FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a recruitment system, and, more particularly, to a telecommunication based recruitment system and a method thereof.
BACKGROUND
In the present world, use of various online employment portals has become prevalent of lately for enabling interface between employment seekers and employers. The said portals provide services to both employment seekers and employers. The said portals provide a platform which enable employment seekers to submit their credentials, in the form of their resume, online which is then stored in the database of employment portal. At the same time, such employment portals enable the employers to view the credentials that are stored in the database of employment portal and short-list suitable employment seekers as per their requirement.
However, presently available employment portals have a constraint that the said portals are accessible only through internet. Therefore, an employment seeker or an employer necessarily requires a computer system with an internet connection. This requirement of computer with internet connection to access such employment portals restricts the reach of such employment portals to certain employment seekers only.
Also, there are certain specific jobs which require the employers to hear the voice of the employment seekers prior to their selection. For instance, jobs in business process organizations (BPO) require the employers to hear to the voice of the employment seeker to analyze the attributes, such as quality, clarity and the like, of the voice of the employment seekers prior to offering employment to them. Besides, many organizations, these days, prefer to listen to the voice of the employment seekers first so as to make assessments regarding their confidence, way of representation, clarity of thoughts and the like. The presently available employment portals do not enable the employers to analyze the attributes of voice of the employment seekers prior to making an employment offer or

calling the employment seeker for a personal interview. Accordingly, the presently available employment portals are not capable of meeting all the requirements of employers and the employers are not capable of taking well informed decisions regarding the selection of the employment seekers.
Accordingly, there persists a need for a system for recruitment that enables the employers to take a well informed decision regarding the candidature of the employment seeker.
There further persists a need for a system that has a far better reach than conventional recruitment systems and which does not have sole dependence on internet connection.
Also, there persists a need for a method for recruitment that enables the employers to take a well informed decision regarding the candidature of the employment seeker.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method for recruitment.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to obviate the above and other disadvantages from the existing arts and to provide a system and method for telecommunication based recruitment that does not require the employment seeker to necessarily have an internet connection for enabling access thereto and thus has a better reach than conventional recruitment systems/methods.
Further, another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for recruitment that is adapted to store voice samples of the employment seekers, thereby enabling the employers to analyze attributes of voice of the employment seeker and thus take a well informed decision regarding the candidature of the employment seekers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be clear from the ensuing description.
SUMMARY:
In light of the above objects, a telecommunication based recruitment system is disclosed. The telecommunication based recruitment system includes a server, a plurality of communication devices and a plurality of computers communicably coupled to the server, an interactive voice response device and a database coupled to the server. The server is adapted to receive a first information from at least one employment seeker through at least one of an audio channel and a first data channel and to receive a textual second information from at least one employer through a second data channel. The first information comprises personal information, credentials and a voice sample of the at least one employment seeker and the second information comprising a search query specifying requisite credentials or a request for establishing communication with at least one employment seeker.
Further, the plurality of communication devices are associated with the at least one employment seeker and are communicably coupled to the server through at least the audio channel and the first data channel for transmitting the first information to the server. The plurality of communication devices are associated with at least one employer and are communicably coupled to the server through the second data channel for transmitting second information thereto. The interactive voice response device is configured in the audio channel and is coupled between the plurality of communication devices and the server. Particularly, the interactive voice response device is adapted to communicate with the at least one employment seeker based on pre-recorded queries to obtain first information thereof to provide to the server. Further, the database is adapted to receive the first information from the server for storage thereof. Moreover, the server is adapted to communicate with at least one of the database for short-listing at least one employment seeker having credentials matching the search query and to provide the first

