THUNDER BAY – BUSINESS – In a bid to help job seekers find meaningful employment and give local businesses access to the talent they need, the Thunder Bay Chamber is mounting an ambitious campaign to register job candidates and local employers with Magnet, a new network powered by cutting-edge job-matching technology.
The Magnet network promises to radically change the way Thunder Bay job seekers find meaningful employment and how local businesses source talent to meet their skills requirements.
What’s different about Magnet is that it provides both job candidates and employers with a one-stop, supply/demand job hub to connect the right candidate to the right job – quickly, accurately, and efficiently.
Job hunters register by filling out a profile and are immediately provided with specific job postings that match their skills, qualifications and job preferences. The system is designed to have job opportunities chase candidates. This means that every time a suitable new job is posted, qualified candidates are automatically notified.
A unique feature is that every candidate’s identity is shielded until they decide to communicate with a potential employer about a job posting. The platform also gives job seekers the flexibility to use multimedia to more effectively market themselves to employers.
For local small- to medium-sized businesses, the Magnet network provides a fast, cost-effective and easy-to-use channel to post a job and tap into the supply of qualified talent that they need. After an employer posts a job, the cutting-edge technology provides the company with a pre-screened list of top candidates who meet the specified skills requirements and have expressed an interest in the position. The system also lowers search costs and allows companies to remain connected to qualified candidates even if they are not currently hiring.
Magnet was developed by Ryerson University, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), which represents about 60,000 employers and two million jobs, as a unified and coordinated response to pressing unemployment and underemployment issues. Many of OCC’s 160 member chambers are now rolling out Magnet to job seekers and employers right across the province.
“When it comes to finding good jobs and sourcing the right talent quickly, Magnet is a game changer,” says Charla Robinson, President of the Thunder Bay Chamber. “No job seeker or business in need of talent can afford to be without the competitive advantage that Magnet offers. Small-and-medium size companies who use this revolutionary networking platform, for example, will now be able to compete with companies with much larger talent acquisition and human resource budgets.”
Thunder Bay job seekers, local college and university students seeking full or part-time employment and businesses can learn more and register free of charge by visiting tbchamber.magnet.today
“Magnet is about connecting jobs to people and helping communities strengthen their economies,” says Mark Patterson, Executive Director, Magnet. “The work of chambers of commerce across Ontario to raise awareness and encourage both job candidates and employers to sign up provides a beacon of hope to those individuals and communities struggling with unemployment and underemployment.”
About Magnet – Magnet is a new network powered by data-rich, job-matching technology that connects job seekers with employers based upon skills, preferences and talent needs. The network is also a unique source of real-time labour market information for decision makers and community planners. Magnet’s goal is to address unemployment and under-employment specifically as it relates to youth, new immigrants, Aboriginal people, persons with difficulties and other individuals facing barriers to employment. The Magnet partner network currently includes more than 25 universities and colleges, over 1,500 employers and more than 80 community organizations.
