KNOWLEDGEPOINT Enhances Job Description Software To Help Companies Recruit The Right Employees

Descriptions Now 5.0 features new "Hiring Center" that defines positions, posts openings and automatically generates interview questions

January 9, 2001 — In a recent survey of 4,000 human resource professionals, 79 percent told KnowledgePoint that recruiting is the top HR issue currently facing their organization. Further, the study showed a lack of interviewing skills on the part of managers is contributing to hiring difficulties. Today, KnowledgePoint, a leading developer of human resource management software, is releasing a new version of its top-selling job description-generating program, Descriptions Now (and its Internet ASP counterpart JobDescription.com), which feature a new "Hiring Center" designed to help managers hire the right individuals for the jobs.

Already the acknowledged standard for writing clear and comprehensive job descriptions that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Descriptions Now 5.0 and JobDescription.com 2.0 also support the hiring process by assigning competencies, posting online and newspaper ads via the Internet, and generating behavioral-based interview questions. A valuable hiring tool for small businesses and line managers, this new program clearly defines jobs and helps employers focus their search and more easily identify appropriate candidates.

"Hiring the wrong person for a job can be a very expensive mistake," says KnowledgePoint President Michael Troy. "Companies that make Descriptions Now 5.0 the hub of their hiring process will greatly increase their chances of hiring the right person the first time."

Key Features of Descriptions Now 5.0 and JobDescription.com 2.0

Already the #1-selling job description program on the market, Descriptions Now 5.0 and JobDescription.com 2.0 provide users with access to a library of more than 3,700 built-in jobs that they can edit, combine and customize to fit the individual needs of their organization. After answering questions about physical and educational requirements, work environment, qualifications and supervisory responsibilities, Descriptions Now and JobDescription.com compose a comprehensive job description that is ADA-compliant. The new version of these programs goes several steps further by including the following new features:

Competency Builder: Allows managers to choose from 50 proven competencies, such as job knowledge, leadership, organizational skills, teamwork, and more. These competencies, along with the job responsibilities and qualifications, allow users to build comprehensive profiles of desired candidates.

Interview Question and Interview Form Generator: After defining a position and competencies, Descriptions Now 5.0 generates behavioral-based interview questions specific to the job to help evaluate candidates’ true potential. The program also provides interview tips and a useful matrix on which to write interview notes and rankings.

Enhanced Job Ad Writer: Provides an ad "wizard" that assists in the preparation of a job ad and offers links to Internet posting and newspaper classified services.

New Computer Skills Section: Makes it easy to define the specific computer skills required for any position.

Online and Up-to-date: Descriptions Now 5.0 blurs the line between the Internet and the desktop, automatically updating the program’s internal job description library and providing live links to additional resources like salary information and interviewing training on the Internet.

Availability, Pricing and Operating Requirements

Descriptions Now 5.0 is available now and offered at the suggested retail price of $179. This program runs on a Pentium-based computer with 32MB RAM and 40MB hard disk capacity, and requires Windows 95/98/2000/NT. JobDescription.com will be released later this month and will require Netscape or Internet Explorer browser 4.0 or higher.

About KnowledgePoint

Since 1987, KnowledgePoint (a division of CCH INCORPORATED) has been a leading developer of knowledge-based human resource management solutions, providing Windows-based, intranet, Web and hosted employee management solutions for the enterprise, small businesses, HR professionals and individual managers. With the creation of HRTools.com, KnowledgePoint provides the most comprehensive, trusted and widely distributed online business center helping small to mid-sized employers manage their employees. Contact KnowledgePoint at 707-762-0333, via email at kp@knowledgepoint.com or on the Web at www.knowledgepoint.com.

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