Job site aims to make a splash in Bermuda

SplashJamaica.com eyeing Caribbean expansion after successful first year

Mark Kennedy, Bermudasun.org

Irishman John O'Donoghue never dreamed he'd end up running a website when he moved to Jamaica to be an insurance adjuster.

But that's exactly what he's doing now, after being approached by some associates who were looking for someone to run their jobs website. That was last May and since then, Mr. O'Donoghue, SplashJamaica. com's CEO, has made the job posting site not unlike Monster.com, the go-to place for Jamaica-based employers, as well as local and overseas job seekers.

Splash is looking to expand into other Caribbean markets and also into Bermuda. "We're very excited about Bermuda, because from our feedback, we heard that it would be a good place to do business," Mr. O'Donoghue said.

Splash will enter a fairly crowded market, with a number of local sites, some of them well established, already featuring or specializing in recruitment ads.

As for when Splash would have a presence here, Mr. O'Donoghue said a conservative estimate was two-to-three months.

"If possible, we want all locals," he said.

Each new market would use the Splash trademark but localize the domain name; the job site here would be SplashBermuda.com.

The goal is to eventually have a presence in every major island market in the region and to streamline the site so that visitors first have to select a country before continuing.

The site's launch in Jamaica faced challenges, Mr. O'Donoghue said, but the pace with which the site caught on convinced employers to get on board.

"When a local employer sees other local employers are already using [the site], then it sells itself," he said.

SplashJamaica now averages 1,500 hits by first-time visitors a day and just under 10,000 hits a week, according to Mr. O'Donoghue.

"We're delighted with the outcome. We wouldn't have had the capital funding without the success we've had in Jamaica."

The site makes its money by selling site space to employers, whose job postings also act as advertising for a particular company. Employers can buy one 28-day posting, or three, six or 12 month packages.

"[Employers] essentially own the space," Mr. O'Donoghue said, adding that jobs of all types are posted.

Job seekers can post their resumes on the site free of charge; companies will often search for the type of employee they desire, rather than post an ad.

So why the name Splash? "It doesn't mean anything," Mr. O'Donoghue said. "Like Yahoo or Google, they're just words. Splash is kind of a Caribbean word … something you just remember."

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John O'Donoghue makes a splash with online job recruitment

Written by jamaicaobserver.com

Friday 30 December 2005

Online job recruitment has provided yet another avenue for job seekers, but it is its ease, accessibility and speed that points to it being the way of the future for the job market.

With the Internet fast gaining ground in Jamaica, the founders of SplashJamaica.com saw an opportunity to tap into the job recruitment market and so set up a website, which is one of the best of its kind in Jamaica.

Speaking with Caribbean Business Report, SplashJamaica.com CEO John O'Donoghue explained how the company got started.

"The idea for Splash was conceived by six guys who came to Jamaica, most of them to work for Digicel in an IT capacity.  They managed to get these jobs through international recruitment websites.  Once in Jamaica, they noticed that an effective online recruitment vehicle did not exist so they decided to form SplashJamaica.com. The company is now seven months old. It is a 100 per cent Jamaican recruitment website, which allows companies to go online at anytime and upload their jobs.  They don't have to ring, write or fax anyone and recruitment can be done in real time."

"Now, they say at any given time there are 330 million Internet users in the world so for those looking for a job in Jamaica this is a useful way to go about it. It is very easy to use.  There is no need to go sifting through newspapers and all that goes with trying to land a job.  It costs a fraction of the cost of newspaper advertising and you can do the entire thing in a matter of minutes online.  Also, if you wanted to post a résumé online so prospective employers can view it, that can also be done.  We have about a hundred jobs up each week.  We have revolutionised the recruitment industry in Jamaica."

O'Donoghue added that with the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) practically here, Splash is aiming for a presence in the wider Caribbean and targeting those seeking job opportunities in the region.

There are no restrictions to a size of a recruitment posting.  To post details of a job vacancy or to put up details about yourself cost J$12,000 and it stays live on the site for 28 days.

Companies can buy a contract for 3, 6 or 12 months and during that time they can advertise as many jobs as they like.  The 12-month contract costs J$175,000 which allows one to own the site and put up and take down as many jobs as one likes.

SplashJamaica.com has jobs from banks in Cayman, Bermuda and Barbados.  There are a lot of jobs located in Trinidad & Tobago.  Trinidadian development companies are using the site to recruit engineers.  Digicel is using the site to recruit personnel for its new operations in Haiti and Trinidad.

"There are a number of Jamaican companies that now have operations in the Caribbean - DB&G, JMMB and GraceKennedy to name a few.  Our site can be very useful to them in recruiting professionals and all sorts of workers.  The whole pan-Caribbean concept is now with us.  All we need is a very good regional airline to make the region truly accessible," said O'Donoghue.

The site is gaining some traction, as Internet use becomes widespread.  SuperClubs put up a job for a marketing manager, which pulled 81 applicants within a week!  O'Donoghue has noted the increasing numbers of unsolicited visitors to the site.  The company is now looking to partner with an investor to extend its reach further into the Caribbean.

"If you are CSME conscious, HR conscious, an employer or recruiter then SplashJamaica.com is for you.”

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Careers Website Splash Trinidad & Tobago launches!

May 1st, 2006.

SplashTT.com, a brand new careers website, launches today. The site can be visited online @ www.splashTT.com. Splash is geared towards simplifying the recruitment experience for both employers and job seekers, and caters exclusively to the Trinidad and Tobago market. The site is based on the hugely successful US and European models.

