Skill is still the most controversial four-letter word in the HR industry. So, it`s little wonder managers are swooning over the functionality of online recruiting.
They can reach thousands of potential candidates and, through CV filtering technologies, quickly weed out the chance-takers from the genuine job seekers.
Charnelle Holder, Manager of VIP Placements, says that while the Internet has transformed the usually laborious task of finding staff into a high-speed process, managers mustn`t overlook the importance of human contact.
The online recruitment industry has boomed in the last five years and growth is expected to accelerate as more people gain access to the Web. In turn, recruiters have had to adapt their approach in order to reach increasingly sophisticated job seekers who capitalise on all the resources at their disposal in order to broaden their search for the right job.
Despite a lack of basic computer skills and limited access to a computer and the Internet for many South Africans, Holder says online recruitment will continue its path of steady growth.
She says, however, that there are dangers associated with e-recruitment which wouldn`t happen in the more traditional methods of recruitment where responses are dealt with at a personal level earlier in the process.
"E-recruitment promotes thorough screening - which is good - and largely works on combining the application process with the interview process - which is not necessarily good."
Another major concern, she says, is the prevalence of dishonesty by applicants. This is of course not limited to online CVs, but the online recruiting process is prone to the manager ultimately making a decision to hire based on a CV instead of a face-to-face interview.
"Checking and double checking is the key to confidently making the right choice, with a lot of emphasis placed on references and background checks," Holder says. As a specialist in payroll and HR placements, VIP Placements takes the process a step further by scrutinising a potential candidate`s competency in its assessment centre.
Holder explains that the assessments test three levels of proficiency and the results indicate the scores for each level and detail what the candidate was not able to answer. The prospective employer can now objectively compare the candidate`s skills. "In my experience, one can be fooled into thinking that a candidate with 10 years` VIP experience is very knowledgeable. Yet, if you use a complicated cost to company structure and the candidate has worked in a wage office inputting batches for 10 years, they will not be suitable."
She agrees that e-recruitment can be extremely cost-effective compared to traditional print advertising, and that it does speed up the recruitment process dramatically. But, combining the advantages of e-recruitment with a human element is important so that people are not numbers being run through a totally automated process.
"At Softline VIP we work by the philosophy of `Client Intimacy Discipline` and hold strong the belief that while online opportunities for recruitment are very real and beneficial, they can never replace the value of face-to-face interaction. I also believe that first impressions are imperative and contribute a great deal to the final decision."
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Softline VIP is a leading supplier of payroll and human resource management solutions in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The company now boasts more than 24 000 clients. With three payroll and human resource management products, Softline VIP is able to meet the needs of any size company. Coupled with an extensive service offering, Softline VIP is the only payroll and HR solution geared to meet the challenges of the modern payroll office. The VIP Products are synonymous with ease of use, stability and reliability, with the flexibility to cater to the unique needs of every client. VIP promises long-term sustainability over and above legislative compliance. VIP understands the human resources and payroll environment and offers the client peace of mind by providing a total solution.
Softline VIP products include:
VIP Premier - Softline VIP also supplies leading technology to service large and corporate clients. VIP Premier is geared towards increasing the functionality of payroll systems and provides an uncomplicated solution for medium to large organisations. One of the key features of this product is that it is quick to implement in comparison to similar solutions. Meeting the needs of any payroll office and supplying the most suitable solution is important for Softline VIP as it strives to ensure practical solutions for all users. Our products are easy to use and reliable and the information produced is accurate and complies with all statutory requirements.
VIP Classic - VIP Classic is the perfect solution for clients with bigger operations than the one-man business. VIP Classic provides the same flexibility as larger systems but is aimed at the small to medium sector. This software offers a total solution to users.
VIP Essentials - VIP Essentials is geared to small businesses and contains the same ease of use and stability of all VIP`s products. VIP Essentials is an affordable product making it an ideal solution for the small business paying less than 30 employees.
Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
Softline
Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions to small, medium and large companies. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the software industry and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa in February 1997. Softline expanded to establish a strong position within its area of focus in South Africa and Australia. Focused on the development of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions, Softline has a 20-year track record as a market leader. The group has a broad range of products offering users a variety of software solutions to run their businesses efficiently. Softline`s leading brands include Softline Accpac, Softline Enterprise, Softline Pastel (Accounting and Payroll) and Softline VIP. The combination of the group`s product offerings provide Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions. In November 2003, Softline was acquired by the Sage Group plc, a FTSE 100 company. The software group includes market-leading businesses throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia, supplying business software to the small, medium and large business community. Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
Sage
The Sage Group plc is a leading global supplier of business management software solutions and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs over 14 800 people worldwide. For more information, go to www.sage.co.uk.
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