On The Job

A new Web site that wants to connect professional-level independent consultants to possible openings at companies worldwide unveiled on the Internet last month. The site, www.icplanet.com, is designed to provide work opportunities for the ever-growing temporary employee market.The site was launched by Doug Carlston, former chairman of Broderbund Software, whose products included "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" The company, icPlanet, has Jeffrey Walker as its chief executive officer."IcPlanet will bring together companies and appropriate personnel and consultant candidates to help fill the staffing needs through the most advanced and efficient service and search engine technology available," according to a company official.IcPlanet allows users to build a personal profile for job candidates by using easy pull-down menus that allow users to search through 26 levels of criteria. The company said users can sort the list of results on screen by critical criteria, including keyword search, years of experience, availability, location, industry, job function and specialization within a job function.XXXSPLITXXX-Career Rewards Inc., a virtual recruiting community that aids companies in filling technology jobs by paying $1,500 to $10,000 for successful candidate referrals online, announced a "strategic affinity" partnership with the Washington D.C. Technology Council.Under the agreement, Career Rewards (www.careerrewards.com) will provide a variety of benefits to the D.C. tech council and its members for referring candidates to its site, which primarily lists information technology, telecommunications and sales positions. It did not specify the benefits.Career Rewards also will donate $50 to the council's charity of choice for each successful referral that takes place through the partnership.The partnership was announced last month in an effort to reduce the shortage of qualified technology personnel in the greater Washington area. The D.C. tech council (www.wdctech.net) serves as a network for Washington-area technology companies to develop new business opportunities with other regional businesses. Career Rewards of McLean, Va., was founded in November 1999 and launched its Web site in February. According to the company, it pays up to $10,000 for successful candidate referrals, depending on the specialty.