information of short-listed employment seekers to the at least one employer upon receiving the search query. Also, the server is adapted to establish communication with the at least one employment seeker to communicate the request thereto upon receiving the request for establishing communication.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the interactive voice response device communicates the pre-recorded queries to obtain details regarding regarding name, age, sex, correspondence address, contact details, employment experience, skill set profile, remuneration and location preference of the at least one employment seeker.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the credentials in the first information comprise employment experience and skill set profile.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of communication devices comprise a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm top computer, and a note pad that are adaptable to communicate with the server through the first data channel and the audio channel.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of computers include a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm top computer, and a note pad that are adaptable to communicate with the server through the second data channel.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the server, upon receiving the search query, communicates with the database to retrieve first information of at least one employment seeker having employment experience and skill set profile matching to that specified in the search query.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the request for establishing communication transmitted by the employer comprises at least one of a schedule for a meeting and an employment offer.
Also, disclosed is a method for telecommunication based recruitment.The method comprises receiving a first information from at least one employment seeker through at least one of an audio channel and a first data channel, storing the first information associated with the at least one employment seeker in a database, and receiving a second information from at least one employer through a second data channel. The first information comprises personal information, credentials and a voice sample of the at least one employment seeker and the second information comprises a search query specifying requisite credentials or a request for establishing communication with at least one employment seeker. The method further comprises communicating with at least one of the database for short-listing at least one employment seeker having credentials matching the search query and to provide the first information of the short-listed employment seekers to the at least one employer upon receiving the search query, and communicating the request to the at least one employment seeker upon receiving the request for establishing communication.
In another embodiment of the present invention, receiving the first information from the at least one employment seeker through the audio channel comprises communicating prerecorded queries to obtain details regarding regarding name, age, sex, correspondence address, contact details, employment experience, skill set profile, remuneration and location preference of the at least one employment seeker and receiving audio response thereto.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, communicating with the database for short-listing at least one employment seeker comprises retrieving first information of at least one employment seeker having employment experience and skill set profile

matching to that specified in the search query.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the request for establishing communication comprises at least one of a schedule for a meeting and an employment offer
These aspects together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a telecommunication based recruitment system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method for telecommunication based recruitment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS:

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular distributed telecommunication based recruitment system and a method for telecommunication based recruitment as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the terms "first," "second," and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.
Fig. 1 illustrates a telecommunication based recruitment system 100 that enables employers to make a well informed decision in respect of selection of employment seekers. The telecommunication based recruitment system 100 (hereinafter referred to as "system 100") includes a server 102 adapted to receive a first information from at least one employment seeker 104 over an audio channel 'A' and a first data channel "Dl". Particularly, the system 100 includes a plurality of communication devices communicably coupled, over the data channel Dl and audio channel A, to the server 102 for transmitting the first information thereto. In Fig. 1 only one employment seeker 104 having a communication device 106 has been shown for sake of brevity, however, the system 100 should not be construed as a limited to receive first information from a single employment seeker or communication device only. In the present invention, a plurality of employment seekers may access the server 102 simultaneously to exchange corresponding first information thereof with the server 102. Thus, the server 102 may be simultaneously communicably coupled to a plurality of communication devices.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the first information includes personal details, credentials and a voice sample of employment seeker 104. For instance, the first information may include details regarding name, age, sex, correspondence address, contact details, employment experience, skill set profile, remuneration details (such as current and expected remuneration) and location preference. The first information also includes a voice sample associated with the employment seeker 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the employment seeker 104 may store the first information in his/her voice in the server as the voice sample. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device includes a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm top computer, a note pad and any other communication device that are adaptable to communicate with the server 102 through the first data channel Dl and the audio channel A.
Further, the system 100 includes an interactive voice response device (IVRD) 108 configured in the audio channel and adaptable to be communicably coupled to the server 102 and the plurality of communication devices. In order to provide the first information to the server 102, the employment seeker 104 is connected to the IVRD 108 that is adapted to communicate with the employment seeker 104 based on pre-recorded queries to gather first information thereof. In an embodiment of the present information, the IVRD 108 may have a designated calling number which is dialled by the employment seeker 104 through his communication device 106 for being connected to the IVRD 108. Particularly, upon being connected to the employment seeker 104, the IVRD 108 provides him/her with pre-recorded queries associated with the first information thereof. More particularly, the pre-recorded queries are in respect of the personal details and credentials of the employment seeker 104 which are made audible to the employment seeker 104 upon being connected to the IVRD 108. The employment seekerl 04 provides his audio response of the pre-recorded queries and said audio response is stored in a database 110 (coupled to the server 102) as the first information of the employment seeker 104. It is to be noted that initially the audio response of the employment seeker 104 is stored as it is in

