US20140164272A1

US20140164272A1 - Job-management systems

Info

Publication number: US20140164272A1
Application number: US14/178,698
Authority: US
Inventors: David Sickmiller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-28
Filing date: 2014-02-12
Publication date: 2014-06-12
Also published as: US8688597B2; US20130110734A1

Abstract

Computer implemented job-management systems for adding employment seeking features to a web browser displaying an online employment resource. The systems include a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions, a data storage system in data communication with the processor, and a computer readable medium in data communication with the processor. The computer readable medium includes stored computer executable instructions for the processor. The instructions instruct the processor to detect when a trigger event occurs, interface with the web browser to capture job data associated with the online employment resource displayed in the web browser when the processor detects the trigger event, and store the job data captured from the online employment resource in the data storage system. In some examples, the system further includes a server programed with instructions to send a notification to a user of the system based on scheduling data.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to copending U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 13/284,706, which was filed on Oct. 28, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to job-management systems. In particular, job-management systems for adding employment seeking features to a computer application are described.
Known systems for organizing one's job search are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. Existing job-management systems often fail to intuitively manage a user's job search, as they often lack automatic storage of job-related data and require a user to manage job data in a stand-alone application.
Many job-management systems operate as stand-alone applications. Because users often conduct the bulk of their job-seeking within web browser windows, e-mail clients, or other applications of general utility, they often neglect to use the stand-alone system. As these applications are often at the center of a user's daily activities, using them to perform job-seeking tasks is often more convenient than opening a separate, standalone job-management system.
Additionally, users accomplish a large share of employment tasks in a web or e-mail context. As a result, stand-alone job-management systems may be unnecessary and inconvenient. Because users often neglect to use stand-alone job-management systems, they often fail to properly track job-search related tasks. As a result, users often manage their job search poorly.
Additionally or alternatively, stand-alone applications often fail to adequately remind users of upcoming related tasks and recommend open positions. Because job-seeking is often conducted through web and e-mail contexts, reminders and recommendations conveyed through a standalone program may go unnoticed. Missing these reminders and recommendations may result in inadvertent forfeiture of a desired employment position.
Thus, there exists a need for job-management systems that improve upon and advance the design of known job-management systems. Specifically, there exists a need for job-management systems that directly interface with the other computer applications commonly used for job seeking purposes, such as web browsers and e-mail clients. Providing job-seeking features in this context would improve the user's job-management, and would assist in the user in ultimately receiving a job. Examples of new and useful job-management systems relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to computer implemented job-management systems for adding employment seeking features to a web browser displaying an online employment resource. The systems include a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions, a data storage system in data communication with the processor, and a computer readable medium in data communication with the processor. The computer readable medium includes stored computer executable instructions for the processor. The instructions instruct the processor to detect when a trigger event occurs, interface with the web browser to capture job data associated with the online employment resource displayed in the web browser when the processor detects the trigger event, and store the job data captured from the online employment resource in the data storage system. In some examples, the system further includes a server programed with instructions to send a notification to a user of the system based on scheduling data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first example of a job-management system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of instruction data of the job-management system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a screenshot of the job-management system shown in FIG. 1 interfacing with a computer application and displaying a toolbar, the computer application displaying job data and a form.

FIG. 4 is a screenshot of the job-management system shown in FIG. 1 interfacing with a computer application and displaying a toolbar, the computer application displaying job data and a form.

FIG. 5 is a screenshot of the job-management system shown in FIG. 1 interfacing with a computer application and displaying a toolbar, the job-management system displaying a confirmation element.

