System and method of identifying options for employment transfers across different industries

1. A computerized method of identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function with respect to a first industry, the method comprising:

a. in a first digital computer process, receiving data identifying the job function in the first industry;

b. in a second digital computer process, accessing a database, stored on a digital storage medium, containing information, developed for the job function, listing industries to which and from which the job function is potentially transferable, the information corresponding to markings in a square matrix,

the matrix having a pair of orthogonal axes, and a series of positions along each axis with each position along each axis being associated with a different industry in which the job function is performed, wherein each industry occupies a corresponding position along each axis, so that

(1) in a row of the matrix corresponding to a selected industry in which an individual has experience are markings of columns of industries to which the experience of the individual is potentially transferable and

(2) in a column of the matrix corresponding to a selected industry in which a company may be seeking candidates are markings of rows of industries from which a candidate's experience therein may be transferable to the selected industry;

wherein the pattern of markings in the matrix is not symmetric; and

c. in a third digital computer process, using the database to identify at least one industry other than the first industry for potential transfer of the job function.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein using the database to identify the second industries comprises identifying an industry into which a job function capability of a subject is potentially transferable, out of the first industry.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the database quantifies degree of transferability between the first industry and each industry of the set of second industries.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the database is associated with a communications network.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the database is associated with a web server on the World Wide Web.

6. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising:

in a fourth digital computer process, identifying an enterprise, within at least one of the second industries.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the enterprise potentially has an employment opportunity with respect to an equivalent job function.

8. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising:

in a fifth digital computer process, providing a user with a transferability rating for a transfer out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of second industries.

9. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising:

in a sixth digital computer process, providing a user with an explanation of degree of transferability out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of second industries.

10. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising:

in a seventh digital computer process, providing a user with a direct link, over a communications network, to a job posting source.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the job posting source is a website.

12. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the link is keyed to a destination job posting source based on a user's input concerning a job seeker.

13. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises receiving input from a user over a communications network, and wherein the step of identifying a job function is performed based on such input.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the input is received over the Internet.

15. A method according to claim 13 , the method further comprising:

communicating a transferability rating to the user over a communications network, for a transfer out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of second industries.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the list transferability rating is communicated over the Internet.

17. A method according to claim 13 , the method further comprising:

communicating an explanation of degree of transferability to the user over a communications network, for a transfer out of the first industry, into an industry of the set of second industries.

18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the list explanation of degree of transferability is communicated over the Internet.

19. A method according to claim 13 , the method further comprising:

communicating a list of the second industries to the user over a communications network.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the list is communicated over the Internet.

21. A method according to claim 19 , the method further comprising:

limiting the list according to preferences provided by the user.

22. A method according to claim 19 , the method further comprising:

providing the user with further information on at least one of the second industries over the communications network.

23. A method according to claim 19 , the method comprising:

providing the user with contact information for a recruiter, over the communications network.

24. A method according to claim 23 , wherein the recruiter specializes in recruiting for an industry of the set of second industries.

25. A method according to claim 23 , wherein the recruiter specializes in recruiting for the job function.

26. A method according to claim 19 , the method further comprising:

communicating to the user, over the communications network, a list of at least one enterprise within at least one of the second industries.

27. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one enterprise potentially has an employment opportunity with respect to an equivalent job function.

28. A method according to claim 27 , the method further comprising:

providing the user with further information on an enterprise from the list of at least one enterprise, over the communications network.

29. A method according to claim 27 , the method further comprising:

providing the user with information on an employment contact at an enterprise from the list of at least one enterprise, over the communications network.

30. A method according to claim 27 , wherein the list of at least one enterprise is communicated over the Internet.

31. A method according to claim 27 , wherein the list of at least one enterprise is restricted based upon size of company with which a job seeker has experience.

32. A method according to claim 1 , wherein using the database to identify the second industries comprises identifying an industry out of which a job function capability is potentially transferable, into the first industry.

