Bayer Healthcare launches jobs website

Global healthcare and pharmaceutical company Bayer Healthcareís UK division has launched an information-packed jobs website to boost the quality and numbers of employees.

In just two weeks, the site has attracted almost 7000 visitors, and delighted HR managers say it will significantly cut costs and reduce their dependency on recruitment agencies.

Gayle Long, HR Partner for Bayer Healthcare UK said: ìWe are extremely pleased with our new recruitment website. It will help us to increase the numbers, quality and range of applicants, promote Bayer as an employer of choice, and utilises a new and important media channel.

ìWhile it is difficult to estimate the cost savings that might be achieved, we believe we could save up to 25% on recruitment advertising space in the traditional media, and make further savings on recruitment agency fees. We also hope it will make the recruitment process shorter because we will now have a wider pool of prospective candidates to draw upon.î

Bayer Healthcare has more than 37,000 employees worldwide, of whom more than 1,000 are employed in the UK, with over 110 UK vacancies filled during 2002. Bayerís portfolio covers a wide spectrum of human and animal healthcare, including diagnostic equipment for hospitals and laboratories; a wide range of over-the-counter products including Alka Seltzer and Germoloids; prescription medicines and animal health products.

The site, at www.jobs.bayer.co.uk, features a huge range of information on the company, along with testimonials from current employees, examples of a typical working day, and advice on compiling a cv and interview techniques.

Long hopes it will also act as an internal communications tool to help reinforce to staff the ethos of working for Bayer, and says employee response to the site has so far been extremely positive.

ìOur employees felt it was a very professional site which gave Bayer a positive image and would attract new candidates. They felt it was easy to use and understand, and particularly liked the advice and tips section. They were asked to rate it on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best possible mark, and it received an average rating of 4.3.î

She added that the site had begun life as a recruitment web site for Bayerís pharmaceutical sales division. The pharmaceutical site had begun to pay for itself within just two months, demonstrated high levels of traffic, and produced a higher calibre of response than press advertising.

In 2002 the five Bayer Healthcare business groups ñ Animal Health, Biological Products, Diagnostics, Consumer Care and Pharmaceuticals - combined forces to create a new organisation, and the website was extended and redeveloped to cover the entire group.