FIG. 6 is a screenshot of the job-management system shown in FIG. 1 interfacing with a computer application and displaying a toolbar, the job-management system displaying a supplemental interface.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of another example of a job-management system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed job-management systems will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various job-management systems are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
With reference to FIGS. 1-6, a first example of a computer implemented job-management system, system 100, will now be described. As FIG. 1 shows, system 100 includes a processor 105, system memory 115, local storage 150, an input controller 160, an output controller 170, and a network controller 180. Processor 105, system memory 115, local storage 150, input controller 160, output controller 170, and network controller 180 may collectively be referred to as a computing device 110. Computing device 110 may be incorporated within a variety of consumer electronic devices, such as personal media players, cellular phones, smart phones, personal data assistants, global positioning system devices, and the like.
Processor 105 may be any type of processing device for executing software instructions, but will conventionally be a microprocessor device. System memory 115 may include both read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, both read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) may store software instructions to be executed by processor 105. Processor 105 additionally allows executed instruction data to communicate with other devices directly and indirectly connected to processor 105. Processor 105 may, for example, allow instruction data to read and write from local storage 150 and allow a user to control executed applications via input controller 160.
Processor 105 and system memory 115 are connected, either directly or indirectly, through a bus or alternate communication structure to one or more peripheral devices. These devices include, but are not limited to, local storage 150, input controller 160, output controller 170, network controller 180.
Local storage 150 includes any locally-connected devices in which processor 105 may store and retrieve computer data without accessing a computer network. Local storage 150 may include, for example, a hard disk drive, a removable optical disk drive, a removable magnetic disk drive, or a flash memory card.
Input controller 160 is configured to communicate instructions from various input devices, which may include, but are not limited to, a keyboard 162, a mouse 164, and a touchscreen 166. Processor 105 may use received instructions to control executed instruction data. Output controller 170 may include, for example, a monitor 172, an integrated display, television, printer, stereo, or speakers. Processor 105 and output controller 170 allow executed instruction data to render output to devices connected via output controller 170.
As FIG. 1 illustrates, processor 105 is connected to network controller 180 to communicate with a computer network 183. As FIG. 1 shows, computer network 183 includes connection to computer network 183, which is the internet in this example. Network controller 180 is configured to communicate with any local- or wide-area networks, however. Network controller 180 may communicate via wired connections, wireless connections, or any combination thereof.
Network controller 180 may also conununicate using one or more communication protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the Internet Protocol (IP), and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). These protocols are well known in the art, and thus will not be discussed here in more detail. Network controller 180, for the purposes of this disclosure, is not limited to a single attached device; network controller 180 may, for example, include separate wired and wireless network interfaces through which processor 105 may simultaneously or separately communicate with computer network 183.
It should be appreciated that, in addition to the input, output and storage peripheral devices specifically listed above, the computing device may be connected to a variety of other peripheral devices, including those that perform input, output and storage functions, or some combination thereof. For example, the computing device 110 may be connected to a digital music player, such as an IPOD® brand digital music player or IPHONE® or Droid® brand smartphone available from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. As known in the art, this type of digital music player can serve as both an output device for a computer (e.g., outputting music from a sound file or pictures from an image file) and a storage device.
In addition to a digital music player, computing device 110 may be connected to or otherwise include one or more other peripheral devices, such as a telephone. The telephone may be, for example, a wireless “smart phone.” As known in the art, this type of telephone communicates through a wireless network using radio frequency transmissions. In addition to simple communication functionality, a “smart phone” may also provide a user with one or more data management functions, such as sending, receiving and viewing electronic messages (e.g., electronic mail messages, SMS text messages, etc.), recording or playing back sound files, recording or playing back image files (e.g., still picture or moving video image files), viewing and editing files with text (e.g., Microsoft Word or Excel files, or Adobe Acrobat files), etc. Because of the data management capability of this type of telephone, a user may connect the telephone with computing device 110 so that their data maintained may be synchronized.
Of course, still other peripheral devices may be included with or otherwise connected to a computing device 110 of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, as is well known in the art. In some cases, a peripheral device may be permanently or semi-permanently connected to computing device 110. For example, with many computing devices, processor 105, local storage 150, and a display are semi-permanently encased in a single housing.
Still other peripheral devices may be removably connected to computing device 110, however. Computing device 110 may include, for example, one or more communication ports through which a peripheral device can be connected to processor 105 (either directly or indirectly through a bus). These communication ports may thus include a parallel bus port or a serial bus port, such as a serial bus port using the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard or the IEEE 1394 High Speed Serial Bus standard (e.g., a Firewire port). Alternately or additionally, computing device 110 may include a wireless data “port,” such as a Bluetooth® interface, a Wi-Fi interface, an infrared data port, or the like.
