Talent management company Taleo warns organisations must use second-generation corporate websites to meet jobseeker expectations

Firms must raise their game in online recruitment to meet growing expectations among jobseekers, a talent management company has warned.

Software provider Taleo has urged companies to develop next-generation corporate websites, implementing second-generation (Web 2.0) features and functionality, to match the experience candidates get elsewhere from sites such as Amazon or Google.

Applicants expect to search company websites for jobs by postcode, find out what stage they are at in the application process, and schedule future interviews. Many are put off completing the application if they cannot do this, Taleo warned.

Chris Phillips, the company's director of international marketing, told Personnel Today: "Candidates use Web 2.0 sites like Amazon or Google in their everyday lives, and as such have an expectation of useability from company career sites.

"The consumer sites are personalised, slick, and easy to use - but most corporate career sites are stuck in old technology."

Research by Taleo found 89% of 18- to 28-year-olds go online on a daily basis. Corporate career sites also emerged as the "single most effective" channel for attracting and hiring candidates, accounting for 21% of hires.

However, Phillips said HR teams were still bombarded with phone calls from candidates trying to find out what had happened to their application.

"Including a 'progress bar' to find out what stage the application is at, or having a 'My Job Application' page personalised to the candidate, would hugely reduce the workload for recruiters," he said. "It would also improve the employer brand, as the company would appear much more professional and modern."