33. A method according to claim 32 , the method further comprising:

in an eighth digital computer process, providing a user with a transferability rating for a transfer into the first industry, out of an industry of the set of second industries.

34. A method according to claim 32 , the method further comprising:

in a ninth digital computer process, providing a user with an explanation of degree of transferability into the first industry, out of an industry of the set of second industries.

35. A method according to claim 32 , wherein the database quantifies degree of transferability between the first industry and each industry of the set of second industries.

36. A method according to claim 32 , wherein the database is associated with a communications network.

37. A method according to claim 36 , wherein the database is associated with a web server on the World Wide Web.

38. A method according to claim 32 , the method further comprising:

in a tenth digital computer process, providing the user with a direct link, over a communications network, to a resume posting source.

39. A method according to claim 38 , wherein the resume posting source is a website.

40. A method according to claim 38 , wherein the link is keyed to a destination resume posting source based on a user's input concerning a position to be filled.

41. A method according to claim 32 , the method further comprising:

in an eleventh digital computer process, identifying an enterprise within at least one of the second industries.

42. A method according to claim 41 , the method further comprising:

in a twelfth digital computer process, providing the user with information on an employment contact at the enterprise.

43. A method according to claim 32 , wherein the method further comprises receiving input from a user over a communications network, and wherein identifying a job function is performed based on such input.

44. A method according to claim 43 , wherein the input is received over the Internet.

45. A method according to claim 43 , the method further comprising:

communicating a transferability rating to the user over a communications network, for a transfer into the first industry, out of an industry of the set of second industries.

46. A method according to claim 45 , wherein the list transferability rating is communicated over the Internet.

47. A method according to claim 43 , the method further comprising:

communicating an explanation of degree of transferability to the user over a communications network, for a transfer into the first industry, out of an industry of the set of second industries.

48. A method according to claim 47 , wherein the list explanation of degree of transferability is communicated over the Internet.

49. A method according to claim 43 , the method further comprising:

communicating a list of the second industries to the user over a communications network.

50. A method according to claim 49 , wherein the list is communicated over the Internet.

51. A method according to claim 49 , the method further comprising:

limiting the list according to preferences provided by the user.

52. A method according to claim 51 , wherein the preferences include a desired skill set.

53. A method according to claim 49 , the method further comprising:

providing the user with further information on at least one of the second industries over the communications network.

54. A method according to claim 49 , the method comprising:

providing the user with contact information for a recruiter, over the communications network.

55. A method according to claim 54 , wherein the recruiter specializes in recruiting for an industry of the set of second industries.

56. A method according to claim 54 , wherein the recruiter specializes in recruiting for the job function.

57. A method according to claim 49 , the method further comprising:

communicating to the user, over the communications network, a list of at least one enterprise within at least one of the second industries.

58. A method according to claim 57 , the method further comprising:

providing the user with information on an employment contact at an enterprise from the list of at least one enterprise, over the communications network.

59. A method according to claim 57 , the method comprising:

providing the user with further information on an enterprise from the list of at least one enterprise, over the communications network.

60. A method according to claim 57 , wherein the list of at least one enterprise is communicated over the Internet.

61. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the database is accessed using a symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry, of a set of second industries with respect to which the job function capability is potentially transferable.

62. A method according to claim 61 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a job function symbol.

63. A method according to claim 61 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises an industry symbol.

64. A method according to claim 61 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a transfer operator.

65. A method according to claim 61 , wherein using the symbolic representation comprises accessing a transferability rating for a transfer between the first industry and the second industry.

66. A method according to claim 61 , wherein using the symbolic representation comprises accessing text of an explanation of degree of transferability for a transfer between the first industry and the second industry.

67. A method according to claim 61 , further comprising:

using the symbolic representation as an input language for a query to the database.

68. A method according to claim 61 , further comprising:

automatically generating the symbolic representation based upon input provided by a user.

69. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the database is accessed using a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user's job transferability query.

70. A method according to claim 69 , wherein the subject is a job seeker.

71. A method according to claim 70 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a job function symbol and an industry symbol.