It should be appreciated that a computing device employed according various examples of the invention may include more components than computing device 110 illustrated in FIG. 1, fewer components than computing device 110, or a different combination of components than computing device 110. Some implementations of the invention, for example, may employ one or more computing devices that are intended to have a very specific functionality, such as a digital music player or server computer. Some implementations of the invention may alternately or additionally employ computing devices that are intended to be capable of a wide variety of functions, such as a desktop or laptop personal computer. These computing devices may have any combination of peripheral devices or additional components as desired.
As FIG. 1 shows, system memory 115 stores computer executable instructions defining a computer application 117. As FIG. 1 illustrates, computer application 117 instructs processor 105 to communicate with computer network 183 via network controller 180 to retrieve job data 192 from an online employment resource 190. As FIG. 3 shows, computer application 117 displays job data 192 within an application interface 112. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, computer application 117 is a web browser used to retrieve job data 192 from an employment website on the World Wide Web. Computer application 117 renders job data 192 within a browser window 113's rendering window 114 contained in application interface 112. The online employment resource currently loaded in rendering window 114 is the current online employment resource.
Although computer application 117 is a web-browser in the example illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, other applications commonly used in employment searching may serve as the computer application. E-mail applications, for example, may be used. Web-based e-mail applications, such as Gmail, are also considered for use.
Turning to FIG. 4, computer application 117 also presents a job application form 194 requesting user input in response to job data 192. Form 194 is displayed within rendering window 114's depiction of the current online employment resource. In website-based examples, form 194 may be on a different webpage than some or all relevant job data 192.
As FIG. 3 shows, job data 192 may include any of the information from online employment resources relating to an employment position. Most job data 192 that relates to an employment position will be retrieved from a single online employment resource, but this is not required. Job data relating to an employment position often includes duties and responsibilities, qualifications, title of the position, name and location of the employer, the corresponding online employment resource, and other information commonly found in a job posting.
FIG. 4 illustrates that form 194 is configured to retrieve form input 195 from a user in response to job data 192. FIG. 4 illustrates form 194 as a web form; however, other means of retrieving user input may equally serve as forms. As FIG. 4 illustrates, form input 195 includes all of the data requested from the user within form 194. Form input 195 may include simple text entry, file attachments (such as file attachment 196), or other understood input means.
While computer application 117 is generally used when operating system 100, computer application 117 is not an element of system 100. Rather, system 100 interfaces with computer application 117 (or another application commonly used in employment searching) showing job data and a receiving user input in response to the displayed job data. In some examples, tools such as a plug-in interface or application programming interface (API) allow system 100 to easily interface with computer application 117. Such tools, however, are not required. As an example, systems that run separately alongside computer application 117 and that are configured to automatically interface with computer application 117 are equally within this disclosure.
As FIG. 1 illustrates, system memory 115 also stores instruction data 130 configured to be executed by processor 105. Instruction data 130 may have been retrieved from local storage 150 or from computer network 183 prior to execution. For example, some disclosed systems may store instruction data on a local hard drive or on data storage accessible via the internet before execution. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, instruction data 130 defines a web-browser plugin stored on local storage 150, moved to system memory 115, and executed by processor 105 to interface with computer application 117 as a browser plugin.
As FIG. 2 shows, instruction data 130 includes an interface component 133, a storage component 136, a retrieval component 145, an organization component 139, a reminder component 142, and a recommendation component 148. Processor 105 executes instruction data 130 to add employment seeking features to a computer application. Processor 105 may, for example, execute instruction data 130 as a standalone application, as a plugin executed within the computer application, or as a web application stored online until execution.
Interface component 133 includes computer executable instructions for interfacing with computer application 117. Interface component 133 allows system 100 to interact and communicate with computer application 117. For example, interface component 133 provides a data connection with computer application 117, whereby system 100 may capture form input 195 and job data 192. After this information is captured, it may be used by any of system 100's components.
As FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, interface component 133 displays a user interface 134 within application interface 112. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, interface component 133 includes a toolbar 132 displayed in browser window 113. User interface 134 may additionally include other elements, such as a pop-up toolbar 131 or a dialog 135.
User interface 134 may also include a confirmation element displayed individually or within another element. Such a confirmation element may receive user confirmation to store employment search related data. For example, user interface 134 includes confirmation element 199 below toolbar 132.
As FIG. 6 shows, user interface 134 may include a supplemental form 137. Supplemental form 137 requests supplemental input 198 potentially corresponding to job data 192. Supplemental input 198 may be stored along with job data. Supplemental form 137 may be displayed, partially or wholly, within one or more of user interface 134's elements.
Supplemental form 137 may request, for example, scheduling data 138. As FIG. 6 shows, scheduling data 138 may include a reminder time when a user desires to be reminded about a future scheduled task on a reminder date. Scheduling data 138 may also include notes corresponding to the scheduled task. Scheduled tasks often relate to an employment search, but this is not specifically required. Examples of scheduled tasks may include following up with an employer or scheduling an employment interview. In some examples, scheduling data 138 may include multiple reminder times when a user would like to be notified multiple times before a task is due.
