WO2008119132A1

WO2008119132A1 - A method of matching job seeker entities with available jobs

Info

Publication number: WO2008119132A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000471
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Deral Kesby; Robert John Germain Wibaux; Fiona Elizabeth Kesby
Original assignee: ROWED OUT Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ROWED OUT Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-02
Filing date: 2008-04-02
Publication date: 2008-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-02

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of matching job seeker entities with available jobs. The method provides an intermediary service to facilitate communication between registered users to allow a means to exchange information between employment entities and job seeker entities while keeping contact details of each confidential until an employment opportunity offered by an employment entity is accepted by one or more job seeker entities.

Description

"A METHOD OF MATCHING JOB SEEKER ENTITIES WITH AVAILABLE JOBS"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method of matching job seeker entities with available jobs. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a method and system for matching job seeker entities with available jobs using an employment matching entity.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is often difficult to find employees using conventional recruiting methods. For example, to advertise a job vacancy in a newspaper, employers must prepare a job advertisement prior to the printing deadline of the newspaper to have the vacancy appear in the classified section of the newspaper on the following day. The employer must then search through a list of applications from a number of people applying for the position to find applicants who have the necessary skills and experience to offer the job.

As such, conventional recruiting methods require a considerable amount of time and effort for the employer to organise. Furthermore, conventional recruiting methods are limited to the readership of the newspaper in which the advertisement appears such that the employer must advertise in more than one newspaper if the employer wishes to expand the coverage of the job vacancy, which increases the overall cost of advertising the available job. It can also be difficult for job seekers to find a suitable job using conventional methods. For example, while classified sections of newspapers are often categorised into a number of occupation types, it is often time consuming for job seekers to find a job that matches their particular skills and experience. The job seeker must also go to some length of preparing an application to address the job advertisement and increase their chance of being offered the job.

Finding suitable employees to fill an available job vacancy occurs more frequently in some industries than in others. For example, some service industries such as the hospitality and retail sectors often have a high turnover in staff as most of the employees working in these sectors are employed on a casual or part-time basis. This is because hospitality and retail workers are typically younger people that prefer working on a casual or part-time basis and are not interested in working full time. Casual employment is also particularly important to people with other commitments such as family or study who enjoy a flexible working arrangement with their employer.

However, while employing workers on a casual basis allows businesses to respond quickly to meet the current demand for services provided by their business, it can also create problems for employers that are unable to find suitable staff at short notice.

A number of systems are known to use the internet to advertise available jobs. US 7043443 discloses a system and method for matching potential employees and potential employers over a network. The invention generates a job placement plan indicating physical, health and training needs for job listings that are selected by a potential employee. The invention is particularly tailored to match people requiring special needs with jobs. For example, the invention compares the physical, behavioral and social needs of a potential employee with selected jobs and provides a compatibility score based on the percentage of needs that match each job that is selected by the potential employee. The invention also generates a job placement plan indicating physical rehabilitation accommodation, health education and training needs for each job selected by the potential employee.

US 7099872 discloses a method of searching for online employment data. The invention comprises a server that searches web sites for employment data by comparing content from each site with a prequalify dictionary containing template sample documents of job postings and resumes. Employment data found from each visited site is formatted, parsed and stored on a database and is automatically updated on a continuous basis by revisiting each site on a regular basis. As such, the invention allows job seekers to search for job postings from a number of websites simultaneously.

US 6370510 discloses a system and method for advertising a job opening on a computer network which automatically notifies a suitable job seeker of an advertised job opening. The invention comprises a remote site computer that is connected to a job seeker computer and a plurality of company computers via a computer network. Each company computer includes a company site program that allows an employer to create a company web site and upload information pertaining to a particular position to the company web site as well as to a remote website located on the remote site computer. The remote site computer includes a remote site program that enables job seekers to perform an employment search by entering information pertaining to a particular position in which the job seeker is interested. If one or more matching positions are found, the remote site program will provide a list of matching positions to the job seeker. If the job seeker selects one of the matching positions, the remote site program will redirect the job seeker's computer to the company computer to access additional information about the matching position. The remote site computer also enables job seekers to create a search agent to monitor new position postings on a regular basis.

