Traditionally, employers have recruited staff by advertising in newspapers and by receiving and responding to resumes through the mail. Now, increasingly, employers are making use of new technology. Software has been developed that uses the Internet to put prospective employees in touch with a company's human resources department, and manages the application and hiring process in its entirety. For example, web sites can present screening questions, such as concerning salary requirements and willingness to travel, and may be used for on-line testing.

The benefits are speed, savings, and efficiency. Bell Canada estimates that recruiting time has been reduced by 15 days. Alliance Atlantis recently screened 596 resumes for 34 jobs in two weeks, a task that would have taken two months in the past. Recruitsoft believes that the average cost of recruiting a person is reduced from $6,000 to $4,500 by using new technology. The sooner vacancies are filled, the higher the level of productivity. The Internet also allows companies to advertise more widely than through newspapers and journals, helping them to attract better applicants .

(Updated January 1, 2001)