As FIG. 2 illustrates, instruction data 130 includes a storage component 136 including computer executable instructions for storing saved data to a data storage system. The data storage system may include, for example, local storage 150 or remote storage 185 connected through a computer network. Storage component 136 may store the saved data after form input has been entered into form 194, for example: upon submission of form 194, as a user enters data in form 194, or after interface component 133 receives user confirmation.
Saved data may include captured data and data entered into supplemental form(s), and may include, for example, job data 192, form input 195, supplemental input 198, scheduling data 138, and other data acquired over the course of an employment search. Storage component 136 stores the saved data for use in future employment seeking tasks.
Instruction data 130 additionally includes organization component 139, which includes computer executable instructions for using job data to index the saved data. For example, organization component 139 may be used to index saved data according to selected criteria, which may include job field, job title, employer, or other relevant information. Organization component 139 may also index saved data according to supplemental input.
Instruction data 130 also includes retrieval component 145 including computer executable instructions for retrieving saved data from the data storage system to be used in employment seeking tasks. For example, retrieval component 145 may retrieve data corresponding to previous employment tasks associated with a previous online employment resource, such as job data, form input entered by a user in the job application form associated with a previous online employment resource, supplemental input, scheduling data, and other relevant information. This retrieved data associated with a previous online employment resource may be used, for example, to automatically complete form input on a job application form associated with a current online employment resource, saving time and effort.
In some examples, the retrieved saved data may include a file attachment, such as file attachment 196. In some examples, retrieval component 145 communicates retrieved data as a file attachment when the data was not stored as such. For example, the form input 195 corresponding to cover letter 197 may be retrieved as a file attachment despite the fact that form 194 requested it as standard text input.
Reminder component 142 uses scheduling data 138 retrieved from the data storage system by retrieval component 145 to communicate a notification at a selected time. The scheduling data 138 may correspond to user input entered into a supplemental form, similar to scheduling data 138 illustrated in FIG. 6. When the reminder time arrives, reminder component 142 communicates a notification relating to an upcoming scheduled task to a user. This notification may include, for example, job data, form input, due date(s), reminder dates, or other relevant information. Reminder component 142 may notify via a dialog window, an e-mail, a text message, an audio clip, or any other additional or alternative form of electronic communication. In relevant examples, providing notifications within commonly used applications, such as web browsers or e-mail clients, a user is more likely to receive proper and timely notification.
Recommendation component 148 uses data retrieved from the data storage system to recommend employment prospects and job-management related tasks. If a user, for example, has saved data corresponding to several engineering positions, recommendation component 148 may recommend an additional or alternative engineering position to the user via a notification (as described in the previous paragraph). Retrieval component 145 may connect to computer network 183 to retrieve job data corresponding to other employment positions and tasks and relate the job data with the retrieved data to generate recommended job information, which corresponds to recommended employment positions, employment tasks, and other recommended information. By integrating job recommendation functionality with commonly used applications, such as web browsers or e-mail clients, users are more likely to receive proper notification of recommended information.
System 100 is not particularly tailored to interface with a particular employment resource. For example, system 100 may interface with common internet employment resource websites, such as Seek.com.au, Monster.com, and the like. System 100 may additionally implement resource-specific features to interface more fully or more elegantly with that particular resource. However, disclosed job-management systems are not limited to those that implement such resource-specific features.
In some examples, including systems that interface with web browsers and e-mail applications, the computer application may receive communication input and send communication input to an employer contact. In this context, communication input may refer to any information that may be sent to an employer contact, including the body of an e-mail or form input.
With reference to FIG. 7, another example of a computer implemented job-management system, job-management system 200, will now be described. System 200 includes many similar or identical features to system 100 and the similar features will not be redundantly explained again in detail. Instead, the reader should reference the discussion above for a more complete discussion of the similar or identical features already described in detail.
System 200 functions to add employment seeking features to a web browser displaying an online employment resource. The discussion of system 200 will expand on triggering events and actions discussed above in connection with system 100, such as a user accessing a particular online employment resource or submitting a job application form. As will described in more detail below, a variety of triggering events and triggering actions are contemplated.
As shown in FIG. 7, system 200 includes a client computer 210 and a server 220 in data communication with client computer 210. In some examples, the system may include only a client computer, only a server, multiple client computers, and/or multiple servers. In the FIG. 7 example, computer 210 accesses online employment resource 290 over the internet via a web browser 206. Expressed another way, online employment resource 290 is displayed in web browser 210.
As shown in FIG. 7, client computer 210 includes a client processor 205, a client data storage system 250, a client computer readable medium 215, and web browser 206. Server 220 includes a server processor 222, a server data storage system 224, and a server computer readable medium 226. The client computer and the server may each include any additional components or peripherals currently known or later developed.
Client processor 205 is configured to execute computer executable instructions 230. Client data storage system 250 and client computer readable medium 215 are in data communication with client processor 205. As shown in FIG. 7, client computer readable medium 215 stores client computer executable instructions 230.
