| Linux operating system. | | | | Smart phones. |
| This is not for the technologically faint hearted, Linux is | | | | Today's mobile phones offer exceptional functionality |
| a 'community engineered' alternative to the Windows | | | | with broadband speed internet connections enabling full |
| operating system. Benefits to recruitment agencies are | | | | mobile e-mail capacity and internet browsing whilst out |
| The machines are often cheaper and faster than a | | | | interviewing. If your company places it's database on a |
| Windows PC | | | | server which is attached to the internet, you'll have full |
| They carry equivalent packages (e.g. word processor, | | | | access to your recruitment database whilst out with |
| spreadsheet, presentation etc.) for all available | | | | clients or interviewing. The days of recruitment |
| Windows office software with one key difference, the | | | | consultants having to synchronise with outlook when |
| Linux software is all open source and is therefore free! | | | | you're back in the office are gone. Run a web based |
| Linux machines do not suffer virus attacks. With | | | | e-mail package (try Zimbra) for all your e-mail, calender |
| Windows I used to loose 2 to 3 days per year (plus | | | | and notes and you will never need to synch again, |
| sleep) over virus attacks and then having to recover | | | | simply use in on your phone over the internet |
| data. With Linux in 2 years I've had none! | | | | IP phones. |
| The one thing to be careful of here is that Linux is | | | | To look at and use these are just the same as any |
| different kit to windows, so you will need a specialist | | | | other phone. However, they don't need a phone line, |
| Linux company to support you. But, if you can get this, | | | | simply a connection to the internet, but here's the good |
| my opinion is, and I stress it's my opinion, Linux is | | | | bits. |
| fantastic for recruitment consultants, cheaper to buy, | | | | No phone line, no monthly rental charges. |
| cheaper to run, faster and more reliable! | | | | An IP Phone comes with a an 0845 number which |
| Open source software. | | | | follows the phone. If you travel to the other side of the |
| Office software, and in particular CRM systems can | | | | world and plug into the internet, and you have your |
| cost recruitment agencies large amounts of money to | | | | same 0845, your same office extension (so your PA |
| set up and run. Open source software is free, created | | | | can still put calls through) and free calls to anyone else |
| and updated by a large community of techies it's | | | | on an IP phone, or at worst a local rate elsewhere. |
| presents highly sophisticated alternatives to traditional | | | | The biggest application for recruitment consultants is |
| software. There are now excellent open source CRM | | | | home working. You could be in the office one day, and |
| packages, totally free as they are open source and | | | | at home the next, and still on the end of your office |
| perfectly usable as recruitment agency database | | | | extension, the potential savings to recruitment agencies |
| software. As with Linux, it's advisable to find a | | | | here are huge. |
| company who will support you through it, but other | | | | Web based e-mail. |
| than support, the software is free to obtain and use on | | | | Gone are those days when web based e-mail was |
| an ongoing basis, and it's web based, making it easy | | | | just hotmail, which was convenient but lacking the |
| for recruitment consultants to view from any location. | | | | sophistication of packages like outlook, which carried |
| Have a look at Sugar CRM. | | | | calenders and other useful office functionality. Now, |
| Messenger. | | | | packages such as Zimbra offer unparalleled |
| This is not that new, but essential technology for any | | | | functionality on a web based package, also now |
| recruitment agency, messenger enables staff to | | | | configured to work on smart phones for mobility. |
| communicate from anywhere, real-time, so long as | | | | Rather than having to synchronise e-mail packages on |
| they have an internet connection. There are a number | | | | PC and smart phone, now mobile recruitment |
| of benefits: | | | | consultants can use the same package where ever |
| Saves on phone and text charges, messenger | | | | they are, on any computer, anywhere in the world. The |
| communication is free. | | | | software is open source, so it's completely free! |
| Highly effective for team working with channels to all | | | | If you are a recruitment consultant like myself, you |
| open all of the time. | | | | may find it difficult to focus on things like this which are |
| Excellent to support home working in maintaining your | | | | visibly related to generating another fee. But be |
| contact with staff. | | | | warned, recruitment consultants who embrace these |
| Works on any PC or mobile device with an internet | | | | developments are giving themselves the advantage |
| connection. | | | | before the recruitment has even began. |