Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

BLOWN TO BITS- PHILIP EVANS & THOMAS S. WURSTER




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When I read any book, I scribble my comments / notes in the margins


These reflect my views / opinions about what the author is saying – including my disagreement

Often, my comments are in the nature of telling myself :

Hey ! We should try out this idea in our own business ( Head-hunting / Online Recruitment )

Following are my comments re :

  BLOWN TO BITS- PHILIP EVANS & THOMAS S. WURSTER

                                                                                                          
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Pg. No. 4

·         (06-08-02)

Pg. No. 5

·         We found it hard to throw away “typed” resumes (some 30,000 +). We finally did, after copying on 40 CDs!! (06-08-02)

Pg. No. 6

·         We are finding this out, in cases of Jobstreet.com / Jobsahead.com / naukri.com etc. Who arrived on Indian Executive – Search scenario, 6 / 8 year, after we did and built - up a “brick & mortar” shop? But, we may still have the “Last Laugh” !

·         We will lay down the RULES of the game the new game. Ultimate losers may be the newspapers (job – advt. revenues) (06-08-02)

Pg. No. 7

·         Someday, we will make all other jobsites look “mediocre” as compared to www.3pjobs.com

Pg. No. 10

·         Components (from Vendors), arrive on DELL assembly – lines just a few hours before getting assembled. DELL suppliers are “on – time” with DELL ASSEMBLY – SHOP & know precisely “What / When / How Much” to be delivered.

·         I’m portance of superfast communication / Massaging Tools.

·         Today’s Intranet

·         We will need to do so with our franchisees. (-mostly thru common use of OES)

 Pg. No. 12

·         Module 1 + OES is supposed to do this for us.

·         Database

·         Search & delivery tools.

·         Our own competitive advantage will lie in our Software & Communication tool.

Pg. No. 15

·         Our resume databases belong to this category.

·         But can get “obsolete” very fast.

·         This is why Naukri / job - street / jobs ahead etc. require corporates to “subscribe” in order to “access” their “Resume Databases”.

·         Rag: songs being taped from Radio

·         This is also the reason why, on our website, we hide the identities of both the candidates & corporates! Our USP.

Pg. No. 32

·         We need all of these in our Databases.

Pg. No. 26

·         Our own “Janam - Kindles” will start with only name & address of a person. Then we will keep adding bits of data about that person over period of many years to build up a “Dossier” (what I Call a aJanam – Kundli). (06-08-02)

·         To some extent, commodity traders as well.

Pg. No. 27

·         This is same as

·         only a few franchisees will be able to top into our “ rich” resume databases – using OES,

·         But

·         a large no. of online recruiters can access – not so rich – resume database on our website

·         Maintaining website is relatively inexpensive but maintaining OES connectivity with – even a dozen franchisees – is going to be expensive!

Pg. No. 29

·         This is a basis of our business.

·         The reason why our clients pay us a hefty price!! They are the “dis – advantaged” in this game.

·         “Subscription” payable to websites to gain “access” to their databases. We also pay a price to “cable (TV) operators” for “aggregating” TV channels & conveniently delivering at our doorstep.

Pg. No. 32

·         I took a no. of our (L & T) union leaders to see a demo. Of word – Processor at Datamatic office (SBI Bldg. – Fort) in 1983. They came back convinced! (06-08-02)

·         E.g.:

·         Video – interviewing of executives from (simultaneously) several places (client’s offices). To begin with candidates will sit in our office VIDEO – ROOM.

Pg. No. 33

·         Will our Industry (Executive – Search) someday, have “content – standards” for

·         Resume

·         Job Adults

·         Salary – details

·         Designations

·         Functions

·         Industry – names

·         Search – engines

·         Web forms

·         Eddo. Qualifications

·         (06-08-02)

·         This is why, we (3P) should develop these “standards” / use the same / and get as many “placement agencies” adopt them, as possible. Only when 3P succeeds in “bonding” together, some 500 / 600 placement agencies, thru use of (our) STANDARDS, will the rest of the Industry fall – in line! They would be left with no other option. (But to join)!

·         This also means giving away (for free) our Database Structures & our search Engines to small placement agencies.

·         But may be an Indian Standard (06-08-02)

Pg. No. 36

·         We could think of a “standard” to present anyone’s PERSONAL COMPETENCY PROFILE. Perhaps keyword Project & Refiner Tool, will enable us to construct such a “STANDARD” profile for any executive (06-08-02)

Pg. No. 40

·         Jobseekers Recruiters our website has for

·         Jobseekers

·         Recruiters

·         HR mgrs.

·         Parents

·         Students

·         etc. etc. (11-08-02)

Pg. No. 41

·         If corporates had email directories of “Jobseekers”, they might well “by - pass” newspapers – and executive search agencies like ours, - and broadcast their “vacancies” directly – without employing intermediaries! So, this could be a “threat” in our SWOT analysis.

·         Jobseekers do doom load job davits. Severs jobsites.

·         E.g.: our job – alerts & candidate alerts (11-08-02)

Pg. No. 42

·         Job Advt falls in the category.

·         All job seekers do all these things on mast jobsites.

·         Whereas Times of India (and to a lesser extent HINDU & HINDUSTAN TIMES) have reasonable good websites, they have not done too well in the job – Advt area. After 3 years “timesjobsandcareers.com” is a minor player – perhaps a bye product.

Pg. No. 44

·         In 2004, our target should be to get some 100 leading Indian corporates to start using, our (free) MANPOWER PLANNING & ACQUISITION SOFTWARE (MPAS). (11-08-02)

Pg. No. 45

·         To manage their “Recruitment”, our OES.

Pg. No. 46

·         In India, can this work differently for “MA - FOI” who offers to corporates, a wider variety of HR services which includes “recruitment”?

·         I strongly believe, we should remain focussed on Executive – Search business only. (11-08-02)

Pg. No. 50

·         This is happening in Executive Search Industry too. Corporates engage different search – firms, depending up on which (Industry) sector / Functional speciality or Heir archly level, that firm specialises in. hardly any firm can do all types of searches.

