First-up, someone we are all familiar with in the blogashere, Carey Eaton. Carey was given the nod for the recently-vacant role of Chief Information Officer. Carey joined Seek nearly two years ago as Product Director after a very successful career in recruitment at Michael Page and then at News Ltd’s CareerOne, to name a few. Hope the pay rise is not already spent.

Joe Powell has been promoted from Sales Director to the newly-created role of Managing Director, taking responsibility for the employment business in Australia and New Zealand.

I haven’t seen the old Sales Director role advertised, stay tuned for another internal promotion.

Finally, nine-year Seek veteran Jason Lenga who is currently Corporate Strategy Director has been handed the additional responsibility for the corporate strategy of the new overseas investments in Brasil and Asia.

It might be a good idea for Seek to update its Board & Management page to reflect these changes.

Now this job listing on MyCareer (one of forty-four).

What’s interesting about this listing is that - Apply Now - the company placing this job on MyCareer on behalf of their client is a job board also.  See about us>

The official line is that job boards don’t allow other job boards to advertise on them. Why would a company facilitate the operation of its competitor?  Probably more to the point, however, why would Apply Now want to support its competition by giving it business?

Here’s an even stickier point.  While the principles of certain terms of business within the realm of the internet have yet to be precisely defined, it’s arguable that this sort of corporate behavior could be catagorised as Space Farming.

Fairfax has a clear policy on this subject.

* Third Party Advertising: Fairfax will not, under any circumstances, accept third-party advertising (also known as “space farming”) in any advertisement, including inserts, tip-ons, or other forms of separate publications inserted into or attached for distribution into the publication

Is Fairfax permitting this sort of on-selling of its advertising space? (Apply Now rates here)

The ‘Apply Now’ button links directly out to Apply Now’s external application form. Surely an employee at MyCareer had to notice something was smelly when they set this external apply link up??

Or with the cost cutting going on at Fairfax they might be grabbing any advertising dollars that come along…

“At SEEK we’ve developed an even faster, easier way to buy Premium Ads - you can now do it online.

And we’ve created a short video to show you how simple it is. Visit the SEEK Advertiser Centre to learn more about Premium Ads and how they can provide you with greater exposure and more applicants.

With 24/7 access, you’re now able to book Premium Ads online at a time that suits you. There’s no need to call us! (Unless of course you want to.)

Buying Premium Ads online gives you:

• Control & convenience - you can now buy Premium Ads at any time
• Real time access to availability - find the Premium Ads you need instantly

Please watch our short video and start booking your Premium Ads online today.”

What about my poor little standard job listing that keeps losing value and moving down the rankings?  Carey Eaton has previously argued that Seek Premium ads. are targeted at employers rather than recruiters.  This logic is flawed, however, if we consider the idea that it is more likely recruiters who will have the inclination to place their ads. in this self-service fashion.  

I’ve managed to uncover something interesting about the job scene here.  The lower class is big in France, much bigger than in Australia.  On the whole, this is not what you’d call an affluent country in that regard.  However, the average incomes seem to be pretty much on par.  What I mean by that is, the low income earner in Australia earns around 30 000, so too the low incomer here.  And likewise with the bigger incomes.  However - and here’s the sticking point.  If we work here as ex-pats, and earn Euros, we go back home almost doubling our cash when we convert it back into $A.  A tantalising proposition.

Au Revoir!

Australia’s recruitment industry celebrated in style last night, as the jobseeker’s favourites were honoured at the SEEK Annual Recruitment Awards (SARAs).The 2008 SARAs, supported by the RCSA and now in their 6th year, were presented at an exclusive cocktail event in Sydney where the value the recruitment industry provides to both clients and candidates was publicly acknowledged.Based on the votes of jobseekers, this year’s winners are:

Davidson Recruitment - Large Generalist Recruiter
Westaff Medium - Generalist Recruiter
Majer Recruitment - Small Generalist Recruiter
Hudson - Large Specialist Recruiter
Judd Farris - Medium Specialist Recruiter
Charterhouse Professional Support - Small Specialist Recruiter
Talent International - Large IT Recruiter
ITCOM Australia and I T Matters - Small IT Recruiter (Joint Winners)
Six Degrees Executive - Executive Recruiter

Two additions to the ‘SARA Legends’, which recognise recruiters who achieve consistent excellence in their respective categories, were also announced with  Davidson Recruitment and Majer Recruitment inducted into this exclusive group.

SEEK Sales and Service Director Joe Powell said that since launching in 2003, the SARAs have evolved from a popular choice award to a highly desired form of recognition within the recruitment industry:

“The jobseeking public and recruitment industry have well and truly embraced the SARAs with another record breaking number of votes received this year. Recruiters who deliver superior customer service deserve to be rewarded and the SARAs have helped set a benchmark in this area.”

“In a highly competitive employment market, points of difference are not only important to profits and attracting new business but crucial to attracting candidates who are increasingly putting greater value on personal service.”

Following a successful partnership in 2007, Pricewaterhouse Coopers was again part of the SARAs audit process, performing an independent vote count to verify the SARA winners and runners up.

However, things may be beginning to change.  Video-sharing site Hulu.com has taken the protective step of making its site’s content available only in the USA.

This is what I got when last visited and clicked on a video:

This is, no doubt, a response to the large amount of litigation surrounding copyright issues and public video sharing.

This blocking of content could impact the uploading of employment video content if it’s unable to be played in international cyber space. For example if Youtube decided to take this stance then the ability to ad video to Seek job ads via a Youtube link would disappear.  And into what other areas will this censorship seep?

James Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings will also invest alongside Seek to hold 5% of the Brasil Online Holdings business.

Better brush up on the Brazilian language ‘cos we know where the future Seek Christmas parties will be…

P.s. Think Seek needs to invest in a better server for Manager.com.br

Let’s say you type in ‘Accounting’ into this search box, you will then be presented with a list of jobs from Seek with the term ‘Accounting’ in them. Click away…

When you search MyCareer or other job boards they don’t get the same celebrity treatment??