In the present example, computer executable instructions 230 are in universal format configured to be operable on different web browsers. However, the computer executable instructions may be in any format suitable for a given computing system or type of web browser.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, computer executable instructions 230 include instructions for client processor 205 to detect when a trigger event occurs when displaying online employment resource 290 in web browser 206. Instructions 230 further include instructions for client processor 206 to interface with web browser 206 to capture scheduling data 238 associated with online employment resource 290 displayed in web browser 206 when client processor 205 detects the trigger event.
In the present example, instructions 230 include instructions for client processor 206 to store job data 292 captured from online employment resource 290 in data storage system 250. Job data 292 includes information displayed by online employment resource 290 in web browser 206. The job data may include the title of the job, the salary range listed for the job, minimum requirements for the job, a description of the job, scheduling details associated with the job, etc.
Computer executable instructions 230 further include optional instructions for processor 205 to display a user interface 234 to facilitate a user using system 200. Instructions 230 further include optional instructions for processor 205 to display job data 292 stored in data storage system 250 to a user using system 200. The reader will readily appreciate that the instructions for the client processor may include a subset of the instructions described above, additional instructions, and/or alternative instructions.
In the present example, the trigger event is an identifier 225 identifying a preselected online employment resource. In particular, identifier 225 is a universal resource locator or URL address. The identifier may be any universal resource identifier or universal resource name. For example, the identifier may be a web address or domain name. In some examples, the identifier is a keyword, company name, or trademark displayed on a webpage.
As shown in FIG. 7, identifier 225 is stored in server data storage system 224 on server 220. However, the identifier may additionally or alternatively be stored on client computer 210, such as in client data storage system 250, or on an additional server or remote computer. In the present example, identifier 225 is stored on server 220 as part of a set of identifiers identifying a set of online employment resources.
Computer executable instructions 230 include instructions for processor 205 to communicate with server 220 to determine if a current webpage displayed in web browser 206 corresponds to the preselected online employment resource identified by identifier 225 stored on server 220. Further, computer executable instructions 230 include optional instructions for processor 205 to obtain updated computer executable instructions from server 220.
In the present example, server 220 includes resource instruction data for a particular identifier in the set of identifiers. The resource instruction data includes computer executable instructions for client processor 205 to interface with web browser 206 to capture job data 292 for the particular online employment resource. Job data 292 includes information entered by the user into a job form 294.
In the FIG. 7 example, online employment resource 290 displays a job form 294 in web browser 206. Similar to the job forms described above, job form 294 is configured for a user to enter information into it.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the resource instruction data further includes computer executable instruction for client processor 205 to identify a resource trigger action applicable to the particular online employment resource. The resource trigger action is the preselected online employment resource displaying a preselected item in web browser 206. For example, the resource trigger action may be the online employment resource displaying a job description in the web browser. Alternatively, the resource trigger action may be the online employment resource displaying in the web browser that a user has submitted a job application.
In the present example, the resource instruction data includes computer executable instructions for client processor 205 to identify target data embodied in the particular online employment resource. The target data may include a wide variety of data relevant to an online employment resource. For example, the target data may be a job title, a job description, or other job identifier, such as a job number or a job code. In some examples, the target data includes a company name or an industry name, such as legal, health care, or construction.
Server processor 222 is configured to execute computer executable instructions 228. Server data storage system 224 and server computer readable medium 226 are in data communication with server processor 222. Computer executable instructions 228 for server processor 222 are stored in server computer readable medium 226.
Computer executable instructions 228 include instructions for server processor 222 to make accessible identifier 225 stored in server data storage system 224 and to receive scheduling data 238 captured from online employment resource 290. In the present example, instructions 228 further include instructions for server processor 222 to determine a reminder date when a user of client computer 210 should be reminded of an action item in connection with online employment resource 290 based on scheduling data 238. Instructions 228 also include instructions for server processor 222 to send an electronic notification to the user directed to the action item on the reminder date.
In the FIG. 7 example, computer executable instructions for processor 205 include instructions to identify a resource trigger action applicable to online employment resource 290 displayed in web browser 206. The resource trigger action may be the user submitting information entered into job form 294. Additionally or alternatively, the resource trigger action may be accessing a particular feature of online employment resource, such as by browsing to a particular section or selecting a particular button or other control. In some examples, the resource trigger action is browsing away from the online employment resource.
In some examples, the instructions for the server processor include a subset of the instructions described above, additional instructions, and/or alternative instructions. The reader should understand that one or more of the instructions described above in connection with the server processor may additionally or alternatively instruct the client processor. Likewise, one or more of the instructions described above in connection with the client processor may additionally or alternatively instruct the server processor.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.

