With the Internet fast gaining ground in Jamaica, the founders of SplashJamaica.com saw an opportunity to tap into the job recruitment market and so set up a website, which is one of the best of its kind in Jamaica.

Speaking with Caribbean Business Report, SplashJamaica.com CEO John O'Donoghue explained how the company got started.

"The idea for Splash was conceived by six guys who came to Jamaica, most of them to work for Digicel in an IT capacity.  They managed to get these jobs through international recruitment websites.  Once in Jamaica, they noticed that an effective online recruitment vehicle did not exist so they decided to form SplashJamaica.com. The company is now seven months old.

"It is a 100 per cent Jamaican recruitment website, which allows companies to go online at anytime and upload their jobs.  They don't have to ring, write or fax anyone and recruitment can be done in real time.

"Now, they say at any given time there are 330 million Internet users in the world so for those looking for a job in Jamaica this is a useful way to go about it.

"It is very easy to use.  There is no need to go sifting through newspapers and all that goes with trying to land a job.  It costs a fraction of the cost of newspaper advertising and you can do the entire thing in a matter of minutes online.  Also, if you wanted to post a résumé online so prospective employers can view it, that can also be done.  We have about a hundred jobs up each week.  We have revolutionised the recruitment industry in Jamaica."

O'Donoghue added that with the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) practically here, Splash is aiming for a presence in the wider Caribbean and targeting those seeking job opportunities in the region.

There are no restrictions to a size of a recruitment posting.  To post details of a job vacancy or to put up details about yourself cost J$12,000 and it stays live on the site for 28 days.

Companies can buy a contract for 3, 6 or 12 months and during that time they can advertise as many jobs as they like.  The 12-month contract costs J$175,000 which allows one to own the site and put up and take down as many jobs as one likes.

SplashJamaica.com has jobs from banks in Cayman, Bermuda and Barbados.  There are a lot of jobs located in Trinidad & Tobago.  Trinidadian development companies are using the site to recruit engineers.  Digicel is using the site to recruit personnel for its new operations in Haiti and Trinidad.

"There are a number of Jamaican companies that now have operations in the Caribbean - DB&G, JMMB and GraceKennedy to name a few.  Our site can be very useful to them in recruiting professionals and all sorts of workers.  The whole pan-Caribbean concept is now with us.  All we need is a very good regional airline to make the region truly accessible," said O'Donoghue.

The site is gaining some traction, as Internet use becomes widespread.  SuperClubs put up a job for a marketing manager, which pulled 81 applicants within a week!  O'Donoghue has noted the increasing numbers of unsolicited visitors to the site.  The company is now looking to partner with an investor to extend its reach further into the Caribbean.

"If you are CSME conscious, HR conscious, an employer or recruiter then SplashJamaica.com is for you."

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20051229T210000-0500_95569_OBS_JOHN_O_DONOGHUE_MAKES_A_SPLASH_WITH_ONLINE_JOB_RECRUITMENT.asp