Report: Traditional Help Wanted Outpaces Online

Despite the attention on the Internet as a recruitment tool, help-wanted classified advertising is projected to be the most widely-used and effective venue for employers in 1999, according to a survey by the William Olsten Center for Workforce Strategies.

The companies surveyed said that more than 43 percent of new hires will be recruited by traditional classified advertising, while only 5 percent are expected to be generated via the Internet and job recruitment Web sites this year.

According to the survey, however, more companies are allowing prospective candidates to submit their resumes or job applications online. Of those companies that maintain a Web site for recruitment purposes, 38 percent of respondents to the survey say they will allow online submissions in 1999 compared with only 17 percent two years ago. These companies indicate that they typically receive an average of 133 resumes online per month.

The annual survey, The 1999 Olsten Forum: Staffing Strategies, this year examined the responses of 322 corporate executives. It was conducted by Olsten Corp. on behalf of the Melville, NY- based William Olsten Center for Workforce Strategies, a U.S.-based organization generating research and analysis on issues affecting workforce management and employees.

Employee referrals (13%), employment/recruiting firms (12%), and temp-to-perm opportunities (10%) are also cited as recruitment strategies.

“Clearly, there is still a large window of opportunity for companies to leverage the Internet and other technologies as part of their recruiting strategy,” the company said.

Olsten Corp., with 1,500 offices on three continents, provides staffing solutions and assignment employees to business, industry and government under Olsten Staffing Services and related brands.