However, while these systems reduce the time an available job is advertised, they do not do not provide a means for job seekers to apply quickly to the advertisement and fulfil the current needs of employment entities. OBJECT TO THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to at least ameliorate the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although it need not be the only, or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a method of matching job seeker entities with available jobs, the method including the steps of: (i) receiving a job message from an employment entity, the job message including employment data relating to one or more available jobs;

(ii) receiving a profile message from one or more job seeker entities, each profile message including employment data relating to the respective job seeker entity;

(iii) comparing the employment data of the job message with the employment data of each profile message and identifying one or more profile messages;

(iv) communicating the one or more identified profile messages to ^v the employment entity;

(v) facilitating communication between the employment entity and one or more job seeker entities corresponding to each identified profile message; and

(vi) communicating a confirmation message to the employment entity, the confirmation message including contact data relating to one or more job seeker entities selected by the employment entity for the available job.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying illustrations in which: FIG. 1 shows a system of matching job seekers with available jobs according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a method of matching job seekers with available jobs according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the step of facilitating communication between the job seeker entity and the employment entity as shown in FIG. 2 in greater detail where an employment entity initiates communication with one or more job seeker entities; and

FIG. 4 shows the step of facilitating communication between the job seeker entity and the employment entity as shown in FIG. 2 in greater detail where one or more job seeker entities initiates communication with a selected employment entity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a system 10 of matching job seeker entities with available jobs according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 10 comprises an employment matching entity 100 that is in operative communication with an employment entity 200 and a job seeker entity 300 via a network 400. Preferably, the employment matching entity 100 is in operative communication with a plurality of employment entities 200 and job seeker entities 300. Network 400 is preferably the Internet but it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that network 400 is not restricted to the Internet such that the invention can be implemented by any form of communications network. Furthermore, the network may include a number of different types of communications network.

The employment matching entity 100 preferably uses a website hosted on a server connected to the Internet to communicate with employment entities 200 and job seeker entities 300. The employment matching entity 100 comprises a communications module 110, a processing module 120, and a storage module 130.

The communications module 110 is used to communicate Internet web pages that are generated by the processing module 120 of the website to the employment entity 200 and the job seeker entity 300. Preferably, the employment entity 200 and the job seeker entity 300 may view or interact with the website by using a computing device connected to network 400.

The computing device may include a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a wireless mobile device in operative communication with network 400. Any data generated from activity on these web pages by using the computing device is also received by the communications module 110.

The processing module 120 undertakes all processing on data received from communications module 110. Preferably, the processing module 120 includes a number of software applications to process any data received from the employment entity 200 and the job seeker entity 300 during interaction with the website.

The storage module 130 is preferably a database of the website server, however, a person skilled in the art will realise it can be any logical or physical component that allows data to be stored and retrieved electronically.

The invention provides a way to match job seeker entities with available jobs and facilitate communication between entities by using the website as an intermediary service. This allows entities to make contact with each other while keeping their personal contact details private until such time as an employment entity 200 decides to hire one or more job seeker entities 300. The invention is particularly suited for matching job seeker entities with available jobs quickly by providing a means for entities to communicate with each other in real time. FIG. 2 shows a method 1000 of matching job seeker entities 300 with available jobs according to a further embodiment of the invention.

The method commences by an employment matching entity 100 receiving a job message from an employment entity 200 (step 1100).

The job message includes employment data that is used to describe the particular job. The employment data includes a position name describing the type of work that is involved with the job and an associated skills list including one or more skills that is required to do the job. Preferably, each skill in the skills list also includes a skill level which is determined by the employment entity 200 to indicate the level of skill a job seeker entity 300 should possess to be considered to match the available job.

Preferably, the employment data includes additional information describing an area of location, a period of time the job is available, a number of positions required, and a pay rate associated with the available job.

Preferably, the area of location includes information to describe the location of where the job is situated without disclosing any specific details that could lead a job seeker entity 300 to apply to the job directly instead of using the website to communicate with the employment entity 200. For example, the area of location may include a name of a town or suburb, without disclosing a street address or business name of the employment entity 200.

The period of employment includes a date and a start and finish time to indicate the date and time the job seeker entity 300 is required to work.

Preferably, the employment entity 200 creates the job message by selecting a job advertising webpage from the website of the employment matching entity 100 using a PC connected to the internet. The job advertising webpage includes a number of different fields in which employment data is entered. The employment entity is able to select a number of preset alternatives from a drop down menu in each field on the webpage to describe the available job. Alternatively, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the employment data may also be entered manually in each field. Once the employment entity 200 has finished entering the employment data for the available job, the job message is communicated to the website.