the database 110 as the first information of the employment seeker 104. Subsequently, textual first information may be generated manually (by human intervention) from the audio response and stored along with the audio response in the database 110 for providing to employers at a later stage, when required by the employers. The audio response is retained as the voice sample for the employment seeker 104. Further, the server 102 stores the first information along with a unique index number so as to enable identification of the record at a later stage. The index number may be provided to the employment seeker 104 for future reference.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the employment seeker 104 may connect to the server 102 through the communication device 106 over the data channel Dl, such as internet. Upon connecting to the server 102, the user is presented with an audio message having the pre-recorded queries associated with the first information of the employment seeker 104. The communication device 106 is capable of communicating the audio message to the employment seeker 104 and receiving the audio response (to the pre-recorded queries) thereof by way of an in-built headphone-speaker unit or a separately connectible headphone-speaker unit. Further, the audio response of the employment seeker 104 is stored in the database 110 as the first information. Subsequently, textual first information may be generated manually (by human intervention) from the audio response and stored along with the audio response in the database 110 for providing to employers. The audio response is retained as the voice sample.
Further, the server 102 is capable of communicating with at least one employer 112 to receive a second information therefrom through a second data channel "D2". Particularly, the server 102 is communicably coupled to a plurality of computers for receiving the second information therefrom, the plurality of computers being associated with the at least one employer. In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of computers may include a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm top computer, and a note pad that are adaptable to transmit the second information to the server 102 through the second data

channel D2. As shown in Fig.l, a computer 114 is associated with the employer 112 and is communicably coupled to the server 102 for transmitting the second information thereto. However, it is to be noted that the server 102 of the present invention should not be construed to be limited to be accessible by a single employer 112 or single computer 114 only at a particular time. The server 102 of the present invention is capable of being accessed by a plurality of computers (not shown) belonging to a plurality of employers simultaneously. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second information includes a search query for enabling the server 102 to short-list a suitable employment seeker for a position within the organization of the employer 112. In an embodiment of the present invention, the search query may specify the requisite credentials which the employer 112 seeks in a suitable employment seeker 102 for job openings within their organization. In another embodiment of the present invention, the second information may include a request for establishing communication with a shortlisted employment seeker so as to call him/her for a meeting or make an offer of employment.
Further, upon receiving the second information from the employer 112, the server determines whether the second information pertains to a search query from the employer 112 or a request for establishing communication with short-listed employment seekers. In the former case, the server 102 is adapted to communicate with the database 110 for searching therein and retrieving first information of at least one employment seeker having credentials, particularly employment experience and skill set profile, matching to that specified in the search query. The retrieved first information (including the voice samples) of the short-listed employment seekers is subsequently provided by the server 102 to the employers 112. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first information (including the voice samples) may be provided to the employers 112 in the form of an electronic message, such as an electronic mail. Upon receiving the first information, the employer 112 may peruse this information and finally short-list one or more employment seekers for a meeting/interview or for making an employment offer. Subsequently, the employer 112 transmit a request to the server 102 for establishing

communication with the finally short-listed employment seekers. The request may be transmitted in the form of an electronic message having a date and time for the scheduled meeting/interview or the employment offer. The request may also include identification details, such as index number or name, of the short-listed employment seekers for enabling the serverl 02 to communicate the request to appropriate employment seeker 104 only. Accordingly, the server 102 may transmit a textual message, such as an email, a short messaging service message or a paging message, or an audio message to the shortlisted employment seekers specifying the details provided by the employer 112.
The functioning of the system 100 shall now be explained in conjunction with the method implemented therein. Particularly, Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 200, for telecommunication based recruitment, that is implemented in the system 100. In the ensuing description, reference shall be made to the various features of the system 100 for explanation of the method 200. It is to be noted that for sake of brevity the method 200 is being explained with reference to a single employment seeker, i.e. employment seeker 104, and a single employer, i.e. employer 112. However, the method 200 is capable of being used with multiple employment seekers and employers accessing the system 100 simultaneously.
Referring now to Fig. 2, the method 200 begins at 202 such that the first information from the employment seeker 104 is received by the server 102 through at least one of the audio channel A and the first data channel Dl. Particularly, the employment seeker 104 is communicably coupled to the server 102 through the communication device 106 to transmit the first information to the server 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 106 may communicably couple the employment seeker 104 to the server 102 through the IVRD 108 configured in the audio channel A. Particularly, the employment seeker 104 may dial a designated call number assigned to the IVRD 108 for being connected thereto. Upon being connected to the IVRD 108, the employment seeker 104 is presented with an audio message having the pre-recorded queries to gather information regarding the personal information and credentials of the

