Executive Recruiting Takes to the Internet

The Irvine executive recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles last week unveiled its Internet recruiting service, joining a host of other traditional and online-only job-placement companies that have taken to the Web.

Heidrick & Struggles said its LeadersOnline site (https://www.leadersonline.com) is aimed at what it anticipates will be a $9-billion electronic-recruiting market by the end of next year and will focus on filling technology positions.

While Heidrick claims to have the most complete online recruiting solution, the field already has many competitors. Monster Board and Career Mosaic, two online pioneers, were among the first to enter the field when the Web came on the scene in 1994 and have built extensive networks for attracting both employers and job candidates.

Traditional companies have also beaten Heidrick online. Korn/Ferry International Inc., which went public in February, has had an online recruiting branch since last summer. Smaller recruiting firms, too, have been online. Christian & Timbers, a Cleveland-based recruiting company, revamped its Web site at the beginning of the year.

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Jonathan Gaw covers technology and electronic commerce for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7818 and at jonathan.gaw@latimes.com.