Local job matching site Jobfox will roll out new services nationwide today to help job hunters show off their experience and let them know when their resume is being perused.
The McLean-based company, started by CareerBuilder.com founder Rob McGovern, takes a different approach to the job search task. Instead of listing jobs that seekers search for, the Web site sends users potential job opportunities based on detailed career profiles they complete.
“Job boards have become unemployment lines for people that are actively searching,” spokesman Barry Lawrence said. “This leaves a big hole for a career person who has a job, is somewhat content and wants to know what the next possible move is.”
The new features on the site include a personal branding page, where individuals can highlight their experience and post samples of their work, and the resume tracker, which alerts users via text message when an employer opens their resume. Older features, such as an instant message system that allows employers to contact candidates, are still available.
The company, which has been in the D.C. area for a few years, (formerly known as Market 10) launched a beta test this summer of its new site in three other cities, Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco. About 500,000 job seekers have filled out profiles, said Lawrence, who added that 82 percent of them are employed and about 50 percent have 12 years or more of work experience.
Jobfox gets revenue from monthly employer fees, which are dependent on the company’s size and the geographic market. The D.C. market is particularly lucrative, Lawrence said, because of its extremely low unemployment.
About 1,000 companies, most of them in the four beta testing regions, have used Jobfox so far. Just recently, Jobfox signed deals with UPS, GEICO and Equifax.
The company is hoping to attract job seekers from across the country primarily by word of mouth, search engine optimization techniques and online advertising. In the next few months, Lawrence said the site has plans to offer job seekers a personality test, the results of which can be kept private from employers.