The next step of the method involves the employment matching entity 100 receiving a profile message from a job seeker entity 300 (step 1200). The profile message is generated by a job seeker entity 300 interacting with the website of the employment matching entity 100 to describe their abilities and work experience by entering employment data using a search webpage or by using a registration webpage provided on the website. Preferably, the employment data includes a position name describing the occupation that the job seeker entity 300 wishes to be considered. Alternatively, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the profile message is associated with a number of occupations selected by the job seeker entity 300. Each position name includes a list of one or more skills describing the particular skills that is required for each particular occupation. Each skill in the skills list also includes a skill level that is selected by the job seeker entity 300 to indicate the level of their proficiency in each skill.

Preferably, the employment data also includes information describing the location where the job seeker entity wishes to be employed.

Preferably, the employment data includes information describing the period of time that the job seeker entity 300 is available to work.

Preferably, the profile message is stored on the database 130 of the website server when the job seeker entity 300 registers with the website and can be updated whenever the job seeker entity 300 revisits the website.

The registration webpage includes a number of different fields in which employment data for the profile message is entered. The job seeker entity 300 is able to select a number of preset alternatives from a drop down menu in each field on the registration webpage to describe their various skills and abilities. Alternatively, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the employment data may also be entered manually in each field. Preferably, the registration webpage further includes a work calendar to allow the job seeker entity 300 to indicate the days and times that a job seeker entity 300 is available to work.

The work calendar also includes the ability to associate a location with each period of time that a job seeker entity is available to work, allowing the job seeker entity 300 to organise work in or near a location that they are required to be during certain periods of the day, week or month.

For example, a university student who is required to commute to and from campus to attend class from where he/she normally lives and works may wish to select an alternative location of work near the campus along with a period of time before or after class. This function allows job seeker entities 300 to select locations with times to limit their need to travel to and from work. This also provides the ability for users to organise a period of work in a particular location before they arrive at the location and is particularly useful for working holiday makers wishing to travel to and work in various locations during their stay in a country.

The employment matching entity 100 compares the employment data of the job message with the employment data of each profile message (step 1300). The employment data is compared such that each profile message that is stored on the database 130 of the website that has the same or higher skill level for each skill in the skills list as the job message is considered to match the available job.

A list of one or more profile messages matching a job message is communicated to the employment entity 200 by the employment matching entity 100 (step 1400A) in response to receiving the job message.

Alternatively, a person skilled in the art will understand a list of one or more job messages matching a profile message can be communicated to the job seeker entity 300 by the employment matching entity (step 1400B) in response to receiving the profile message.

In this case, the employment data is compared such that each job message that has the same or lower skill level for each skill in the skills list as the profile message is considered to match the particular job seeker entity 300. In this way, the job seeker entity 300 may initiate their own search upon visiting the website to find an available job that matches their skill level.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that unregistered users may use the website to search for available job seeker entities 300 or available jobs. Suitably, registered employment entities 200 can store a job message on the database 130 of the website. Similarly, registered job seeker entities 300 can store a job message on the database 130 of the website. As such, job messages and profile messages of registered users will appear in searches conducted by other users. Preferably, each job message or profile message that appears in the list of matching job messages or profile messages is ranked in order of a suitability rating. The suitability rating is calculated by comparing the skill level provided in the employment data of the job message with the skill level given in the matching profile message. For example, a profile message that has one or more skill levels above the skill level required for the available job is provided with a suitability rating higher than a profile message that only has a skill level for each skill at the same skill level as each skill in the job message.

Other information provided in the employment data may also be used to assess or influence the suitability rating of each job seeker entity 300 for each available job.

For example, the location of the job is compared with the location of the job seeker entity 300 to determine the distance the job seeker entity 300 must travel to reach the job. As such, job seeker entities that have not selected to work in the area of the available job is given a lower suitability rating than other job seeker entities 300 wishing to work in the particular area.

Furthermore, a job seeker entity 300 who indicates that they are not available for the entire period of time that the job is available will receive a lower suitability rating than if they were available for the entire period of time.

Furthermore, a list of matching profile messages is provided with various warning signs alongside a matching profile as a means to indicate to the employment entity 200 a potential problem. For example, a warning sign is displayed beside a profile message belonging to a job seeker entity 300 that is not available for the entire period of time that the job is available, indicating to the employment entity 200 that the matching job seeker entity 300 is unable to work for the entire time the job is available. Furthermore, the employment matching entity 100 will only facilitate communication between an employment entity 200 and one or more selected job seeker entities 300 that have registered with the website (step 1500).

In this manner the employment matching entity 100 is used by the employment entity 200 as an intermediary to communicate with one or more job seeker entities 300 while keeping the contact information that is provided during registration private.

The final step of the method involves communicating a confirmation message to the employment entity 200 and one or more selected job seeker entities, once the employment entity 200 selects one or more job seeker entities 300 to fill the one or more available jobs (step 1600).

