on the future business environment.