·         Although we are not a software vendor, our ability to “Lock – In” our corporate clients will depend upon our ability to convince them about installing & using MANPOWER PLANNING & ACQUISITION SOFTWARE, to be supplied by us (free) – which integrates with our OES. (12-08-02)

Pg. No. 51

·         Our own bigger margins are also in SENIOR positions (e.g.: CEO / CFO / VP / President / MD etc.). These executives are least likely to submit their resume on our website.

·         Hence the importance of building – up and continuously updating, a very large NON – MEMBER database.

Pg. No. 52

·         In India, some HR Managers do have PC on their table but question is: How many use it to connect to Internet (the new technology)? To lead them up to that point, may be, we need to distribute our (coded) Resume Database – along with search engine – on a CD & encourage them to use it offline. (12-08-02)

·         ABC analysis. In last 4 years, 40 % of our orders came from just 2 clients Vis: - Cedilla – L & T. (out of a total of 90 customers). So, even if we convince TOP TEN clients to install our MANPOWER PLANNING & ACQUISITION software, it would be a good beginning. Rest will follow.

Pg. No. 53

·         This is also the reason why our clients headhunting to us.

·         Fortunately, we do not compete on price / terms aggressively – since all search – agencies do not offer the same model. In our business, client will be willing to overtake the “terms” if we can offer / get “right” man, fast.

·         This is like we pushing those executives, whose resumes, we already have in our database. (12-08-02)

Pg. No. 54

·         In our case, if all of our franchises are forced to use the SAME resume database (Module 1) & the SAME order Execution system, then, many of these problems will disappear & “service” across the country, will be relatively UNIFORM. (13-08-02)

Pg. No. 55

·         In our case, our franchisees in Delhi and in Chennai, have (will have) “access” to the SAME resume database, which all the franchisees may have contributed in building – up. As far as database & yhe order Execution Processes are concerned, no franchisee is at any disadvantage as compared to another.

·         In our case, can we allow / permit our Chennai franchisee, to accept & execute an order from a Delhi corporate – who wishes to source / headhunt a candidate from a Chennai – based firm? I suppose answer is “YES”, because customer is king! (13-08-2002)

Pg. No. 56

·         As far as we are concerned, once a firm in Delhi becomes OUR franchisee, it cannot tie – up with any other executive – search firm. It would have to be exclusive contract, with monthly / quarterly / annual “Billing” / Collection targets for each franchisee (exactly as with our Consultants).

·         Same with old (experienced) executives!

Pg. No. 57

·         In our case, we just cannot permit them to meet each other, bypassing us. We must hide their identities from each other until client accepts our “Terms”. That is our trump – card!

·         In our business, we can do neither. We act in good faith but cannot take any responsibility for “failures” on the job (13-08-02)

Pg. No. 59

·         I have repeatedly said that our “House of success” has 4 walls – and each will need to be very strong. These are

·         A large database (Members + Non Members)

·         A pin point search (Keyword Project)

·         Super-fast communication (email / fax / voice – mail / SMS / phone)

·         Flawless order Execution (16-08-02)

Pg. No. 60

·         Our ability to convert TONS of “data” into useful “Knowledge Base” thru use of software tools, would be our main competitive advantage – more so for us, nor “physical products” to be delivered.

Pg. No. 61

·         During next 5 yrs., what technologies we would have to embrace?

·         XML / J2EE / .net?

·         Speech Recognition?

·         Video Interviewing?

·         Audio Mining?

·         Content Delivery on Mobile Plat forms (Cell Phone / PDA etc.)?

·         KBC?

·         UMS (Universal Messaging)

·         Speech – To – Database Conversion?

·         ARDIS / ARGIS – Neural Net Software’s? (16-08-02)

·         Because there are more of them than no. of bank branches? And nearer home? But “CASH” is itself on its way OUT!!

Pg. No. 62

·         Huge database without a physical inventory (of good / i-e books) = Quite similar to our “Resume Database”.

·         When we set up all India Franchisee Network – to a limited extent, this will happen. But in our case, a franchisee will be responsible for

·         Search our central database

·         Deliver thru use of central OES

·         Physically interact with local clients & candidates.

·         Collect & deposit cheques in Bank (in 3P’s name)

·         Actively promote / market 3P brand amongst local corporates.

·         Organise Video – Interviews (16-08-02)

Pg. No. 63

·         This is why we never reveal their identities, unless client first agrees to our TERMS.

·         We expect our Affiliates to deliver resumes – colleges – cybercafés – coypu. Instil. – Placement Agencies

Pg. No. 64

·         Like asking a woman to choose from amongst 1000 dresses, just one!

Pg. No. 65

·         We must drive home the point (amongst HR Managers) that those who have 3P as their NAVIGATOR will enjoy competitive advantage – over their less fortunate co – professionals!!

·         In a manner of speaking, we can be called “Recruitment Advisers”.

·         Revenues of “ASCENT” & “HEADSTART” are doomed to go down unless they integrate backward into online Jobsearach Engines. They are current leading incumbents of job – classified.

Pg. No. 66

·         So many (99 %) of our corporate clients still like to deal with us in traditional OFFLINE model. They would simply not conduct ONLINE headhunt!

·         Historical Baggage. It took us years to destroy 30,000 typed resumes!

·         We have just begun this process.

·         Reed “Marketing Myopia” by Theodore Levitt (early 1960s) (16-08-02)

Pg. No. 69

·         In our case

·         The original Suppliers = Candidates

·         Ultimate Consumer = Recruiters

·         The directly meet each other on job boards such as – naukri.com / jobstreet.cm / jobsahead.com / monsterindia.com, so, what “NEW CASE can we – intermediary – make out? (18-08-02)

·         How many branches / franchisees can we afford to setup?

·         How big a searchable resume can we manage to setup? If we become a massive “SWITCH”, how fast can we transmit messages between the candidates & recruiters – so that they don’t even think of “by – passing” us? (using job board websites) I think, both criteria apply to us & we must “excel” in both to become successful “Navigators”.

Pg. No. 70

·         Naukri job street jobs ahead

·         They certainly have far greater “Reach”.

·   

·         (18-08-02)

Pg. No. 71

·         Software companies hiring “programmers” / “Analysts” thru jobsites simply look – up, “No. of months” spent in each “skill” (java / VB / xml etc.) – and that is all they need / care for.

