Reply to the following:
For a discussion topic, there is a lot of information out
there to discuss internet opportunities and problems for organizations that use
the internet. Not to worry, I will keep mine pretty short.
For the opportunities I would think that the big one has to
be that web-based recruiting generates more responses quicker and for a longer
time at less cost than just about any other method (Dessler, p.151).
Advertising on known sites across the internet will land you a lot of
applicants; you will need to do word searches to narrow them down. Another
opportunity is to be able to cut costs, you can pay less in finders fee’s for
example as many firms find it’s simply much easier to recruit centrally now
that so much recruiting is on the Internet (Dressler, p. 146). Companies can
target potential employees by placing their company value statement on the web
portal prior to getting to see potential job postings. The value statement can
say what is expected of you and what you can expect from the company. If you
don’t think you a good fit for the company, you will likely not waste time applying.
Companies can save a lot of money using the internet to facilitate employment
by eliminating travel expenses. Finally I will say that companies can use the
internet in helping facilitate the staffing process by researching the needed
job description against the unemployment rate for that particular region. This
information could help the company hire more quickly or see that there will be
fewer applicants due to low unemployment (Dressler, p144). Employers need to be
careful using this technique though, employers reported in the slowdown of
2003-2004 it was hard to find good candidates even though the unemployment rate
was at nine percent.
For the problems associated with organizations in using the
Internet I think right off the bat there is the issue of personal information.
A growing problem is that peer-to-peer-file-sharing applications jump firewalls
and give outsiders quick access (Dressler, p. 144). More and more information
is constantly being jeopardized in this manner. A lot of potential employees
submit applications knowing that they didn’t meet the minimum hiring
requirements or lack the knowledge, skills and abilities. Furthermore, fewer
and fewer older adults and minorities are using the internet making it possible
for Equal Opportunity Laws to come into effect. There will be a lot of
applications leading to internet overload (p.151) where there are just too many
applicants that they can’t all be screened. Finally, I would say that there is
less face to face interaction with perspective employees and hiring managers
alike. Sometime not having interaction can lead to a bad hire or a company that
doesn’t match the employee’s values.
