RE: Job Banks

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

bounce-techwr-l-106467 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com wrote on 07/30/2004 10:16:55 AM:
> Some chapters restrict access to their job boards to members only so 
> that applicants are competing against fewer other applicants (i.e., 
> all the non-members who use open job boards in addition to members).

And currently, that may make sense. After all, the posts are put up for 
free. Conversely, you could never charge for this service as it has a 
small captive audience.

But, by the same token, are you running the society to be inclusive or to 
be exclusive? Does your group offer so little value that the only reason a 
prospective technical communicator would visit is to look at job posts? Is 
the possibility that a successful candidate might be grateful/impressed 
and become a loyal long term member so remote or the job offerings so slim 
and precious that the posts must be kept under lock and key like some 
treasure?

> Also, hosting and maintaining a job board costs chapters money, 
> which is usually financed through the STC chapter rebates, so some 
> chapters want their job board available only to those who pay for it 
> through their STC dues.

For now, sure that's a valid point. But, I have to wonder why the STC 
doesn't provide support for chapters to host their websites. If everything 
was hosted in one domain, the international image of the organisation 
would be raised and member services would be standardised. It would allow 
smaller chapters to have access to web services and information that 
otherwise might be out of their grasp. And it might at least give a 
minimum web presence to those chapters that do not have one now. (Try and 
find chapter information on the STC.org website. Pathetic.)

And how many new members would have to be gained (attracted by a helpful 
job board) to have the board be seen as a simple good investment in 
community relations and self promotion?

> Allowing employers to post for free gives them an incentive to use
> STC chapter job boards rather than paid services. Considering 
> that nearly all chapter activities are volunteer-driven, it can 
> become a big job to collect and administer payments for job postings.

Currently, yes. But if the billing and hosting were centralised, the local 
volunteers would have to do little more than encourage the employers to 
register their posting by means of their local website. Indeed, currently 
why would an employer bother post the job with the stc.org site if they're 
posting with a local chapter? And vice-versa. Why would a local candidate 
go to the STC site as opposed to their local site?

But, considering that I've seen posts on Monster AND the Montreal STC 
chapter site, employers are not adverse to posting in multiple palaces. 
Seeing as many posts can be found on recruiters sites AND numerous job 
search sites also shows that employers and recruiters are not averse to 
paying multiple providers if the providers offer sufficient added value.

A truly professional STC job bank would add lots of value. The STC could 
define what is 'Technical Communication' and limit job types posted, thus 
attracting technical communicators AND educating the employers as to the 
role and requirements for technical communicators.

Perhaps to begin it would be a for free affair (heck currently it is, but 
without society wide cooperation). But, after attracting the technical 
communication community to the board and gathering statistics of positions 
filled it may be possible to easily show that three to four hundred 
dollars spent at the STC job board is more effective than spending the 
same on a generalised job board.

Having an open and accessible job board would also attract new members who 
might buy-in to the STC based on continuing value. It would also serve to 
show potential technical communicators the variety of jobs and the skills 
required to join the profession.

How about taking the same approach as recruiters? Make enough information 
public to entice candidates to apply, but not enough for them to identify 
the company they're applying to. If you don't want to handle the recruiter 
job, make membership necessary to apply or view the details. Or, form a 
partnership with an established recruiter to perform the required tracking 
and billing.

In any case, get the chapters on board so that all can benefit from the 
international effort to locate job openings and so that all can have the 
best possible technology to search and manage the list.

> And users like having a specialized job board with jobs specifically
> geared to them.

Damn straight. So where's the specialised job board for technical 
communication?

But, maybe Techwr-l should take the jump and try and grow. Techwr-l is 
already more than a quarter of the size of the STC. ;)

Need any help Eric and Deb? How about a full time employee or two for 
Techwr-l and a membership drive?

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

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