Here's a quick survey of best practices currently appearing on corporate Web sites:

Aventis

• Careers part of the global navigation.
• Users can search for job opportunities using criteria.
• No e-mail to a friend function.
• Job descriptions have a code but no posting date.
• Application form requires a resume; there doesn't seem to be a resume builder.
• If there is no suitable job, users are encouraged to apply spontaneously; the information is kept for 1 year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb

• Careers part of the global navigation.
• BMS offers a "Career Explorer" to help users determine where they would fit in best.
• Job descriptions include posting date and requisition number.
• No e-mail to a friend function.
• Users have the option to submit a current resume online, use the site's resume builder, or fax or mail a paper resume.

Dow Chemical

• Dow uses Recruitsoft to power its career site.
• Careers part of the global navigation but it doesn't seem very intuitive. If you click on "Investor Relations", for example, users have to know to use the pull-down menu at the bottom of the page to navigate elsewhere.
• Users can submit a profile to use as a search agent.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Job descriptions have a posting date.
• E-mail to a friend.

DuPont

• DuPont uses Recruitsoft to power its career site.
• Careers part of the global navigation.
• Offers career path information for users.
• Users can save a profile and use it as a search agent.
• Job descriptions have a posting date.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• E-mail to a friend.

Eastman Chemical

• Careers part of the global navigation.
• Users can submit a resume by e-mail in response to a specific job. If users want to submit a resume for a future job opening, they can cut and paste a resume or use the resume builder.
• No search agents.
• Job descriptions don't have posting dates.
• No e-mail to a friend.

GlaxoSmithKline

• GlaxoSmithKline uses PeopleClick to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can create a profile and use it as a search agent.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Users can add the jobs that interest them into a job cart. When they're finished, they can click to apply online for all jobs at once.
• Job positions have requisitions IDs and posting dates, but some of the jobs are many months old.
• Users can cut and paste their resume into the online application.
• E-mail to a friend.

Johnson & Johnson

• Johnson & Johnson uses Hire.com to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can create a personal profile and have the option to remain anonymous.
• Users can set up a job agent.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Job descriptions have an ID but no posting date.
• E-mail to a friend.

Eli Lilly

• Lilly uses Hire.com to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can set up a personal profile and save it for later edits and applications. Profile is also a job agent.
• E-mail to a friend.
• Job descriptions have an ID but no posting date.
• Users can either use the online resume builder or cut and paste.

Merck

• Merck uses Recruitsoft to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Job descriptions have an ID, and an open and close date.
• Users can create a profile and save it for later edits and applications.
• E-mail to a friend.

Monsanto

• Monsanto uses WebHire to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can add their resume to Monsanto's resume database.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Job descriptions have an ID and posting date.
• Apply for jobs using an online form plus a cut and paste resume.
• E-mail to a friend.

Pfizer

• Careers part of global navigation.
• Pfizer hosts 4 career-related sites; all are linked to a common global job posting system for one-stop access.
• Users can create an online Pfizer resume to apply for jobs or cut and paste a resume into the application.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• E-mail to a friend.
• Job descriptions have an ID and posting date.

Procter & Gamble

• P&G uses Recruitsoft to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can set up a profile and use it as a search agent.
• Job descriptions have an ID but no posting date.
• E-mail to a friend.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.

Pharmacia

• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Users can add the jobs that interest them into a job cart. When they're finished, they can click to apply online for all jobs at once.
• No e-mail to a friend.
• No job posting date.

Rohm & Haas

• Rohm & Haas uses Kenexa to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can create a profile and a job agent.
• Candidates can access a list of jobs to which they have applied.
• Job descriptions have posting dates but some are many months old.
• E-mail to a friend.

Roche

• Roche uses PeopleClick to power its career site.
• Careers part of global navigation.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria.
• Users can add the jobs that interest them into a job cart. When they're finished, they can click to apply online for all jobs at once.
• Users can cut and paste their resume into the online application.
• E-mail to a friend function.
• Job descriptions have an ID but no posting date.

Schering-Plough

• Schering-Plough uses BrassRing to power its career site.
• Careers part of the global navigation.
• Users are sent to http://whatdrivesyou.com to search for job opportunities; there is no clear route back to the main Schering-Plough Home page.
• Users can set up a search agent and submit or create a resume for future opportunities.
• E-mail to a friend.
• Job descriptions have an ID but no posting date.
• Users can save a profile for later editing or application.
• Users can search for jobs by criteria although the "Search jobs" button is in the upper right hand corner of the page, away from the rest of the career menu.