·         True. In last 2 years we are getting only SENIOR level searches.

·         We plan to reach far more HR Mgrs. thru our Resume – Database CD. A CD can be used even in towns where Internet has not reached. It is our “catalog”.

·         Fresh / Junior / Middle level resumes only on jobsites.

·         Also true.

·         A cata log is a hard – copy of database.

·         Our CD will do this.

·         Our website & our physical office & our franchisees will co – exist with our “resume – CDs” (catalogs).

Pg. No. 72

·         We did exactly same way as any other ordinary Placement Agency – with hardcopy resumes (30,000) filed in box – files.

·         We are almost same.

·         To a broker, client’s trading instructions could be both, “BUY” or “SELL”. In our case, client’s only instruction is to “BUY (HIRE)” – except for rare cases of out placement (VRS). (18-08)

Pg. No. 73

·         Consultant net collection

·         Appointments

·         This is very important in our business as well.

·         Big broker

·         In our case too, we can make this happen if we integrate our OES with our client’s Manpower Planning System [ERP] software [e.g.; SAP / BANA / PEOPLESOFT / RAMCO etc.]. (18-08)

·         Lock – In

Pg. No. 74

·         In USA, “TEMPS” (temporary workers such as Clerks / Stenos / Assets) are supplied to clients based on telephonic ORDERS. USA co. “Manpower Inc.” has $8bn revenue, in this sector! Senior level Placements for us. (18-08)

Pg. No. 76

·         For us, adding “Richness” (for the client who conduct resume search on our website) will come in the form of

·         Personal Assets Portfolio (Keyword Profile) of each online candidate

·         Online ORDER PLACEMENT & ORDER TRACKING (like FedEx / UPS  / DELL / COMPAQ)

·         Organising / Conducting VDEO – INTERVIEWS Simultaneously from several locations

·         Integrating their MANPOWER PLANS with our website & OES (complete NIRVANA.)

·         Lang term PERSONNEL (RECRUITMENT) decisions.

·         I.e. integrating their ERP software with our OES software.

Pg. No. 77

·         We should take the lead in developing such a “PERSONNEL INFO STANDARD” & in the first place, getting 500 small placement agencies of India to “adopt” the same. Then big daddies will have no option but to join! (Data forms / Data Structures / Search Engines etc.).

·         E.g.: corporate Databases (CAPEX / PROWESS) of CMIE / bewolves.com we have yet to form & exploit such “Alliances”.

Pg. No. 78

·         Client have to be met “face – to – face” to establish a personal equation. Client in far – off countries may remain content with telephonic conversation or with Video – Conference with us, but they would always want to meet the “candidates” in person before hiring.

·         Using our Centralised OES, our franchises would be expected to give to their clients such a “personalised human service” something which we ourselves cannot give to remote clients.

·         In case “franchisees”

Pg. No. 80

·         The reason behind distributing Resume CD database HR Mgrs. is to make them more familiar / used to ONLINE recruiting AND establishing 3P Brand.

·         In last 2yrs, this first happened with ISPs & for last 3 months it is happening with cell phone companies.

Pg. No. 82

·         Many options from a inventory.

·         Read “Direct – From – Dell” by Michael Dell.

·         Dell has negative working – capital! It gets paid even before a computer is on assembly – line!!

Pg. No. 83

·         And after collecting 100% prices thru credit card on Dell’s website!!

·         In our case: “Job Description”

·         We will soon add “keyword” based search as well.

·         We used this in L & T (1982) for “Compensation Needs Survey” of 3000 workers.

·         Somewhat like our search – parameters e.g.:

·         Industry

·         Function

·         Design. Level

·         Eddo.

·         Age

·         Exp.

·         Salary etc.

Pg. No. 84

·         In L & T, we gare 3000workers, set of 5 / 6 “choices” cards, to prioretise what they wanted (More Salary / More benefits / Retirement / Leave etc.)

·         This is similar to our desire / plan to distribute Resume – Database CD, with search – engine, for “OFFLINE” searching. Once – a – week, connecting to our website to “update” the database on their hard disks. (18-08-02)

·         This will be our next version of CD. Industry wise and / or function – wise databases – customised for each client.

Pg. No. 85

·         We too must master the science (technology) of being able to “broadcast” our “requirements” (search assignments) to a large no. of MEMBERS & NON MEMBERS, automatically – so that, they can contact us, if interested. Such MASS – MESSAGING, should be done over Voice – Mail or SMS. They are our supply chains.

·         This is the  KEY to success our candidates must remain “linked” with us on an on – going basis, thru “Job – alerts” / “edit your resume” reminders / happy – Birthday Greetings / “Demand Forecast” broadcasts / current Search – assignment broadcast / Compensation – Analysis broadcasts etc. etc.

·         Once we start aggregating all resume – searches taking place on our website, we could start automatic broadcast of this data to diff. groups of candidates. (18-08-02)

Pg. No. 86

·         Should all of franchisees, be allowed to see “search – Assignments” being handled by all? I think we should. There could be a lot of synergy. In any case, we expect all franchisees to use our CENTRAL OES on central server, where all Pending assignments are visible to all.

Pg. No. 87

·         I thought this wound up 6 months back.

Pg. No. 88

·         Our MAGIC CUBE search is a better mousetrap! (26-08-02)

Pg. No. 89

·         If you don’t make yourself obsolete, someone else will.

·         Creating Non – Member database is one activity to be outsourced.

·         (27-08-02)

·         Our biggest threat is from backward integration of jobsites such as Naukri / Monster India etc.

·         Trying to take grocery (or supermarket) business on internet can succeed only for already established brick - & - morfar supermarket chains, which already have “logistic infrastructure (economics of physical things) in place. Rest will fail.

Pg. No. 90

·         A very limited portion.

Pg. No. 91

·         Agree, except that a “search” on electronic catalog is far simpler than on a paper catalogue which can, at most, contain a few thousand items, against Amazon’s few million!!

