Step Off The Career Treadmill And Declare Your Independence With Monster Talent Market

MAYNARD, MA – July 1, 1999 – Tired of the same old work routine? Why not step away from the traditional job track with Monster Talent MarketSM.

On July 4th, the Monster Talent Market (http://talentmarket.monster.com), a new service from Monster.com, will go live to empower professionals everywhere to declare their independence from the career treadmill. As the world's first real-time auction-style skills marketplace, Monster Talent Market offers Independent Professionals (IPs) – contractors, consultants, freelancers and micro-business owners – the opportunity to market their services directly to employers.

"Monster Talent Market provides a dynamic opportunity for people to seize control of their careers. It's a real-time environment for them to discover their next great opportunity," said Jeff Taylor, CEO of Monster.com. "We're offering anyone who desires career independence the thrill of life change in 24 hours. Imagine going to bed after your corporate 9-5 job and waking up with a new boss – yourself."

Pre-launch demand for Monster Talent Market is already soaring with more than 23,000 registered users. More than 13,000 have begun filling out their 10-page profiles and more than 6,000 have scheduled auctions. On top of this, more than 1,000 employers have registered to use the service.

IPs who visit Monster.com will develop a profile defining their ideal assignment, desired rate and project scope. Profiles also include contractors' experience, skills, education, as well as more personal criteria like commuting and work environment preferences. Interested companies will pore over the profiles and actively "bid" on the individuals who fit their just-in-time staffing needs. The IP reviews the bids and accepts only his or her preferred assignment – the highest bid doesn't necessarily carry the day.

Monster Talent Market will become a complete information resource to IPs – offering everything from advice on taxes and contracts to tips on business management and more – and a place where IPs can develop and extend their own personal network, giving them the opportunity to network, compare skills, and pool resources to negotiate better rates on critical services like health insurance, office equipment and leasing. "By combining a marketplace for human capital with a live community of mentors and peers, we're breaking new ground that only the Internet can make possible," said Taylor.

Monster Talent Market will appeal to any consumer who desires career independence. It's a dynamic personal networking tool for IPs looking to expand their career opportunities in industries like information technology, graphic arts, journalism, finance and engineering just to name a few. And, it will have significant impact on those hesitant to enter the IP arena for fear of self-marketing (Forty-seven percent of the 2,771 existing contractors responding to a recent Monster.com poll claim having to "constantly market oneself" is the biggest drawback to being independent.).

A recent poll on the company's site (http://www.monster.com) asked "Do You Dream of Becoming An Independent Professional?" 75% said yes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than 10 million Americans currently describe themselves as self-employed - 7.8 percent of the population. Other expert sources estimate that the total population of independents could run as high as 25 to 30 million individuals.

About Monster.com

Headquartered in Maynard, Mass, Monster.com is the leading, global careers Web site with 7.6 million unique visits per month. Monster.com connects the most progressive companies with the most qualified career-minded individuals, offering innovative technology and superior services that give them more control over the recruiting process. The Monster.com Career Network consists of local content and language sites in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States and will soon launch sites in Germany and Singapore.

Monster.com is the flagship brand of the Interactive Division of TMP Worldwide (NASDAQ: "TMPW"; ASX: "TMP"). Founded in 1967, TMP Worldwide, now with more than 5,400 employees in 24 countries, is the on-line recruitment leader and one of the world's largest recruitment advertising agency networks, and is one of the world's largest search and selection agencies. TMP Worldwide, headquartered in New York, is also the world's largest yellow page advertising agency and a provider of direct marketing services. The company's clients include more than 80 of the Fortune 100 and more than 400 of the Fortune 500 companies. More information about Monster.com is available at www.monster.com or by calling 1-800-MONSTER.

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