The confirmation message includes contact data relating to each selected job seeker entity and/or the employment entity. Preferably, the contact data sent to the employment entity 200 includes a mobile phone number of each selected job seeker entity 300, while the contact data sent to each selected job seeker entity 300 includes a mobile phone number of the employment entity 200. This allows the employment entity 200 and one or more selected job seeker entities 300 to communicate further with each other without having to use the website as an intermediary such that personal contact information is only released once a job seeker entity 300 is selected to fill the one or more available jobs. Preferably, the confirmation message sent to each job seeker entity 300 also includes the address of where the available job is situated. FIG. 3 shows the step of facilitating communication (step 1500 in

FIG. 2) in more detail where the employment entity 200 initiates communication with one or more job seeker entities 300.

Facilitating communication begins by the employment matching entity 100 receiving a notification message from the employment entity 200 (step 1510).

The notification message relates to one or more matching job seeker entities 300 chosen by the employment entity 200 to notify of the job message. As such, the notification message allows the employment entity 200 to choose a number of matching job seeker entities from the list of profile messages that they are interested in offering the available job.

The employment matching entity 100 communicates the notification message to each matching job seeker entity 300 selected by the employment entity 200 to notify of the available job (step 1520). The notification message is communicated in real time by sending the notification message as either a short message service (SMS) or email message to a mobile phone number or an email address previously supplied by the job seeker entity 300 when registering with the website. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that other means can be used to communicate the notification message in real time such that the communication is not restricted to SMS messages.

The notification message communicated to each job seeker entity 300 includes information obtained from the employment data of the job message to describe the available job. As such, information relating to the occupation, the area of employment, the time and date of employment, and the type of wages involved with the available job is sent to each job seeker entity 300 chosen by the employment entity 200.

The next step involves the employment matching entity 100 receiving an application message from each chosen job seeker entity 300 (step 1530). The application message is sent by each job seeker entity 300 that is interested in being considered for the available job.

Preferably, the job seeker entities 300 are selected in order of the application messages received by the employment matching entity 100. As such, the employment matching entity 100 will communicate a confirmation message to the first job seeker entities 300 to respond to the notification message until all available job positions are filled. The employment matching entity 100 also sends the confirmation message to the employment entity 200 each time a message is sent to a job seeker entity 300. Preferably, each confirmation message includes contact details of the employment entity 200 and each job seeker entity 300 that has successfully applied to the available job.

Alternatively, the method includes the additional step of communicating a list of one or more profile messages corresponding to one or more job seeker entities applying to the job message to the employment entity 200 (step 1540).

This additional step is included where the employment entity 200 wishes to select the most appropriate job seeker entity 300 who responds to the notification message by communicating an application message to the employment matching entity 100.

The employment matching entity 100 then receives a selection message from the employment entity 200, the selection message relating to selecting one or more job seeker entities applying to the job message for the available job (step 1550).

FIG. 4 shows the step of facilitating communication (step 1500 in FIG. 2) in more detail where one or more job seeker entities 300 initiates communication with a selected employment entity 200.

The method differs from the previously described embodiment of FIG. 3 in that the employment matching entity 100 communicates a list of job messages to a job seeker entity 300 whose profile message matches each of the job messages stored on the database of the website (step

1400B in FIG. 2). In this way, the job seeker entity 300 may initiate their own search upon visiting the website to find an available job that matches their skill level and apply for the available job. As such, the employment matching entity 100 receives an application message to the employment matching entity 100 from each job seeker entity 300 without communicating a notification message (step 1515).

The employment matching entity 100 will also send a list of one or more profile messages to the employment entity 200 each time an application message is received (step 1525). In the same manner as explained in FIG. 3, the employment entity

200 selects the most appropriate job seeker entity 300 that directly applies for the available job.

Preferably, the employment matching entity 100 makes a job message unavailable for other job seeker entities to apply to once all the positions of the job are taken or after the time in which the job is available expires, whereupon the job message is removed from the storage module 130. It is also preferable to make the profile message of each job seeker entity 300 that has filled an available job unavailable to other employment entities to select during the period of time that the job is available to prevent double booking the job seeker entity 300. Preferably, the employment matching entity 100 may also communicate a request message to the employment entity 200 and the one or more selected job seeker entities 300 to provide feedback after a period of employment has been completed. The feedback includes answering a number of simple questions in order to establish a rating history for registered users to consider when either applying for an available position or selecting a matching job seeker entity 300.