·         That is the “Informational Superiority” of electronic catalogs. (21-08-02)

Pg. No. 92

·         This is THE point. So, the question is, “Even after we distribute our Resume Database CD (i.e. our electronic catalogue) to HR managers around the country, how do we get them to run it / search it every day? How can CD “engage” them every day?

Pg. No. 93

·         Senior – Level exec. Search assignments will not be touched by web.

·         Unless, we get here (to this technology point) FIRST, Naukri / jobs ahead can render us OBSOLETE (i.e. dis intermediate us) even in respect of SENIOR LEVEL search – assignments!

·         Q:

·         What “richness” can we add? – to our Long Display of resumes, without revealing identity of candidates ? (21-08-02)

·         We have lost junior level searches once Naukri / jobs ahead came into picture. E.g.: Naukri typing up with shilputsi.

Pg. No. 94

·         Our “Junior – middle level” assignments are gone!

·         Cane we get these back by allying with jobs ahead? They have much bigger “REACH” (as compared to our website) whereas, we have much greater “RICHNESS” in terms of our non – member database / our headhunting capabilities.

Pg. No. 96

·         We have, on our website, six types of Resume Database, vis: 1) IT Professionals 2) Non – IT prof. 3) Fresh Grads 4) College students 5) Retired Professionals 6) Vocation – designated staff.

·         Does this make our website a “Dept. Store” ? Are we attempting (for Recruiters), a “one – stop shopping”?

·         Highly focussed on a “riche” market?

·         Perhaps headhunting of senior level execs. (Starting from our non – member database) could be our “focussed capability”.

Pg. No. 97

·         Running ever faster to remain in the same place = like on a treadmill.

Pg. No. 100

·         When our “Resume Database CD” reaches hundreds of recruiters (HR managers), with the richness of short display & long display & shopping cart & professional fees terms & emailing shopping cart (or faxing it), how will “annuity” change ? No more “trade – off”!

·         It took us many years to destroy 30,000 typed resumes, and ISYS will continue to be used, until we come up with a better search – Tool.

·         As Naukri / jobs ahead are trying to do, thru backward integration into a “brick – and – mortar” avatar! (21-08)

Pg. No. 101

·         This is like a recruiter receiving 1000 resume (applications) against a vacancy advertised in a local / regional newspaper. Sorting “good” from “average” from “poor / unsuitable” is a time – consuming / stressful job.

·         3p Job seeker

·         PEN

·         Recruiter

·         Applying additional search – parameters under “Refine Search” option (21-08)

Pg. No. 102

·         Visiting another website.

Pg. No. 103

·         This is quite similar to “sequentially” applying search – parameters (one – at – a – time) on our resume database & gradually narrowing down to a few “RICH” resumes – which meet all search – criteria.

·         Start with a large population (of candidates) & keep “FILTERING”

Pg. No. 104

·         In new Module 1, Abhi is planning to store; all “searches” ever conducted by all of our consultants and store (against each) the “search – results” as well. We will also try Aggregation” of resume – searches on our website.

·         Which we are.

Pg. No. 105

·         Recruiters

·         Which we do.

·         Jobseekers do not have millions of “services” to sell – just one.

Pg. No. 106

·         Choosing from amongst 10 candidates

·         Vs.

·         Choosing from amongst 1000 candidates [Manually done, inefficient, it not altogether impossible.]

·         Our own profitability will heavily depend up on our large databases / our pinpoint searches / our superfast communication tools & our flaw less Order Execution.

·         These intellectual properties must be jealously protected.

·         Too many choices. (21-08-02)

Pg. No. 107

·         This is way “Refine Search” & keyword based search assumes such importance in our business. We must allow recruiters to quickly zero – in on a few “suitable” candidates, from a database.

·         Who has time for endless “experimenting” & then remember all the outcomes? When time for next purchase is around.

Pg. No. 108

·         We, too would quickly lose our “navigational – advantage” if we permit buyers (recruiters) to bypass us & directly meet sellers (jobseekers). Neither has lost for us! – So, for us, navigation can never be recast as a separate entity!! We will lose all control if we do. (21-08)

·         We will continue with our choke – point Vis: PAN instead of Name.

Pg. no. 109

·         “Participants” in our business are our “Affiliates” such as – Placement Agencies / Websites / Cyber Cafes / Comp. Institutes / Colleges etc.

·         After a year, we will add franchisees as well.

·         True. All our affiliates have their own care businesses, usually different than ours.

·         We, very much want to be a party to the transaction. How else will we get our fees?

·         All websites permit this. But we do need to add “geographical search” by adding a map of India & clicking on “states” & may be major cities – leading to “short Display”.

Pg. No. 110

·         We have to keep improving our “Shot Display” & “Long Display”.

·         Cyril had offered to develop a software, where by a search – Quarry website, simultaneously a cts as a “search – quarry” on Prather – websites resume databases & displays console – dated Search – Results, to head-hunter. For this, we have to first form an alliance with Naukri / jobs ahead / job street etc. Then we can jointly “beat” monsterindia.com!

Pg. No. 111

·         Our “Invertor” (candidates) is working in thousands of offices / factories.

·         Our configuration (theoretical maximum combinations) – Industry (200) x Functions (100) x Design. Level (9) = 180,000 (But we have only 20000 resumes on our website) (22-08-02)

Pg. No. 112

·         At the moment, Naukri / jobsAhed / monster India / job street have much greater REACH (many more resumes) than our website but, they are in a different game (allowing direct contact between the buyer – recruiter – and the seller – jobseeker). Their revenue comes from “Corporate Subscriptions” & Resume – Posting Fees.

·         If they do a full backward integration & get into blue – blooded headhunting business as well, then we are in real trouble!

·         Obviously, Recruiters will flock to that website which has the largest resume database (-in our case, jobseekers are advertising their services by posting their resume on our website). Conversely, jobseekers will tend to post their resumes on that website which carries, most no of corporate job – Advt. This does not work in our model because of ANONYMITY. (22-08-02)

Pg. No. 113

·         In our Corporate / Candidate ANONYMITY – based revenue model, I don’t think we have any serious “Competitor”. And I seriously doubt if Naukri / jobsAhed / jobs tree would ever want to jettison their “subscription – model”.

