Computerized job search system and method for posting and searching job openings via a computer network

• US 5,978,768 A
• Filed: 05/08/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CareerBuilder LLC (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CareerBuilder LLC (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGovern, Robert J., Winchester, James A. Jr., Koffman, Jennie A., Evans, Andrew B., Walker, Aaron P., Farmer, Brian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M.
• Application Number:
  US08/853,376
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/11, 705/27, 707/3, 707/104, 395/200.33, 395/200.49, 395/200.31
• US Class Current: 705/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing an interactive computer-driven employment recruiting service. The method and apparatus enables an employer to advertise available positions on the Internet, directly receive resumes from prospective candidates, and efficiently organize and screen the received resumes. The method and apparatus further is capable of monitoring employment advertisements for a job seeker and automatically notifying the job seeker when a position for which the job seeker is suitable becomes available. The method and apparatus further enables a plurality of companies to advertise job positions at a single location accessible via the Internet by a job seeker, and enables the job seeker to communicate directly with a company via the Internet if the job seeker is interested in exploring further information pertaining to an available position at that company.

Claims

1. An employment recruiting method, comprising the steps of:

creating a computer readable file including information pertaining to a job opening;

uploading a portion of the computer readable file to a medium accessible via a computer network;

searching information in the uploaded portion of the computer readable file for the presence of information corresponding to information designated by a user;

informing the user when at least some of the designated information has been found in the searching step; and

making available to the user additional information present in a portion of the computer readable file other than the uploaded portion in response to a request by the user.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of permitting the user to send information via the computer network to a location at which the computer readable file is maintained.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically searching the uploaded portion of the computer readable file at designated intervals for the presence of information corresponding to information provided by the user in response to a request by the user.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer readable file creating step comprises the steps of:

entering information pertaining to the job opening; and

categorizing job openings in accordance with a criteria of the job opening information.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating another computer readable file;

uploading the another computer readable file to a medium accessible via the computer network;

including the uploaded portion of the computer readable file with the another computer readable file; and

wherein the searching step comprises the step of searching the uploaded portion of the computer readable file via the another computer readable file.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

when the at least some of the designated information has been found during the searching step, discontinuing searching the uploaded portion of the computer readable file via the another computer readable file; and

after discontinuing the searching, accessing the information in the other portion of the computer readable file other than the uploaded portion in response to a request from the user.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of accessing the information sent by the user.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of notifying the user when the information sent by the user is received at the location.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of storing the information sent by the user based on a criteria thereof.

10. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of storing the information sent by the user based on a criteria of the information found in the searching step.

11. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the information sent by the user.

12. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of forwarding the information sent by the user to another location.

13. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of sending response information to the user in response to the information sent by the user.

14. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of deleting the information sent by the user.

15. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of copying the information sent by the user.

16. An employment recruiting method, comprising the steps of:

creating and storing a computer readable file on a medium accessible via a computer network;

importing into the computer readable file a first portion of another computer readable file including information pertaining to a job opening;

searching the computer readable file at the medium for the presence of information corresponding to information designated by a user;

informing the user when at least some of the designated information has been found in the searching step; and

making available to the user additional information present in a portion of the another computer readable file other than the first portion in response to a request by the user.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of permitting the user to send information via the computer network to a location at which the another computer readable file is maintained.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of automatically searching the computer readable file at designated intervals for the presence of information corresponding to information provided by the user in response to a request by the user.

19. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of forwarding the portion of the another computer readable file to another medium.

20. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

importing into the computer readable file portions of other computer readable files including information pertaining to job openings;

determining, based on the portions of the another computer readable files, which of the portions of the other computer readable files are to be forwarded to another medium;

creating a forwarding file including the portions of the other computer readable files;

deleting from the forwarding file the portions of the other computer readable files other than those determined in the determining step to be forwarded to the another medium; and

forwarding the forwarding file to the another medium after performing the deleting step.

21. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

creating an information file; and

forwarding the information file to at least one additional medium accessible via the computer network.

22. A computer readable medium of instructions, comprising:

a first data structure adaptable to control a computer to generate a computer readable file including information pertaining to a job opening;

a second data structure including instructions adaptable to control a computer to search the information for designated information provided by a designator, inform the designator when at least some of the designated information has been found in the searching step, and make available to the designator additional information present in a first portion of the computer readable file in response to a request by the designator; and

a third data structure adaptable to control the computer which generates the computer readable file to upload a portion of the computer readable file other than the first portion and a portion of the second data structure to a medium external of the file generating computer.

23. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to receive information from the designator.

24. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control a computer to automatically search the uploaded portion of the computer readable file at designated intervals for the presence of information corresponding to information provided by the designator in response to a request by the designator.

25. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first data structure is further adaptable to control the file generating computer to receive job opening information pertaining to the job opening, and categorize job openings in accordance with a criteria of the job opening information.

26. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to manipulate the information received from the designator.

27. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to notify the designator when the information sent by the designator is received by the file generating computer.

28. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to store the information sent by the user based on a criteria thereof.

29. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to store the information sent by the user based on a criteria of the information found in the searching.

30. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to display the information sent by the user.

31. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to forward the information sent by the user to another location.

32. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to send response information to the user in response to the information sent by the user.

33. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to delete the information sent by the user.

34. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second data structure further comprises instructions adaptable to control the file generating computer to copy the information sent by the user.

35. A computer readable medium of instructions, comprising:

a first data structure adaptable to control a computer to create and upload a computer readable file to an external medium;

a second data structure adaptable to control a computer to import into the computer readable file a first portion of another computer readable file including information pertaining to a job opening;

a third data structure adaptable to control a computer to search the first portion of computer readable file at the medium for the presence of information corresponding to designated information provided by a designator;

a fourth data structure adaptable to control a computer to inform the designator when at least some of the designated information has been found in the searching step; and

a fifth data structure adaptable to control a computer to make available to the designator additional information present in a portion of the another computer readable file other than the first portion in response to a request by the designator.

36. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 35, further comprising a sixth data structure adaptable to control a computer to send information provided by the designator to a location at which the another computer readable file is maintained.

37. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 35, further comprising a seventh data structure adaptable to control a computer to automatically search the computer readable file at designated intervals for the presence of information corresponding to information provided by designator in response to a request received from the designator.

38. A method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising an eighth data structure adaptable to control a computer to forward the portion of the another computer readable file to another medium.

39. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 35, further comprising a ninth data structure adaptable to control a computer to perform the following:

import into the computer readable file portions of the other computer readable files including information pertaining to job openings;

determine, based on the portions of the other computer readable files, which of the portions of the other computer readable files are to be forwarded to another medium;

create a forwarding file including the portions of the other computer readable files;

delete from the forwarding file the portions of the other computer readable files other than those determined to be forwarded to the another medium; and

forward the forwarding file to the other medium after performing the deleting.

40. A computer readable medium of instructions as claimed in claim 35, further comprising a tenth data structure adaptable to control a computer to perform the following:

create an information file; and

forward the information file to at least one additional medium accessible via the computer network.