The employment entity 200 registers with the website by entering their name, contact details and an identification password in the fields provided on an employer registration webpage. Preferably, the employment entity 200 provides an email address and mobile telephone number so that the employment matching entity 100 can communicate messages to the employment entity 200 via a PC, a PDA, a mobile phone or other similar electronic device used for communication. The employment entity 200 may also choose to be directly billed at the end of each month for using the service or buy pre-paid messaging credits that are accredited to a personal account that is created once the employment entity 200 is registered. While unregistered employment entities 200 may use the service to search for available registered job seekers matching a search enquiry, it is preferable that they be registered before being allowed to post job advertisements and communicate with registered job seekers 300.

The job seeker entity 300 registers with the service by selecting a job seeker registration webpage from the website and entering their name, contact details and identification password in the fields provided on the registration webpage. Preferably, the job seeker entity 300 provides an email address and/or a mobile telephone number so that the employment matching entity 100 can communicate messages to the job seeker entity 300 in the same manner it communicates with the employment entity 200. Additionally, the job seeker entity 300 may select one or more occupations provided on the job seeker registration webpage that they wish to be selected. A number of job specific skills are associated with each occupation and are provided with a skill level on a scale to indicate the proficiency that each job seeker believes to possess for each skill. For example, the skills of "Carry 3 plates", "Open bottle corked wine", and "Australian wine knowledge" is associated with the occupation of "Waiter", in which the job seeker uses a sliding scale from 0 to 5 to indicate the level of each skill that they possess. Since the website is used as an intermediary service to facilitate communication between registered users, the invention provides a means to exchange information between employment entities 200 and job seeker entities 300 via electronic communication while keeping contact details of each confidential until an employment opportunity offered by an employment entity 200 is accepted by one or more job seeker entities 300. Accordingly, the invention is particularly suited for matching job seeker entities with available jobs in a time efficient manner by providing a means for registered users to communicate with each other in real time. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "includes" and variations of that word such as "including", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of matching job seeker entities with available jobs, the method including the steps of:

(i) receiving a job message from an employment entity, the job message including employment data relating to one or more available jobs;

(ii) receiving a profile message from one or more job seeker entities, each profile message including employment data relating to the respective job seeker entity; (iii) comparing the employment data of the job message with the employment data of each profile message and identifying one or more profile messages;

(iv) communicating the one or more identified profile messages to the employment entity; (v) facilitating communication between the employment entity and one or more job seeker entities corresponding to each identified profile message; and

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes the step of: (vii) communicating a confirmation message to one or more job seeker entities selected by the employment entity for the available job, the confirmation message including contact data relating to the employment entity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (v) includes the steps of: a. receiving a notification message from the employment entity, the notification message including one or more profile messages each identifying a respective job seeker entity selected by the employment entity; b. communicating the notification message to each selected job seeker entity; and c. receiving an application message from one or more selected job seeker entities in response to the notification message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (v) further includes the steps of: d. communicating a list of the one or more profile messages to the employment entity, each profile message corresponding to a respective job seeker entity and communicated in response to the received application message; and e. receiving a selection message from the employment entity, the selection message accepting one or more job seeker entities for the available job.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (iii) includes the step of: a. associating a suitability rating with each profile message and identifying one or more profile messages based on the suitability rating associated with each profile message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (iv) includes the step of: a. listing each identified profile message in order of the suitability rating.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes the steps of:

(vii) communicating a request message to the employment entity requesting feedback for each selected job seeker entity after completing a period of employment;

(viii) receiving a feedback message from the employment entity, the feedback message including a list of answers to one or more questions to provide a rating history for each job seeker entity; and (ix) updating the rating history of each job seeker entity in accordance with the feedback message.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes the steps of:

(vii) communicating a request message to one or more selected job seeker entities requesting feedback for the employment entity after completing a period of employment;

(viii) receiving a feedback message from the one or more job seeker entities, the feedback message including a list of answers to one or more questions to provide a rating history of the employment entity; and (ix) updating the rating history of the employment entity in accordance with the feedback message from the one or more selected job seeker entities.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (v) includes the steps of: a. receiving an application message from one or more job seeker entities, the application message including identification data related to the respective job seeker entity in response to the job seeker entity receiving the job message; b. communicating the profile message of each respective job seeker entity to the employment entity in response to each application message; and c. receiving a selection message from the employment entity, the selection message accepting one or more job seeker entities in response to the application message

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes the step of: (vii) making the job message of the available job and the profile message of each selected job seeker unavailable to other users of the system after communicating the confirmation message.