REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 14, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic relationship with The Monster Board, owned by TMP Worldwide (NASDAQ
“TMPW” ), to provide Microsoft® Certified Solution Providers (MCSPs) with an Internet-based solution for finding employees, as part of the Microsoft Skills 2000 initiative to narrow the IT skills gap.
Currently, Microsoft Solution Providers have approximately 41,000 open jobs worldwide and 17,200 open jobs in North America. To match technology professionals with these open positions, Microsoft has negotiated with The Monster Board to create a specific area for Solution Providers to advertise employment opportunities online. Job applicants can apply directly online, create online r
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s, perform job searches through the MCSP job postings, and receive updates twice weekly on new job postings matching their specific qualifications, all from within the Microsoft Skills 2000 area on The Monster Board Web site at (http://www.monster.com/) .
The Microsoft Skills 2000 initiative was designed to significantly reduce the skills gap within the IT industry by reaching out to individuals in the computing work force, as well as those interested in developing a career in information technology.
“MCSP organizations are growing at an average rate of 60 percent to 80 percent each year based on the momentum of Windows NT® and the BackOffice® family. The greatest threat to continued growth is a shortage of skilled professionals,”
said Nancy Lewis, general manager of worldwide training and certification at Microsoft.
“This relationship with The Monster Board provides our Solution Providers with another tool to combat the skills gap by quickly connecting MCSPs with the skilled candidates they need at a reduced rate.”
The Monster Board attracts more than 1.3 million active job seekers per month and serves various industries benefiting the channel by encouraging new individuals in the direction of the field of information technology. With the additional MCSP postings, The Monster Board will now provide job seekers with even more career opportunities specifically in the information technology industry. The Web site also contains information on the Skills 2000 Career Expos to be hosted by Microsoft Oct. 15-29 in 16 major cities across North America. It includes information on how and where to get Microsoft training and certification (through links and headlines), and details about other programs that are part of the Microsoft Skills 2000 initiative. For more information on program details, visit http://www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices/default.asp?PageID=training & SubSite=itcr .
“This recruiting effort is another example of Microsoft’s commitment to its channel,”
said Greg Frankenfield, managing director, Logicon Technologies Inc.
“This provides us with an affordable option for expanding our reach to potential hires. We were looking for a national recruiting option, and now we’ve got one.”
MCSPs plan to begin posting job openings in early November.
Microsoft’s worldwide training programs have trained more than 1.2 million people in the United States and more than 2 million students worldwide this year. There are more than 153,000 Microsoft Certified Professionals worldwide.
The Monster Board, based in Framingham, Mass., is the flagship product of the Interactive Division of TMP Worldwide, the 14th largest advertising agency in the country and
the largest yellow page and a leading recruitment advertising agency worldwide. TMP intends to continue to develop alliances that will provide additional value-added content to its list of career center Web sites, which currently includes The Monster Board, Online Career Center (www.occ.com), Be The Boss (www.betheboss.com) and MedSearch (www.medsearch.com).
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows NT and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Frank Shaw, Insync Communications for Microsoft, (503) 497-5461, [email protected]
Cheri Grand, Bozell Public Relations for The Monster Board, (212) 445-8169, [email protected]
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