New Job-Hunting Sites Might Be Monster Killers

There's plenty of other activity in this industry, too, including the purchase last month of a similar service called WorkZoo by Jobster Inc., a rival Web recruitment service.

Also likely to accelerate the free listing trend will be the debut next month of an Internet domain suffix that will allow employers to post openings at Web addresses ending in ".jobs" -- GiantFood.jobs, for example, or BestBuy.jobs. The new addresses should make it easier for applicants to go directly to company sites to see what jobs are open.

For the most part, industry analysts seem impressed with the new job search engines, while pointing out that their revenue models are unproven and they still have to prove that they can help job seekers find their dream jobs.

"There is a point of providing too much information," said Greg Sterling, an analyst for the Kelsey Group, a consulting firm.

I think he's right. Ironically, what could trip up these sites is their sheer success, meaning if they collect too many listings in one place, they will overwhelm users. I believe that is why some job hunters already have stopped using Monster in favor of niche job boards that focus on particular industries.

But a pal who does a great deal of job hunting online tested the new sites at my request and was impressed. She said she will continue using them if for no other reason than to find the "occasional surprise opportunity."

Those surprises seem to lurk everywhere online, don't they? And that's giving Web business strategists fits while putting the established Monsters at continued risk of extinction.

Leslie Walker's e-mail address iswalkerl@washpost.com.