System and method for internet based procurement of goods and services

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for the procurement and management of contingent workforce using proprietary systems, processes and methodologies.

What it is claimed:  
     
         1 . A system for Internet based procurement of non-cataloged goods and services based upon qualified resumes, comprising: 
 a human resources procurement server;    an associate vendor terminal connected to said human resources procurement server;    a hiring manager terminal, connected to the human resources procurement server;    wherein the human resources procurement server receives at least one job request from said hiring manager terminal, the human resources procurement server further receives at least one qualified resume from said associate vendor terminal, and forwards said qualified resume to said hiring manager terminal for review.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hiring manager terminal receives said qualified resume and generates a request to said associate vendor terminal for an interview with said qualified resume applicant if requested by said hiring manager terminal.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said human resources procurement server further comprises: 
 a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of said human resources procurement server;    a memory that stores a control program to operate said human resources procurement server and that temporarily stores said qualified resume;    a job database, connected to said central processing unit and to said memory, that stores said at least one job description; and    a modem, connected to the Internet and to said central processing unit, that facilitates the transfer of said qualified resume from said associate vendor terminal to said hiring manager terminal.    
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said central processing unit restricts access of said associate vendor terminal to said job database based upon criteria submitted from said hiring manager terminal.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said criteria is selected from the group of criteria, which includes said associate vendor terminal's geographic location and area of expertise.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said associate vendor terminal accesses said human resources procurement server via the Internet.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hiring manager terminal accesses said human resources procurement server via the Internet.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said hiring manager terminal generates a notification message to said associate vendor terminal indicating that said qualified resume applicant has been accepted for employment.  
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8  further comprising a time and billing server, connected to said human resources procurement server, that receives a plurality of time slips from said associate vendor terminal pertaining to time worked for said accepted qualified resume applicant and generates an invoice to said hiring manager terminal for payment.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9  further comprising a bank server, connected to said human resources procurement server and said hiring manager terminal, that receives authorization from said hiring manager terminal to pay said invoice to said human resources procurement server.  
     
     
         11 . A method for the Internet based procurement of non-cataloged goods or services based upon qualified resumes, comprising the steps of: 
 entering a job description for a temporary employment position via the Internet;    submitting a qualified resume of a job applicant by an associate vendor to a hiring manager for approval via the Internet;    reviewing said qualified resume by said hiring manager; and    generating a request for an interview if said applicant is acceptable.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising the steps of: 
 notifying said hiring manager of a confirmed interview;  
 interviewing said job applicant for said temporary employment position; and  
 notifying said associate vendor whether said job applicant is approved for employment.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of entering said job description further includes the step of storing said job description in a job description database.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of submitting said qualified resume further includes the steps of viewing said job description and requesting additional information from said hiring manager if said job description is unclear.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said step of viewing said job description further includes the step of viewing only those job descriptions that said hiring manager has authorized said associate vendor to view.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 approving said job applicant for employment;    requesting necessary employment information regarding said job applicant; and    generating a purchase order for said job applicant to begin work.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 accepting at least one time card representing time worked on a particular job;    generating an invoice requesting payment for said at least one time card; and    forwarding said invoice to said hiring manager for approval and payment.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of automatically approving said invoice if said hiring manager does not respond within a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 generating a record that records the status of said job applicant; and    viewing said record to determine the current employment status of said job applicant, the length of time job applicant has been employed at a particular position, and an applicant's availability for an interview.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of generating a reminder to said hiring manager if no request for an interview is received within a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of submitting said qualified resume further includes the step of adhering to a plurality of business rules submitted by said hiring manager prior to submitting said qualified resume.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of business rules may be a minimum or a maximum amount of total consecutive time a job applicant may work at a particular employer, the prohibition of hiring a previously discharged job applicant or the standard salary rate for a particular job description.