CPPS web site makes job searching easier

Engineering junior Chi Lai has never really made use of the Career Planning and Placement Service until this year. "It's not that I didn't want to, it's just that I never really have the time to come in," Lai said. But Jobtrak, an on-line job-listing database that is new to the University, may solve Lai's problem. In the past, students using CPPS have had to rummage through books, binders and folders to find the perfect job or internship. With Jobtrak, they can do the same research from any World Wide Web browser affiliated with the University. The University first started using Jobtrak in December. Students can look up Penn from a list of 350 colleges and universities. Employers select the schools' listings on which they want their advertisement to appear. Students have the opportunity to search for jobs by type of work, company name, or geographic location. "Jobtrak posts 600 new jobs a day," CPPS Associate Director Mary Heiberger said. "We are entirely confident that it will be a success." CPPS Director Patricia Rose noted that Jobtrak does not cost the University anything, adding that "job listings are on line immediately." According to Rose, Jobtrak will not replace the current binder system that CPPS uses because jobs in education and government, along with others, are not posted on the service. Many colleges on the West Coast, where Jobtrak was founded, have been using the system for several years. The University of Southern California became the first major university to sign on in 1988. In the last several months, Jobtrak spread to the east coast. Five of the eight Ivy League schools have signed on with Jobtrak. Harvard University and Dartmouth College are negotiating with the company and Princeton University has expressed interest. Jobtrak co-founder Ken Ramberg said he could not be happier with the service's success adding that he has received only positive feedback from both employers and universities. "Our service is accessible for 24 hours, so it is time saving for students and provides grater exposure to employers," he said, adding that Jobtrak's special partnership with employers and universities makes it unique. While few students have heard of, -- much less gotten the chance to use -- Jobtrak, most seem to think the service will prove to be invaluable to them. "This sounds like it will save you a lot of time, because you can do this from your room," Wharton freshman Julian Siaw said. "It's much easier then going to CPPS and looking through every binder." Some students, however, said they do not think an on-line service like Jobtrak will have a large impact on them. "I think a lot of people will use Jobtrak, but don't think I will," College junior Josephine Shih said. Jobtrak's URL is "http://www.jobtrak.com".