employment seeker 104. The employment seeker 104 responds to the queries and the response is stored in the database 110 as first information, at 204 of method 200.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the employment seeker 104 may connect to the server 102 over the data channel Dl, such as through internet, and request for uploading his/her first information thereon. The server 102 in turns plays the audio message having the pre-recorded queries for obtaining the personal information and credentials of the employment seeker 104 in audio format. The audio response of the employment seeker 104 is stored as first information in the database 110, at 204 of method 200. Subsequently, a textual format of the first information may be generated manually (by human intervention) from the stored audio response and is stored along with the audio response in the database 110 for providing to employers. It is imperative that the audio response of the employment seeker 104 is converted to textual format for enabling search within the database 110 based on the search query of the employer 112. As described earlier, the first information is stored in the database 110 along with an index number for enabling easy identification thereof at a later stage.
Further, at 206, the server 102 receives the second information from the employer 112 through the second data channel D2, shown in Fig. 1. At 208, the server 102 determines whether the second information includes a search query or a request for establishing communication with at least one employment seeker. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second information sent by the employer 112 is a textual message having an identifier field to establish whether the second information pertains to search query or request for establishing communication. The search query may include details regarding the credentials required by the employer 112 in a potential employee for a job opening within their organization. Thus, upon receiving the search query from the employer 112 having requisite employment experience and skill set profile information, the server 102, at 210, initiates a search within the database 110 for short-listing employment seekers having credentials matching to the second information. Particularly, the server 102 searches within the database 110 to retrieve first information of employment seekers

having employment experience and skill set profile matching that specified in the search query, and short-list suitable employment seekers. The first information (both textual and audio) of all short-listed employment seekers is compiled and provided to the employer 112. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first information (including the voice samples) associated with the short-listed employment seekers may be provided by the server 102 to the employers 112 in the form of an electronic message, such as an electronic mail. Further, the employer 112 peruses the first information (including the audio information) of all employment seekers and finally short-lists suitable employment seekers. The employer 112 may then send another second information, now containing the request for establishing connection, to the server 102 for contacting the finally shortlisted employment seekers. This step would be explained further in the following paragraph.
Referring to Fig. 2, if at 208, it is determined that the second information pertains to a request for establishing connection with short-listed employment seekers, the server 102, at 212, may initiate communication with the said employment seekers based on the contact details thereof included in the corresponding first information so as to communicate the request to the employment seeker. In an embodiment of the present invention, the request for establishing communication may include an identifier, such as the index number or name of the employment seeker, for enabling the server 102 to search for corresponding contact details of the employment seeker from the database 110. The request may also include a scheduled time and date of meeting/interview or an employment offer. The method 200 concludes with the content of the request having been communicated to the short-listed employment seekers. Thus, the method 200 enables the employers to elaborately analyze the credentials of employment seekers and take a well-informed decision, keeping in consideration the attributes of voice of the employment seeker, prior to making an employment offer. Also, the system 100 dispenses with the requirement for the employment seekers to have an internet connection since they may access the server 102 over the data channel as well through the IVRD 108. This enables the employment seekers to update their profile while on the move.

In view of the foregoing, it shall be evident that the present invention envisages a telecommunication based recruitment system and a method implemented therein that enables the employers to take well informed decision regarding selection of suitable employment seekers for openings within their organization. As mentioned earlier, certain jobs require employments seekers to have a particular voice quality, pitch, voice modulation capabilities and the like. The conventional recruitment systems do not come to know about such qualities of the employment seekers unless the employment seekers have been called for interview based on initial screening of their credentials. It may happen that the employment seekers having matching credentials may not have the desired voice quality and thus the entire interview procedure is unfruitful and may involve wastage of resources and time. The present invention aims to solve this problem by providing the employer with details regarding the attributes of voice of the employment seekers so that the employer may select only those employment seekers whose voice quality is suitable to the job opening. Thus, the present invention enables a time-efficient and resource saving recruitment. Moreover, the system, as disclosed herein, enables the employment seekers to update their credentials over audio channel and thus there is no essential requirement for the employment seekers to have access to a data channel, such as internet, to be able to update their credentials. The employment seekers may update their details any time, even while they are on move, thereby providing flexibility in terms of use.
Further, the present invention should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments, as described herein, and various modifications are possible. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may also include a voice to text converter device coupled between the IVRD 108 and the server 102 that automatically generates textual data from the audio response of the employment seeker received by the IVRD 108. This dispenses with the requirement to have manual conversion of the audio response to textual first information. Further, while the present invention has been explained in context with recruitments in Business Process Organizations, the application of the

