Computerized Job Matching

Some personnel agencies offer a new wrinkle in a trend called computerized job matching. Job seekers in fields like management, education, and engineering have their resumes, salary, and other needs assembled in large computer banks. Then employers have instant access to lists of qualified job applicants.

Many corporations have automated personnel records. Still others are keeping computerized record on job candidates. One company, for instance, uses a computer to process the records of potential employees, or job applicants. They use the system to keep track of the job moves, achievements, and related data supplied by thousands and thousands of applicants that firm has on file.

One firm even plans to track outstanding teenagers. This firm hopes to use its system to track teens who are recommended by their high school teachers as potential future employees.

Critics of the computerized gob matching system,however, say you can't treat job applicants like pieces of inventory.

They claim that computers can never provide the subtle nuances of experience and personality.The latter are what personnel managers look for when they interview job applicants in person.

Yet computerized processing can look for, record, and screen hard data as found on application forms and job applicants' typed resumes. The largest user of computer in employment is the government. In many states, job seekers who use public employment agencies are offered computerized job listings.Federal agencies also use computers to screen job applicants.