Job hunters can now ëreturn to senderí

From today, for the first time, job hunters will be able to reply to vacancy alerts sent as a text message by recruiters. According to People Genie.

Text messaging is regarded as one of the best ways to communicate with potential job candidates due to its discrete, personal and immediate nature. However, text messages sent via a PC have to date been unable to receive a reply. People Genie software will be able to send messages out from a database and collate responses within a dedicated folder for easy processing by the recruiter.

Marc Hendrickse, Managing Director of People Genie Ltd commented: ìCompanies are getting more and more stringent about checking employeesí activities on the Internet. This has meant that some job hunters are turning away from e-mail as a confidential way to communicate with job agencies. Text messaging is a discreet yet immediate way to receive information about new vacancies, however, to date there has been no immediate and discreet way of responding.

ìWe can offer a stand-alone package enabling companies to send out messages and receive responses through the software. Alternatively, this can be built onto a People Genie package with the ability to send adverts to all job boards simultaneously, at the click of a button and manage recruitment databases.î

Typically, text messages are used to alert job hunters of a new vacancy by inviting the recipient to call the agency to register for further information. This breakthrough in technology will enable companies who subscribe to the service to get an immediate response from those who are unable to make private calls at their leisure in the work environment. Text messages can be purchased in blocks of 200 ñ 100,000 from People Genie for as little as 5.5p per message. Messages can be tailored to individual recipients or sent out to a database of contacts simultaneously.

Marc Hendrickse continued: ìThe ability to respond to text messages sent via a PC is major breakthrough for the recruitment industry. There is increasing competition to fill vacancies in record time as more frequently companies send the same vacancy to several agencies. This new technology will give subscribers a leading edge over their competitors as they have a greater ability to communicate with their candidates.î

The People Genie text messaging service is available from 250 per annum to all recruiters with Internet access. Recruiters often request that candidates subscribe to receive text message alerts and some companies may even stipulate that a charge to the candidate is made for every message sent out. This will not only recoup the cost of the service, but it will also provide a new revenue stream for the recruiter.

The basic People Genie software package was launched on 27th January 2003 and the technical team are already working on bespoke packages for leading multi-national companies as well as recruitment agencies who fill up to 60,000 vacancies annually in the UK alone. A standard software package enables all recruiters to create a job advert within minutes and send it to their selection of job boards simultaneously. Add-on facilities include managing a recruitment database, operating a client hosted version of the software and sending bespoke e-mails to a database of contacts.

www.peoplegenie.co.uk is powered by Microsoft.NET and it is predicted that over 100,000 vacancies will be sent to job boards via the software in 2003. People Genie operates through the Internet, rather than traditional client hosted servers, so it does not require an expensive installation process or in-house technical backup.

People Genie software is available through a selection of job boards and direct from People Genie for 500 per annum for unlimited use. A revolutionary ëpay as you goí option costing 10 per use will ensure the software is accessible to businesses of any size for all online recruitment requirements. To register as one of the first 1,000 companies projected to sign up in 2003 call 44 (0)870 922 4061 or log onto