present invention is not limited to such organizations only. The present invention may be applicable for recruitment in other types of organizations as well.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

We claim:
1. A telecommunication based recruitment system, the system comprising:
a server adapted to receive a first information from at least one employment seeker through at least one of an audio channel and a first data channel and to receive a textual second information from at least one employer through a second data channel, the first information comprising personal information, credentials and a voice sample of the at least one employment seeker and the second information comprising a search query specifying requisite credentials or a request for establishing communication with at least one employment seeker;
a plurality of communication devices communicably coupled to the server through at least the audio channel and the first data channel for transmitting the first information to the server, the plurality of communication devices being associated with the at least one employment seeker;
a plurality of computers communicably coupled to the server through the second data channel for transmitting second information thereto, the plurality of computers being associated with at least one employer;
an interactive voice response device configured in the audio channel and coupled between the plurality of communication devices and the server, the interactive voice response device adapted to communicate with the at least one employment seeker based on prerecorded queries to obtain first information thereof to provide to the server; and
a database coupled to the server, the database adapted to receive the first information from the server for storage thereof,
wherein the server is adapted to communicate with at least one of the database for shortlisting at least one employment seeker having credentials matching the search query and to provide the first information of short-listed employment seekers to the at least one employer upon receiving the search query, and to establish communication with the at least one employment seeker to communicate the request thereto upon receiving the request for establishing communication.
2. The telecommunication based recruitment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interactive voice response device communicates the pre-recorded queries to obtain details regarding regarding name, age, sex, correspondence address, contact details, employment experience, skill set profile, remuneration and location preference of the at least one employment seeker.
3. The telecommunication based recruitment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the credentials in the first information comprise employment experience and skill set profile.

4. The telecommunication based recruitment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm top computer, and a note pad that are adaptable to communicate with the server through the first data channel and the audio channel.
5. The telecommunication based recruitment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of computers include a desktop computer, a notebook, a palm top computer, and a note pad that are adaptable to communicate with the server through the second data channel.
6. The telecommunication based recruitment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server, upon receiving the search query, communicates with the database to retrieve
first information of at least one employment seeker having employment experience and skill set profile matching to that specified in the search query.
7. The telecommunication based recruitment system as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the request for establishing communication transmitted by the employer
comprises at least one of a schedule for a meeting and an employment offer.
8. A method for telecommunication based recruitment, the method comprising:
receiving a first information from at least one employment seeker through at least one of an audio channel and a first data channel, the first information comprising personal information, credentials and a voice sample of the at least one employment seeker;
storing the first information associated with the at least one employment seeker in a database;
receiving a second information from at least one employer through a second data channel, the second information comprising a search query specifying requisite credentials or a request for establishing communication with at least one employment seeker; and
communicating with the database for short-listing at least one employment seeker having credentials matching the search query and to provide the first information of the shortlisted employment seekers to the at least one employer upon receiving the search query, and communicating the request to the at least one employment seeker upon receiving the request for establishing communication.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein receiving the first information from
the at least one employment seeker through the audio channel comprises communicating
pre-recorded queries to obtain details regarding regarding name, age, sex, correspondence
address, contact details, employment experience, skill set profile, remuneration and
location preference of the at least one employment seeker and receiving audio response thereto.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein communicating with the database for
short-listing at least one employment seeker comprises retrieving first information of at
least one employment seeker having employment experience and skill set profile
matching to that specified in the search query.
11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the request for establishing communication comprises at least one of a schedule for a meeting and an employment offer.