Computerized apparatus for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function

• US 8,712,816 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rightoptions LLC
• Original Assignee: Rightoptions LLC
• Inventors: Putnam, Laura T., Shapiro, Eileen C., Mintz, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOYCE, ANDRE D
• Application Number:
  US13/269,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20120030127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.12, 705/7.38
• US Class Current: 705/7.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/2057 Career enhancement or continuing education service

Abstract

Methods for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function capability involve the use of a database that correlates, for a job function in a first industry, the first industry with a set of second industries with respect to which a job function capability of the job function is potentially transferable. The database can be accessed to identify the second set of industries. A symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry or a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user'"'"'s job transferability query may be used to access the database.

Claims

1. A computerized apparatus for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function with respect to a first industry, the apparatus comprising:

a server coupled to a communications network; and

a digital storage medium coupled to the server, wherein the server is configured to run processes including;

a. in a first digital computer process, receiving over the communications network data identifying the job function in the first industry;

b. in a second digital computer process, accessing a database, stored on the digital storage medium, containing information, developed for the job function, listing industries to which and from which the job function is potentially transferable, the information corresponding to markings in a square matrix, the matrix having a pair of orthogonal axes, and a series of positions along each axis, with each position along each axis being associated with a different industry in which the job function is performed, wherein each industry occupies a corresponding position along each axis, so that

(1) in a row of the matrix corresponding to a selected industry in which an individual has experience are markings of columns of industries to which the experience of the individual is potentially transferable and

(2) in a column of the matrix corresponding to a selected industry in which a company may be seeking candidates are markings of rows of industries from which a candidate'"'"'s experience therein may be transferable to the selected industry;

wherein the pattern of markings in the matrix is not symmetric; and

c. in a third digital computer process, using the database to identify at least one industry other than the first industry for potential transfer of the job function.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server is a web server on the World Wide Web, and wherein the server provides a web page for receiving, from a user device, the data identifying the job function in the first industry.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein using the database to identify at least one industry other than the first industry for potential transfer of the job function comprises at least one of:

identifying an industry into which a job function capability of a subject is potentially transferable, out of the first industry; and

identifying an industry out of which a job function capability is potentially transferable, into the first industry.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the database quantifies degree of transferability between the first industry and each of the identified industries.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising, in a fourth digital computer process, providing over the communications network information relating to at least one of:

the first industry;

at least one of the identified industries;

a transferability rating for a transfer out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of identified industries;

a transferability rating for a transfer into the first industry, out of an industry in the set of identified industries;

an explanation of degree of transferability out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of identified industries;

an explanation of degree of transferability into the first industry, out of an industry of the set of identified industries;

an enterprise within at least one of the industries;

a job posting source;

a resume posting source;

a recruiter specializing in the first industry;

a recruiter specializing in one of the identified industries; and

a recruiter specializing in the job function.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, where in the information provided over the communications network is limited by at least one of:

preferences associated with a user;

a desired skill set associated with a user; and

the size of a company with which a user has experience.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the database is accessed using at least one of:

a symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry, of a set of second industries with respect to which the job function capability is potentially transferable; and

a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user'"'"'s job transferability query.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

in a fifth digital computer process, updating the database'"'"'s correlation of industries based upon feedback information provided over the communications network by users who have used industry correlation information from the database.

9. Apparatus comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions which, when loaded into a computer, establish processes for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function with respect to a first industry, the processes comprising:

a. in a first digital computer process, receiving data identifying the job function in the first industry;

b. in a second digital computer process, accessing a database, stored on a digital storage medium, containing information, developed for the job function, listing industries to which and from which the job function is potentially transferable, the information corresponding to markings in a square matrix, the matrix having a pair of orthogonal axes, and a series of positions along each axis, with each position along each axis being associated with a different industry in which the job function is performed, wherein each industry occupies a corresponding position along each axis, so that

(1) in a row of the matrix corresponding to a selected industry in which an individual has experience are markings of columns of industries to which the experience of the individual is potentially transferable and

(2) in a column of the matrix corresponding to a selected industry in which a company may be seeking candidates are markings of rows of industries from which a candidate'"'"'s experience therein may be transferable to the selected industry;

wherein the pattern of markings in the matrix is not symmetric; and

c. in a third digital computer process, using the database to identify at least one industry other than the first industry for potential transfer of the job function.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the computer is a web server on the World Wide Web that provides a web page for receiving, from a user device, the data identifying the job function in the first industry.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein using the database to identify at least one industry other than the first industry for potential transfer of the job function comprises at least one of:

identifying an industry into which a job function capability of a subject is potentially transferable, out of the first industry; and

identifying an industry out of which a job function capability is potentially transferable, into the first industry.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the database quantifies degree of transferability between the first industry and each of the identified industries.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising, in a fourth digital computer process, providing over the communications network information relating to at least one of:

the first industry;

at least one of the identified industries;

a transferability rating for a transfer out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of identified industries;

a transferability rating for a transfer into the first industry, out of an industry in the set of identified industries;

an explanation of degree of transferability out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of identified industries;

an explanation of degree of transferability into the first industry, out of an industry of the set of identified industries;

an enterprise within at least one of the industries;

a job posting source;

a resume posting source;

a recruiter specializing in the first industry;

a recruiter specializing in one of the identified industries; and

a recruiter specializing in the job function.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, where in the information provided over the communications network is limited by at least one of:

preferences associated with a user;

a desired skill set associated with a user; and

the size of a company with which a user has experience.

15. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the database is accessed using at least one of:

a symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry, of a set of second industries with respect to which the job function capability is potentially transferable; and

a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user'"'"'s job transferability query.

16. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

in a fifth digital computer process, updating the database'"'"'s correlation of industries based upon feedback information provided over the communications network by users who have used industry correlation information from the database.