·         Mar. Satish Doshi of Sampoorna tried something like an Indian web – based “Employment – Exchange” thru www.global R2R.com, which became still – born. But one day, we hope to succeed with our “KAUN BHAGYASHALI? = concept, for which, time & technology have yet to arrive.

·         No more.

·         Like giving away, free Resume Database CDs to HR mgrs.? (22-08-02)

Pg. No. 114

·         Since our business models / revenue models are greatly different, we cannot “pool our resources (database) “with Naukri / jobsAhed / Job Street, as long as they think they have a “superior” business /revenue model! They will join us, only if they see that 700 placements – agencies have joined us & become our franchisees” Q: when?

·         See my note “JAWS” prepared in 99 / 2000.

·         May be also due to the fact that UN – skilled jobseekers are more likely to be looking for job – Advt. In local newspapers than surf the Internet jobsites. But things could changes, if one can click on a TV (to submit a resume against a job Advt). Even in a poor country like India, there are may be 60 / 70 million TV sets (38 million connected to cable). TV is accessible to unskilled workers. (30-08-02)

Pg. No. 115

·         Our “Affiliate” programs (Colleges / Cyber Cafes / Compo – Institutes / Placement Agencies / Websites) are aimed at achieving such a “critical mass” (of resumes) for “MEMBERS”.

·         For NON – MEMBERS (Passive job seekers), we need similar tie – ups with professional – bodies (such as NIPM / IIMM / Inst. Of Engines / CSI Inst. Of co. sec / etc. etc.

·         “Local Placement Agencies” – in our business.

·         3P

·         i.e.: - “orders received thru 3P which they would have never received on their own (for lack of “reach”). (30-08-02)

Pg. No. 117

·         This is akin to our getting into Database business or Direct Marketing / Telemktg. Business. (Because of our resume database).

·         Books – CDs

Pg. No.  118

·         Since in our business, “Economics of Thing” are, at best, insignificant, what critical “Resume Database” (-even Non Member Database) do we need, before corporate clients flock to us? May be 5 lakhs of each.

·         In Executive – Search business, will it so happen that if a Search Agency does not go ON – LINE, it will end up being a “traditional retailer”? How will they offer their Client, “ONLINE TRACKING” of their SEARCH – ASSIGNMENTS”? (30-08-02)

Pg. No. 119

·         Without on ONLINE TRACKING of SEARCH – ASSIGNMENTS by clients, we have no “comprehensive navigational offering”!

·         Even jobsAhed & Job Street have some simple features.

·         We are trying – but not succeeded yet.

·         As in our case.

·         Biggest danger is job street & jobsAhed & Naukri, putting – up a brick & mortar “back office” & tack us on, on our own turf! They have “REACH” which we do not. They stand a better chance (than us) of becoming “insurgent navigator”!! (01-09-02)

Pg. No. 120

·         700 placement agencies

·         This could be “selling” resumes of fresh grads. – Of which there are millions coming out of colleges each year. But this is a different ball game & should be done thru another website, called www.3presumes.com

·         But for that (business), we need a million resumes of fresh graduates every year, by offering to 10, 000 colleges, free service of building / maintaining ALUMNI databases. (07-09-02)

Pg. No. 121

·         Ask each HR Mgr.: what could we do to make your life easy?

·         E.g.:

·         Installing our Resume Database CD (with search – engine) on desktops of HR managers. Once – a day, it would download fresh resumes from our website (similar to www.bwolves.com).

·         Franchisee

Pg. No. 122

·         If you do not make yourself obsolete, someone else will.

·         For us, Unlimited [REACH] can open – up, if we can get “3pjobs.com” as THE only jobs – content supplier to the RELIANCE portal, which will “reach – out” to 25 million telephone subscribers (Landline + Cellular – WLL) across India, thru 65000 km of Optic Fibre Cable to 2000 cities. This portal will become accessible thru thousands of PCOs / Web stores / Petroleum retail outlets (5800) / CDMA cell phones.

·         For Reliance to accept 3pjobs.com as it “Content Partner”, our website would need to have far superior / navigational / expert – system features than any other Indian jobsites.

·         What should be these features? What would impress Reliance officers – in charge of Infocomm business? (01-09-02)

Pg. No. 123

·         On their own “HR / Recruitment Managers” should “PULL” onto their hard disks, our daily arrival of resumes. If 2000 recruitment managers start doing this (PULL) daily, then Reliance may get impressed.

Pg. No. 125

·         Send resume directly OR post it on 3pjobs / Naukri etc.

Pg. No. 126

·         Franchisees will become an “extension” of our own “Consultant – Force” – only sitting in far – off cities but using all IT infrastructure located at Marol. (4-9-2)

Pg. No. 127

·         For us, it is always, our client’s interest that matters.

·         E.g.:- an MBA degree

·         Not in our case.

·         Amongst the candidates “shortlisted” by us, we recommend one or two only. Rest cannot by – pass us and directly “influence” the HR Manager.

Pg. No. 128

·         This happens with hundreds of road – side “placement services”, who collect their fees from “candidates” (e.g.:- export of drivers / welders to Gulf Countries, by travel – agents).

Pg. No. 129

·         Which we are – and that is why we collect our fees from clients.

Pg. No. 131

·         A GP (general practitioner) doctor referring “his” patients to a “specialist” & collecting “commission” is very common in India – even when the GP is supposed to represent his patient’s interest!

·         Our own “Magic cube search” is an example.

Pg. No. 132

·         We too decided not to charge

·         Jobseekers for posting their resumes & conducting job - search.

·         Recruiters for posting job Advt & conducting resume - search.

·         Today we accepted Monster India.com’s offer to post 1200 job – Advt (over next one year) for Rs. 15/= each. 3 months back, we paid Rs. 1500 for one job – advt. (4-09-02)

·         Since we make our money elsewhere, we will continue our “free” services but, over a period of time, we will make these available to only those who give us their “profiles / resumes”.

Pg. No. 133

·         This (lack of “reach”) may be reason, some websites have chosen to become our “Partner Websites” & display our logo on their homepages.

·         We decided to advert – ties our “search – assignments” on monster because of their “reach” to 4 lakh jobseekers.