Claims

1. A computer implemented job-management system for adding employment seeking features to a web browser displaying an online employment resource, the system comprising:

a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions;

a data storage system in data communication with the processor;

a computer readable medium in data communication with the processor, the computer readable medium having stored computer executable instructions for the processor to:

detect when a trigger event occurs when displaying the online employment resource in the web browser;

interface with the web browser to capture job data associated with the online employment resource displayed in the web browser when the processor detects the trigger event; and

store the job data captured from the online employment resource in the data storage system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger event is an identifier identifying a preselected online employment resource.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifier is a universal resource locator.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the system further comprises a server in data communication with the processor;

the identifier is stored on the server; and

the computer executable instructions include instructions for the processor to communicate with the server to determine if a current webpage displayed in the web browser corresponds to the preselected online employment resource identified by the identifier stored on the server.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the processor defines a client processor; and

the system further comprises:

a server data storage system in which the identifier is stored; and

a server processor configured to make accessible the identifier stored in the server data storage system.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the identifier is stored on the server as part of a set of identifiers identifying a set of online employment resources.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the server includes resource instruction data for a particular identifier in the set of identifiers, the resource instruction data including computer executable instructions for the client processor to interface with the web browser to capture the job data for the particular online employment resource.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the resource instruction data includes computer executable instruction for the client processor to identify a resource trigger action applicable to the particular online employment resource.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the resource trigger action is the preselected online employment resource displaying in the web browser a job description or that a user has submitted a job application.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the resource instruction data includes computer executable instructions for the client processor to identify target data embodied in the particular online employment resource.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the target data includes one or more of a job title or a job description.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions for the processor to obtain updated computer executable instructions from the server.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium are in universal format configured to be operable on different web browsers.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the job data includes the uniform resource locator of the online employment resource displayed in the web browser.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the job data includes information displayed by the online employment resource in the web browser.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the online employment resource displays a job form in the web browser,

the job form is configured for a user to enter information into the job form; and

the job data includes information entered by the user into the job form.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the computer readable medium includes computer executable instructions for the processor to identify a resource trigger action applicable to the online employment resource displayed in the web browser; and

the resource trigger action is the user submitting the information entered into the job form.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions for the processor to display a user interface to facilitate a user using the system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions for the processor to display the job data stored in the data storage system to a user using the system.

20. A computer implemented job-management system for adding employment seeking features to a web browser displaying an online employment resource, the system comprising:

a client computer including:

a client processor configured to execute computer executable instructions;

a client data storage system in data communication with the client processor;

a client computer readable medium in data communication with the client processor, the client computer readable medium having stored client computer executable instructions for the client processor to:

detect when a trigger event occurs when displaying the online employment resource in the web browser,

interface with the web browser to capture scheduling data associated with the online employment resource displayed in the web browser when the client processor detects the trigger event; and

a server in data communication with the client computer and including:

a server processor configured to execute computer executable instructions;

a server data storage system in data communication with the server processor;

a server computer readable medium in data communication with the server processor, the server computer readable medium having stored server computer executable instructions for the server processor to:

receive the scheduling data captured from the online employment resource; and

determine a reminder date when a user of the client computer should be reminded of an action item in connection with the online employment resource based on the scheduling data; and

send an electronic notification to the user directed to the action item on the reminder date.