“SplashTT.com fills the gap in the market, where there was no conventional careers website catering to the Trinidad and Tobago market”, said CEO John O’Donoghue. “Now with Splash, jobseekers have a site where they can go and find the top jobs, while employers have a portal where they can find the best talent literally at the touch of a button” he said. “What we are offering employers is a streamlined recruitment solution with lower costs, time efficiencies and ultimately a competitive edge not just in their bottom line but in the pursuit of talent””. O’Donoghue also expects the new website to be well received by Trinidad and Tobago jobseekers abroad. “Everyday in Canada, the US and the UK, there are talented Trinbagonians looking to return home if the right opportunity arises; Splash can now bring those opportunities to them”.

The site includes all one would expect from a careers website. Employers are offered a variety of packages that best suit their needs, from the small firm to the multi-national. Furthermore, employers will have access to a database of the best talent in Trinidad & Tobago, where they can screen candidates to find that ones that best fit their requirements. Employers can also manage their accounts online, further increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the solution, while jobseekers can search for and apply for jobs on the site, as well as receive careers advice and guidance.

While Splash’s future plans are still under wraps O’Donoghue did hint that product diversification and regional expansion may be in the offing noting that “this is only the beginning of where we intend to go with Splash. Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean as a whole is set to embrace the whole e-commerce revolution and Splash intends to be a forerunner in this exciting time” he added.

Splash Advertising Ltd was established in 2005 and has its main office at 11 Ardenne Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, and can be contacted by calling (+1 876) 978 1197.

Online recruiter SplashJamaica.Com celebrates first anniversary with Caribbean expansion

Online recruiter SplashJamaica.com began operations in June 2005 and during its first 12 months, the company has posted over 3000 vacancies and close to 180,000 jobseekers have signed up for regular job updates in addition to thousands more simply visiting the site daily to check on the latest job openings.

Last May, SplashJamaica.com received over 2.4 million hits. The site is extremely user friendly for both recruiters and job seekers. CEO of SplashJamaica.com John O'Donoghue said that in the last year, "SplashJamaica.com listened very closely to its customer base and where appropriate, the site's functionality was improved further. Basically, our goal is always to improve on convenience."

Reaching out to the wider Caribbean, Splash was delighted to launch its first sister site recently in Trinidad & Tobago- www.splashTT.com. This marks only the first step, according to O'Donoghue, in Splash's Pan Caribbean plans. The company is now working on launching its services in Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman and Haiti by year-end.

"We are very excited about bringing the success we have achieved here in Jamaica, through the pioneering of online recruitment, to Trinidad & Tobago and beyond," declared O'Donoghue.

To this end, Splash is very happy to announce the appointment of Lynette Yearwood, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, who holds a BSc with honours in Management Studies and Sports Management - to head up Splash's Trinidad & Tobago operations.

Her career in sales and marketing spans over fifteen years, during which time she worked with the Neal & Massy Group of Companies and within the telecommunications industry. Lynette is also a founding member and Director of a sales & marketing organisation, Events Unlimited. Also qualified in public relations with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Yearwood brings to the table experience, and expansive networking ability.

The CSM jobs from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Aruba, Cayman, Curacao, Dominica, St Lucia and Suriname can be found on Splash. With the advent of the CSM, online recruiting is the best option to connect employers and job seekers in a highly cost effective and convenient manner.

"Only 12 months ago online recruitment was not seriously utilised by local employers or job seekers in the Caribbean and now it has established itself firmly as the medium of choice", said O'Donoghue.

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Career's Website Splash Jamaica launches!

May 26th, 2005.

Kingston, Jamaica. SplashJamaica.com, a brand new careers website, launches today. The site can be visited online @ www.splashjamaica.com. Splash is geared towards simplifying the recruitment experience for both employers and job seekers, and caters exclusively to the Jamaican market. The site is based on the hugely successful US and European models.

“SplashJamaica.com fills the gap in the market, where there was no conventional careers website catering to the Jamaican market”, said CEO John O'Donoghue. “Now with Splash, jobseekers have a site where they can go and find the top jobs, while employers have a portal where they can find the best talent literally at the touch of a button” he said. “What we are offering employers is a streamlined recruitment solution with lower costs, time efficiencies and ultimately a competitive edge not just in their bottom line but in the pursuit of talent””. O'Donoghue also expects the new website to be well received by Jamaicans abroad. “Everyday in Canada, the US and the UK, there are talented Jamaican's looking to return home if the right opportunity arises; Splash can now bring those opportunities to them”.

The site includes all one would expect from a careers website. Employers are offered a variety of packages that best suit their needs, from the small firm to the multi-national. Furthermore, employers will have access to a database of the best talent in Jamaica, where they can screen candidates to find that ones that best fit their requirements. Employers can also manage their accounts online, further increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the solution, while jobseekers can search for and apply for jobs on the site, as well as receive careers advice and guidance.

While Splash's future plans are still under wraps O'Donoghue did hint that product diversification and regional expansion may be in the offing noting that “this is only the beginning of where we intend to go with Splash. Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole is set to embrace the whole e-commerce revolution and Splash intends to be a forerunner in this exciting time” he added.

Splash Advertising Ltd was established in 2005 and has its main office at 11 Ardenne Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, and can be contacted by calling (+1 876) 978 1197.