Going directly to job seekers via the Internet

by David Kelleher

A new initiative aimed at providing Internet access to all at community level will be launched next week by local company, XOL and Company Ltd.

The company has already reached an agreement with a number of local councils to provide a computer at the council's offices and offer user's free access to the Internet.

The brainchild behind this initiative is Alfred Zammit who, as managing director, two months ago set up the first on-line job bank in Malta.

Speaking to The Malta Business Weekly, Mr Zammit said the idea was to allow more people to have access to the Internet while at the same time browse through the company's website which offers over 500 job vacanies in Malta.

"We have reached an agreement with various local councils to provide a personal computer in their offices to allow constituents to access the Internet. Next Tuesday we will be starting with local councils in the Cottonera area," Mr Zammit said. Even Gozo will be included in the initiative.

The company has also reached an agreement with ISP Video On Line to subsidise Internet connections costs with the councils.

"We want to introduce Internet at a community level. Users will be able to browse the Internet without having to pay anything. Our main aim, however, is to encourage people to browse our job bank on-line and see the range of vacancies available or courses to improve their career," Mr Zammit said.

The company's website at www.xol.com.mt has been a great success with thousands of hits registered within the first two weeks. The website is divided into two sections: job vacancies and training courses. There are over 500 job vacancies in the database and 1,100 courses ranging from beauty care and crafts to MBAs and degree courses.

To complement the website, the company also published a newspaper supplement every Friday with The Malta Independent. The supplements provides a list of all the vacanies as well as articles on human resources and skills for interviewees.

More details may be obtained from the website www.xol.com.mt or in the XOL supplement carried in tomorrow's The Malta Independent.