·         We don’t have this – so, advertise thru monster.com

·         Our OES is our competitive advantage.

Pg. No. 134

·         If our experiment (to extend our “reach”) – by advertising our search – assignments on monsterindia.com succeeds, then, we should repeat this strategy with Naukri / JobsAhed & Job street [-all of whom have spent millions of Rupees, to acquire this formidable reach.] (04-09-02)

·         Forus, perhaps it would be wise not to “Compete with Naukri / Monster etc. on “REACH”. It would be far better to “Leverage” their reach to our advantage!

Pg. No. 135

·         Short display long display

·         Personal interview

Pg. No. 136

·         This is why we need to to keep “Communicating” with our past / present & even our future (potential) clients, by sending personalised emails, at regular frequency HR managers

Pg. No. 137

·         SMS over mobile phone?

·         For us, “sound & full motion video” (to replace long display?) seems out – of – question! We are committed to candidate – privacy.

·         Our “Resume Database” is our catalogue. How can we liven it up? (5-9-02)

Pg. No. 138

·         Hopefully ours is one.

·         We will remain “buyer – affiliated”

Pg. No. 139

·         Millions of jobseekers have posted their resumes on Naukri / monster / jobsAhed etc. etc. but we (3P0 are unable to “parse” these resumes by downloading our “Operation Black hole” has not worked so far. We should wait & watch whether our “Project REACH” (which we launched today), will succeed in getting us thousands of resumes over the next year (starting with monster India).

·         3P

·         Posted resumes

·         Sabeer Bhatia

·         Eventually, we will have to extend “Project REACH” to all Indian Jobsites. (5-09-02)

Pg. No. 140

·         Today jobseekers who have registered with monster India will get “job – alerts” against only those job Advt. Which are posted by corporate clients of monster India? And this applies to Naukri / jobsAhed / Job Street / 3pjobs. There is no mechanism (-perhaps, with the exception of our own PARTNER WEBSITE Program) whereby jobseekers registers at any website, will get jobalret job – Advt. Posted at All the websites. Like aggregating the job – Advt. Of all websites. (05-09-02)

Pg. No. 141

·         Today I discussed urth Abhi / Rajeev X: “create your own job – advt. on – line feature for HR managers (6-9-02)

·         In absence of resources, we can hope to overtake / exceed the “Reach” of Naukri / monster India etc. only if someone like Reliance Info comes accept us as “Content Provider”.

Pg. No. 142

·         Our proposed feature “create your own job – Advt” would fall in this “problem – solving” category although both features are somewhat “related” to our business, indirectly.

·         We should remember to do this if we ever create an online Virtual Employment Exchange which aggregates results of simultaneous “Resume Search” on databases of all jobsites. Problem is our resumes are “Anonymous” but most other jobsites display “Public” resumes with all contact details of jobseekers!! (8-09-02)

Pg. No. 144 / 145

·         Nowadays almost all Searches – Engines display “paid for” links at the top of the list of results, - but only some of them admit this “bias” publicly!

·         Today if we were to change our cell phone service provider (for better service), then we get a new mobile phone no 8 then we must print new visiting cards (business – card) & same with our personal email ID. Unless, sometime in future all new – born babies are given a UNIQUE no. which serves universal purpose (Tax No. / Passport No. / Phone No. / Email ID / Driver License No. / Car No. / Voter No. / Ration Card No. / Credit Card No. / Mobile No. / etc. – etc.). So, no more LOCK – IN by anyone. (8-9-02)

Pg. No. 148

·         Read my notes on “Messaging Tool / Communicating Tool” Also read all the “mass – mailers” sent by me to clients & candidates, during last 13 yrs. These are available on our Intranet. (9-9-02)

Pg. No. 149

·         (9-9-02)

·         See our “Magic Cube Search” displays.

·         We have yet to create a respectable / searchable database of the job – Advt, client wise (or simply corporate wise)

·         That would tell us what type of executives a corporate hires (over a few years). Corporates also need to find replacement for retiring executives so we need to compile that data too + we need to keep track of who is “resigning” from which company. I dea is not to wait for a customer to arrive on our website & conduct a resume search & then (may or may not) fill – up website shopping – cart! We have yet to approach pur own past clients.

Pg. No. 150

·         See my remarks on p = 149 re “Pro – Active Marketing” Also earlier notes on “Proactive Marketing / Expert Systems”.

·         Past “hiring – patterns” of corporates.

·         E.g.: -

·         3P may become the first choice for “Senior – Level” executive search.

·         The idea behind distributing Resume Database CD along with search – engine is to get Recruitment Managers to form a “habit” (offline). This will allow us to bypass, Naukri / monster / jobsAhed in our effort to “reach” our clients.

Pg. No. 151

·         Resume database CD should also contain the (under development into our website, at any time, will allow a Recruitment Manager to automatically “download & update”, both databases on his hard disk. Idea is to “Lock – In”.

·         Initially, the resume CD, may contain our entire for any Industry / any function / any designation – level, as per the choice of an HR manager.

Pg. No. 152

·         (10-9-02)

·         This aspect is even more relevant in Indian situation where HR managers are not computer – savvy.

·         E.g. :-

·         If 3P logo becomes an Icon, PC shipped in India & clicking on that icon, begins the resume – search or job search - THEN 3P Logo - the starting point – becomes a “BRAND” in itself. If 3P Logo cannot be “pre – installed” (on every pc), can it be easily downloaded from 3P website & get automatically installed on “desktop” screen? – As a link to our website like a “Favourite”?

Pg. No. 153

·         We could do have a cookie, which tracks every “Resume – Search” activity but it would not be of much use unless, we insist, first, every resume – searcher “registers” on our website. Then only, can we contact him later, using data mined (i.e. resume – search behaviour / pattern).

·         Today, our website only sends out, Birthday greeting & 6 monthly “Edit Resume” alerts.

·         E.g.; -

·         There are some positions common to all companies – Finance – Personnel – Admin – Co, Sec. etc. etc.

Pg. No. 154

·         Our corporate client’s future manpower “needs” can be, to some extent, figured – out, from compiling their past “Job – Advt” & analysing the same for “patterns”.

