• You will hear a news report in which the anchor will tell you how online job-seeking is growing in Germany and its advantages

Anchor: The Internet is described by some as a job machine, creating new opportunities for young entrepreneurs.  Others say it’s a job killer, eliminating certain labor-intensive occupations. Whatever you believe, there’s no denying that the Internet is an ideal platform for advertising and finding jobs. It’s global, interactive, and growing. Germany alone has 300 job listing web sites. The market leader, called Jobs & Adverts, registers 700, 000 hits a month.
      Job-seeking, old style. The sits-vac column in the newspaper. But things are changing, especially in the hi-tech sector. The sits-vac column has moved to the World Wide Web. Digital employment agencies are among the fastest-growing Internet companies. Europe’s number one is Jobs & Adverts, based near Frankfurt.
      The reason is that the Internet represents the medium for job seekers.  The Internet has important advantages vis-a-vis the print media. You can target the job you’re after by entering in specific criteria, and the answers come back straightaway by e-mail.
      Jobs & Adverts’ websites are packed full. More than 6, 000 employers are advertising some 35, 000 pests. An ad costs up to 600 euros for four weeks. And according to the Kienbaum business consultancy, they’re not just aimed at geeks.
      Ansgar Kinkel, a business consultant: Jobs from the Internet are interesting for all applicants, because they’re now being advertised for all occupations and at all levels up to CEO. But they’re particularly interesting for those working abroad and wanting to return home, because in their case, it’s often pure chance whether they even see and ad in the print media.
Anchor: The Net also makes life easier for personnel managers. Search engines allow them to quickly sift the flood of applicants. This is how it works. The first contract is via e-mail. The contents, preferably clear and concise, are hardly different from those in a classical job application.  But there are some pitfalls. What might look like formal errors can lead to a rejection.
Roland Metzger, Jobs & Adverts: We can only advise applicants to send off a thorough, informative application, and not to send attached files which the recipient might not be able to open. In other words, include your c.v. in the message itself.
Anchor: Once the firm expresses an interest, the next stage is to e-mail a Complete application along with certificates and references.
A job applicant: The firm wants complete documentation, so what do I do about certificates etc.? I have to set about scanning them, bearing in mind the size and quality of the document. And I have to think about what program to use. Will the firm be able to open it at all, or print it out? Can I actually transmit the thing over the net?
Anchor: Applicants can not only look for jobs on the net, they can also discover if their qualifications are currently in demand.
A job applicant: You get feedback. Is my profile any use at all in the labor market? If so, for what company, etc.? What’s my market value in financial terms?
Anchor: Career by mouse-click. Companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Bayer and Mannesman are already fishing for candidates in the Internet. But not everything can be done by computer. Nothing replaces the personal meeting ... but they’re working on it! Webcam interviews are already at the testing stage.
      As Internet technology develops and becomes even more interactive, job seekers will be challenged to put their best food forward in a digital world. To see what’s expected of virtual applicants, check out the Jobs and Adverts web site at the address shown on your screen or use a search engine to find listing in your part of the world.