72. A method according to claim 70 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a symbol chosen from the group consisting of: an educational background symbol, a geographical location symbol, a company size symbol, and a hierarchical position symbol.

73. A method according to claim 70 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a symbol representing the subject's preferences.

74. A method according to claim 69 , wherein the subject is the target population of an employer's search for potential employees.

75. A method according to claim 74 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a job function symbol and an industry symbol.

76. A method according to claim 74 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a symbol chosen from the group consisting of: an educational background symbol, a geographical location symbol, a company size symbol, and a hierarchical position symbol.

77. A method according to claim 74 , wherein the symbolic representation comprises a symbol representing the subject's preferences.

78. A method according to claim 69 , wherein the subject is represented using symbols representing experience in more than one industry.

79. A method according to claim 69 , wherein using the symbolic representation comprises accessing a row of transferability ratings from a transferability matrix.

80. A method according to claim 69 , wherein using the symbolic representation comprises accessing text of explanations of degree of transferability corresponding to a row of a transferability matrix.

81. A method according to claim 69 , further comprising:

using the symbolic representation as an input language for a query to the database.

82. A method according to claim 69 , further comprising:

automatically generating the symbolic representation based upon input provided by a user.

83. A method according to claim 69 , wherein the symbolic representation is also used as an element in symbolically representing a job transfer between the first industry and the second industry.

84. A method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying a job function in the first industry comprises receiving input from a user, over a communications network, related to a job seeker's present job function in the first industry, whereby the second industries represent recommended industries for the job seeker's job search.

85. A method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying a job function in the first industry comprises receiving input from a user, over a communications network, related to an employer's industry and to a job function of interest to the employer, whereby the second industries represent recommended industries in which the employer may find a population of potential employees.

86. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

in a digital computer process, updating the database's correlation of industries based upon feedback information provided by users who have used industry correlation information from the database.

87. A method according to claim 86 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using a preference analysis technique.

88. A method according to claim 87 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using collaborative filtering.

89. A method according to claim 87 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using a preference matrix.

90. A method according to claim 89 , wherein rows and columns of the preference matrix correspond to rows and columns in an industry transferability data structure.

91. A method according to claim 61 , wherein identifying a job function in the first industry comprises receiving input from a user, over a communications network, related to a job seeker's present job function in the first industry, whereby the second industries represent recommended industries for the job seeker's job search.

92. A method according to claim 61 , wherein identifying a job function in the first industry comprises receiving input from a user, over a communications network, related to an employer's industry and to a job function of interest to the employer, whereby the second industries represent recommended industries in which the employer may find a population of potential employees.

93. A method according to claim 61 , further comprising:

in a digital computer process, updating the database's correlation of industries based upon feedback information provided by users who have used industry correlation information from the database.

94. A method according to claim 93 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using a preference analysis technique.

95. A method according to claim 94 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using collaborative filtering.

96. A method according to claim 94 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using a preference matrix.

97. A method according to claim 96 , wherein rows and columns of the preference matrix correspond to rows and columns in an industry transferability data structure.

98. A method according to claim 69 , wherein identifying a job function in the first industry comprises receiving input from a user, over a communications network, related to a job seeker's present job function in the first industry, whereby the second industries represent recommended industries for the job seeker's job search.

99. A method according to claim 69 , wherein identifying a job function in the first industry comprises receiving input from a user, over a communications network, related to an employer's industry and to a job function of interest to the employer, whereby the second industries represent recommended industries in which the employer may find a population of potential employees.

100. A method according to claim 69 , further comprising:

in a digital computer process, updating the database's correlation of industries based upon feedback information provided by users who have used industry correlation information from the database.

101. A method according to claim 100 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using a preference analysis technique.

102. A method according to claim 101 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using collaborative filtering.

103. A method according to claim 101 , wherein updating the database's correlation is performed using a preference matrix.

104. A method according to claim 103 , wherein rows and columns of the preference matrix correspond to rows and columns in an industry transferability data structure.