·         Our own “Magic Cube” is an attempt in this direction. Adding, a clickable map of India (for state & city wise search) would be next step.

Pg. No. 155

·         We must never do this – even in “exchange / barter”.

·         Which we must always guard – as we have alone since launch of our website in Nov. 97.

·         Let us announce (on our website) “3P is part of P3P”.

·         We must come to be recognised as a website that does not need / require certification of any independent authority! We must become THE STANDARD! Remember our “PRE – VIEW” button below “Submit Resume Form”.

Pg. No. 156

·         Let us always remember this

Pg. No. 157

·         We too, must try to create the “3P” brand, by giving away, our “navigational product” (our search – engine), along with our (encrypted) resume database, on a CD.

·         Resume Databases (of 3P / Naukri / monster / jobsAhed) etc.

·         3P’s search engine (based on Neural net)?

·         As of now, customer Info. Is quite poor.

·         Something that we can do automatically thru websites & OES.

·         This is exactly the reason why we should (somehow) manager the corporates themselves to build / construct their own “Janam – Kundli”, online. To induce them to do this, what would we need to give them in return? I have made an exhaustive note on this subject.

Pg. No. 158

·         We should never permit one HR manager to see / view online, the “Janam Kundli” of another corporate. Nor should a jobseeker be able to see this. Even if such a “Janam Kundli” is password, what happens when ore HR manager resigns & joins another company?

·         Our competitors would love to get “access” to these Janam – Kundlies. (10-9-02)

Pg. No. 160

·         Our website feature “Latest / Recent Arrivals” (of resume) has somewhat similar connotations.

·         Indian cell phone service providers have so many different “Tariff” options – quite confusing.

·         (10-9-02)

Pg. No. 161

·         Lying on the table of a Recruitment Manager, such “Converted Biodatas” would stand – out & attract attention & compete much better with resumes sent by our competitors.

·         We cannot “Promote” our candidates directly & loudly, but when we succeed in our effort to redesign our “converted biodatas” (as per sample in ARGIS folder), we would do so indirectly by highlighting keywords, in different boxes, marked, 1) Skills 2) Knowledge 3) Attitude 4) Attributes etc.

Pg. No. 162

·         Since, our “Service” can only be “experienced”, we fall in this category.

Pg. No. 164

·         Is it likely that 3P as a brand gets magnified / endorsed, every time an executive appointed thru 3P performs superbly & exceeds client’s expectations? The “experience” becomes synonymous with 3P brand.

Pg. No. 165

·         Unfortunately, in our business, we cannot promote our “brand” by advertising “Executive Candidates” placed by us with our clients. Very rarely – and in private – can we talk about our “Film stars”! Very very selectively. (10-9-02)

Pg. No. 166

·         In our advertising / direct mailing / branding, we can,

·         Either, list our corporate clients (without naming the “positions / vacancies” filled)

·         Or, list the “position / vacancies” filled in different “Industries” (without naming the corporates)

·         Never, name the “Executive” placed. No indiscretion tolerated in this! (10-9-02)

Pg. No. 172

·         Dept. of Company Affairs (DCA) “sells” (for Rs. 2200/=) a CD containing a database of 550, 000 “registered” companies of India. The CD is encrypted & cannot be ever downloaded on a hard disk! This is outright “stupid” if ultimate objective is to promote business / industry.

·         They should give away this database for “free” & encourage everyone to make as many “copies” as wanted!

·         We will get all of our “franchisees” to use the same technology (Module 1 / OES) that we use.

Pg. No. 174

·         In a very miniscule way, we will “network”, most of India’s small – time “placement agencies”, in this way – where (corporate) demands for vacancies / positions & supplies of suitable “candidates”, can be exchanged securely. Of course, first we must figure – out why Satish Doshi (sampoorna)’s, www.globalR2R.com failed to take off.

·         Q :

·         How will this help grow our business?

Pg. No. 175

·         If we want to be THE LEADER, we should get leading corporates & a hell – of – a – lot of small placement agencies scattered around the country, to accept / adopt, for their daily need’s our “CREATE YOUR OWN JOB ADVT” software tool – which we should distribute for free, on CDs with a button to upload on our website. There is no other way to “outsmart” Naukri / monster / jobsAhed / job street etc.

·         We will succeed only if corporates do not look upon this as a clever “gimmick” to get them to post their job – Advt. On our website. We must promote the CD as a simple / fast method to compose job – Advt for releasing to newspapers!

·         Simultaneous “uploading” on our website must be presented as a “by – product” / some incidental feature. (10-09-02)

Pg. No. 178

·         I doubt if we can get the big jobsites (Naukri / monster / jobsAhed / job street / 3pjobs) to agree to some “Industry – standards (for web forms / job – Advt forms etc.). I feel 3P should start with a lot of small placement agencies & get them to accept our “forms” as “standards” & then move – up. We should build – up a momentum from the bottom, which becomes difficult to derail! (10-9-02)

Pg. No. 180

·         It is for the purpose of achieving this “critical mass” that we must rope – in a large no of small placement agencies to follow OUR standard formats.

·         Which, executive – search industry in India is.

Pg. No. 181

·         I am sure, most of the 700 Placement Agencies of India, simply photo – copy resumes (from their box files) & post / hand – deliver to their local clients. If we succeed with ARDIS / ARGIS, and, are able to “standardise” on a “Converted Bio data” form, then we should give this (software) away FREE! We create a standard. Then big brothers have to follow!!

·         But strong “encrypted”

Pg. No. 182

·         Auto – conversion of all unstructured email resumes into fully structured “Converted Biodatas”. This is our next goal. (10-9-02)

Pg. No. 183

·         I used this in L & T, in 1982, to elicit employee – preferences in respect of (proposed) compensation – packages. I have a copy of the report prepared by the consulting – firm.

·         We got more than 2000 employees to answer such questions.

Pg. No. 184

·         Resumes are jobseeker’s profile how he has progressed over the years – what has he “achieved” over the years. Resume too, is a “record”.

·         Each jobsite has its own form & each jobseeker also has his own “cut & paste” email version.

·         Each jobsite makes a jobseeker enter same data in different forms, & no two forms are identical. (Although quite similar & capable of being “mapped”.)

