Hire Source
Is finding employees online the best solution for my business?
Question: There are dozens
of online job banks. Is this a viable way to find qualified workers
for my start-up?
Name withheld
Via e-mail
Answer: Numerous sites
provide companies the opportunity to locate workers. Some online
matchmaking services have become well-known, including Monster.com,
careermag.com and computerjobs.com. Many use software that can
quickly search a database to match workers with the needs specified
by the hirer. Others, like ants.com, post work assignments so
contractors can make bids on them. But the range of prices for the
same work can be huge; therefore, you'll have to do a lot of
communicating before you finalize an arrangement. Of course, price
competition can result in your getting a really good deal.
Most of the work on these sites reflects areas where workers are
scarce, on-premises work isn't necessary and personality is
arguably not paramount. Not surprisingly, technical work accounts
for most of the posted and placed jobs. Other common virtual
employment involves IT, marketing, finance and writing.
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Some sites are more industry-specific. Consider the following
examples: www.jfpresources.com/jobtele1.html
posts telecommuting programming jobs; www.fusionstaffing.com focuses
on IT, engineering, environmental, health and safety; and
spacelinks.com offers an aerospace specialty.
Small-business experts Paul and Sarah Edwards' latest
book is The Practical Dreamer's
Handbook(Tarcher/Putnam Publishing Group). If you have a
question regarding a start-up business issue, contact them at
www.paulandsarah.com or
send it in care of Entrepreneur.