There are way too many people looking for jobs. Manpower, one of the world's largest staffing companies, says that they're now receiving over 200,000 resumes each week- that translates to 200 candidates for every available job.
Where do stats like these leave job-seekers? Frustrated, desperate, and willing to do whatever it takes to get in front of a hiring manager, even if it means shelling-out a few bucks.
And there are legitimate businesses who understand the distressed job-seeker's mind set at so well that they've developed products and services geared specifically toward helping them part with some cash.
Technical job board Dice.com is one of them. They've introduced a program called Dice Advantage. For just under $30/month, individuals can find out which specific employers have viewed their resumes, have their resumes highlighted in search results, and increase their relevance.
CareerBuilder.com offers similar services, only theirs cost from $100-150/month
Should you spend the money? Not according to the posts on the message board of Dice's own site. A review on Epinions.com about CareerBuilder's premium service offers similar sentiments.
And from a recruiter's point of view, I find the entire idea problematic for several reasons:
- What does it matter if you (a job-seeker) finds out that company x viewed your resume? Chances are that it was one of several hundred that came up in a recruiter's search results.
- What are you going to do with the information? Call the hiring company's switchboard or human resources department saying, "I happen to know that you viewed my resume, do you have any questions about my background?" While the action may be well-intended, the chances of you actually making contact with the person who double-clicked on your name are miniscule. Besides, if a recruiter thinks you're a good fit for a job, they will seek you out; after all, recruiters don't make much money unless they fill jobs.
- As a recruiter, I know that when someone's name appears highlighted in my search results it means that they spent money to get attention. It sends a signal that you don't feel like you can stand out in the crowd using your only your qualifications.
- If your relevance (meaning that the search results make you look like a better match for a job than you actually are) is artificially increased, it establishes unrealistic expectations. You'd be setting yourself up to lose.
So, I say, keep your money in your wallet. Be mindful of the fact that when the economy loses jobs, the number of jobs being posted on Internet job boards goes down, which causes them to make less money, unless they get it from some other source. Think hard before you let that source be you.
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