Pg. No. 185

·         We tried to eliminate this (Cast) thru our Partner website program.

·         Cost of entering same data again & again on a number of jobsites.

·         For easy comparison, employers would like to receive all resumes, from all Agencies, in identical formats. (Or even directly from all jobs – applicants.) They can reach conclusions faster & more accurately.

·         Sequential record of ailments.

Pg. No. 186

·         Some equally dramatic (-and useful) analysis could emerge if all resumes on all jobsites were in the same standard form.

·         Whoever possesses such a database could be the ultimate “intermediately”! ( 11-09-02)

Pg. No. 187

·         (if) “Operation Black hole” could download all resumes from all jobsites AND (if) ARDIS / ARGIS can convert all of these resume into standard “Converted Biodatas”, then this goal can be reached.

Pg. No. 189

·         This is equally likely to happen in case of standardization of resumes.

·         Buyers = Recruitment Managers (may be Line Managers)

·         Suppliers = Colleges (For Fresh graduates)

o    = (Placement Agencies Staffing Services)

o    (For junior – level & temporary staff)

o    =  Executive Search Firms (For Senior Executives)

Pg. No. 199

·        ·         True.

·         This is slowly changing & in last 2 yes, there have been layoffs & even retrenchment

Pg. No. 200

·         And, currently, Japanese banks are indeed trouble due to Non – Performing Assets (NPA) = loans to corporates or equities in ``

Pg. No. 203

·         As it happened a few months back, in case of ENRON / WORLDCOM & other companies, whose managers made tours of money at the of cast of the investors / shareholders / lenders.

·         L & T trying to spin – off cement business now & earlier Earth – Moring M / C business.

Pg. No. 204

·         Always on lookout for the “Exit Route”.

·         Ourselves, our franchisees, & our supply – chain Placement Agencies, all need to be always “Connected” always “Reachable” to each other. To this “Connected Network”, we must add :

·         -our own consultants (working from home?)

·         -our Interview Experts (also working from home) (11-09-02)

Pg. No. 205

·         Mosterindia / Naukri / jobsAhed / Job Street / 3pjobs / mafoi etc.

·         We do not know how many Indian Corporates post their vacancies on their own websites. We should find out & persuade them to post on our website too.

·         That is “Now”!

·         Our website does provide useful data on

-      Compensation Comparisons

-      Schools / Colleges / Computer Institutes

Pg. No. 206

·         Information’s that

·         -a recruiter has jobseekers

·         -a jobseeker has about job – openings

·         Both have equal “Info. Advantage”

·         Level playing field

Pg. No. 208

·         This is the KEY issue.

Pg. No. 209

·         Contacts Network

Pg. No. 211

·         Which keeps “coming – in” and “going – out” with employees. Stale winds blown – out & fresh winds blowing – in!

·         Without a MITI

Pg. No. 212

·         Incentives as well.

·         Could we compare our own “Technical” function with R & D function of a Parma Co.? Could we have a totally different “Organisation” Structure” & a different “Reward Structure” for our Technical Team / function? (11-09-02)

Pg. No. 213

·         This will happen when our Consultants & Interview Experts operate from their homes (without any fixed monthly salary but with compensation linked to “Results Achieved” only. Both will have Video – Conferencing facility at their homes and “access / yes” the same Order Execution System remotely. (11-09-02)

Pg. No. 214

·         (Profitability)

·         Our ultimate “competitive Advantage” will rest upon our -Employees (People) -& their Productivity (based on HW / SW / technology tools)

Pg. No. 217

·         E.g. :

·         Monster India / Naukri / JobsAhed have large resume databases (-and great “REACH” – thru their website)

·         We have “Brick & Mortar” / Back office strengths & Headhunting (Richness) skills.

·         Getting all to adopt same “Submit Resume” form? Just one example.

·         We are trying this thru INTRANET.

·         E.g. :-

·         Debugging of OES project given today to Abhi & Rajeev. They will be Self – directed” ( 11-9-02)

Pg. No. 218

·         E.g. :-

·         Each consultant’s “Target & Achievement” boldly on the Intranet.

Pg. No. 222

Pg. No. 223

·         Before anyone else can make us “obsolete”, we should ourselves make “us” obsolete, by floating such a “Virtual Employment Exchange” on our own! All we have to do is to learn from Satish Doshi (Sampoorna), what went wrong with his “globalR2R.com”

·         This is why I think our focus should be 700 smaller Placement Agencies. If we succeed in roping – in these, we could become a formidable force – on the ground – even if likes of Naukri / monster India / jobsAhed, continue to dominate the Virtual world of internet jobsites. (12-09-02)

Pg. No. 224

·         This is why getting our Resume Database CD into the CD – drive of every HR manager, is so critical.

·         Even though in Indian Executive Search industry, there is plenty of room for many players, we must aim to be the “WINNER”.

·         Can our strategy be:-

·         “Make every placement agency (across the country) – our “Franchisee” (& mot just contributing resumes to our database) – all of whom can openly “access” our database & must use our OES! (12-9-02)

Pg. No. 225

·         KBK

·         (Kaun Banega Bhagyashali?)

·         “Kal – Chakra” – Remote working thru Video

·         VPN – operation Locking – JAWS – Operation Black hole – ARGIS – ARDIS – knowledge Bases – OES – Module

·         700 Placement agencies as “franchisees”

Pg. No. 226

·         After 2 years of struggling, we are still trying to

·         -debug OES

·         -build intranet

·         -install firewall

·         -install remote back – up

·         -Rewrite Module 1 (Data capture & Member – Search)

·         -Make our website “Oracle” – based etc.

·         Well said.

·         This has to change

·         (L & T, despite my advice to the contrary to Chairman Desai, Placed Electronic Div. under “Electrical Switchgear Div.” & killed it, after experimenting for 20 years!)

Pg. No. 227

·         Abhi Rajeev

·         Our “pro – active” marketing will have to be “Segment – of – one” type – with SMS / email job – alerts (to candidates) & candidate – alerts (to corporates) (12-09-02)

Pg. No. 228

·         In India, these were ABC / A-F. Ferguson / Datamatics / Boyden.

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