Recently my brother returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and Kuwait. As are all families with loved ones serving in the military, my family and I were very relieved when he came home safe and sound. After getting through the re-adjustment period, my brother then revealed his interest and intent on returning to Kuwait to work for one of the civilian contractors. (We are a little suspicious that the 145 degree temperatures in the desert might have cooked a little more than eggs.)

In the process of applying for positions in Kuwait from the plains of Nebraska, my brother shared with me his frustration of handling all of the applications, attachments, and additional paperwork to apply for these positions. Anyone who has ever lived overseas knows that all of the paperwork (outside of the official documentation) can be overwhelming.

Advising my brother, I suggested that he use one of the many internet tools to help him cut down on the volume of paperwork and consolidate his work to a website that can serve as a personal portfolio for centralizing all of his paperwork. There are companies on the internet helping those who are creating spaces for individual users to centralize all of their application materials including copies of diplomas, unofficial transcripts, work samples, résumés, and references in a single location.

These tools allow a prospective employer to browse through a candidate’s materials without having to store attachments, maintain hundreds of paper files, and get access to potential more information on a candidate.

There is mutual benefit to using the internet and these new powerful nexus tools. Bring candidates and employers together in a more efficient and effective manner is the reality for those willing to embrace the internet and its dynamic possibilities.