What is iProfile for Recruiters?

It takes professional networks and online CV databases one step further by providing a recruitment agency with their own private network of iProfiles. This allows you to connect with the individuals within your CV database, ensuring you're searching against fresh, dynamic and up-to-date candidate information.

iProfile's state of the art search technology enables you to source candidates quickly and efficiently. Whatever your need, iProfile will deliver accurate results fast.

Unlike online databases offered via job boards or even online professional networks, your company's iProfile Network will only contain your company's candidates rather than a general pool of available candidates accessible both to your company and your competitors.

Also, because of the format of the iProfile itself, a lot of your data will be updated instantly on rollout. Read on to see how it works!

iProfile - the dynamic online CV

iProfile is a dynamic online CV that allows all candidates to easily update their profiles - especially the all important skills and availability sections. There are over 3 million candidates with an iProfile record across the UK, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. On importing the CVs currently held in your database, each candidate will receive an automatic email either setting them up with an iProfile account if they are new to the iProfile family, or letting them know they can now use their iProfile with you if they already have one. These candidates will then be able to log into their iProfile and update their details accordingly. Simple, fast, effective and best of all, of direct benefit to your company.

Updates to your candidate database

Various large recruitment agencies that may be your market competitors are already iProfile compatible. Whenever a competitor receives an updated CV of a candidate who is already in your agency's database, your agency will also receive an update of their most recent details via the iProfile (but not a new CV). Whilst this process is reciprocal, rules are in place to ensure that the latest recruitment agency who receives the updated CV will have the competitive advantage of a 2 week lead before other agencies are informed. For each iProfile update your agency generates, you will receive multiple updates back to your iProfile Network from the wider community, making a significant net gain for your agency.

iProfile vs. the traditional CV - how do I find the best candidates?

In order to understand exactly how the iProfile search engine works, it's essential to be aware of the difference between structured and unstructured data.

Unstructured data

Unstructured data is essentially the candidate's original CV. CVs can come in a variety of different formats, languages, lengths and styles. When you search unstructured data you are simply searching for words contained within the CV. The disadvantage of searching unstructured data is that you cannot specify where the information you are searching for should appear. For example, you are looking for a Project Manager, the search results returned show some Project Managers but also a lot of technical consultants / developers. The reason for this is that the candidate may list a Project Manager as a referee on their CV or perhaps has been a Project Manager but not for 6 years.

Structured data

Structured data is information that is automatically extracted from the candidate CV and added to set areas of the candidate’s iProfile such as employment history, and candidates are then able to update and add to this information using the iProfile candidate website. This means that when you search for candidates you can target specific areas of their iProfile to make sure that the words not only appear but are in the relevant areas whether it be their job title, location or even employers. The screenshot below is taken from the work history section of the candidate website and demonstrates the structure that is behind an iProfile. You can clearly see that unlike a normal Word document, the information is split out and labelled to give it context.

When the iProfile is not in edit mode as shown above it looks very much like a normal CV making it easy to read and gain an overview of the candidate. You can see a comparison below of an original Microsoft Word CV and the iProfile.

The benefit iProfile brings to you is that you have the advantages of structured data, such as more targeted searching, but still an easy to read format that you are familiar with.

What does this mean for my candidates?

Telling your candidates about their iProfile is the quickest and easiest way to make sure you always find the right candidates fast. When they apply for a job with any iProfile compatible company their iProfile will automatically be updated with their latest information. However, the best way to ensure that their information is up to date and totally accurate is to remind candidates to update their iProfiles by logging on to the candidate website.

As you cans see from the screenshot below, the candidate is able to completely manage their online iProfile, including an automatic record of any applications they have sent to iProfile compatible companies, the ability to update their job seeking preferences such as availability date and salary as well as read lots of helpful information on job hunting and career management from the iProfile website.