Not everyone who has browsed a job board is actually unemployed. In fact, some people who peruse listings of available jobs online are quite intent with their current positions, but would just like to see what's available.

That is the theory behind itzbig's new job search tool, which allows working technology professionals to privately explore the other career opportunities that are available around them. Essentially designed as a sort of employment matchmaker, itzbig targets, as the company calls it, the “Quiet Working Professional, or highly qualified individuals who ordinarily aren’t looking for another position.” These currently-employed individuals are those who are unlikely to provide a public profile online at other job sites (such as Monster) for fear of being discovered by their existing employer.

“The itzbig network promotes the efficient exploration of job opportunities, while preserving the technology worker’s privacy and anonymity,” said Jim McGovern, the CEO of itzbig. “Candidates in Texas have also been attracted by the ease-of-use of the network in that they can enter a profile in a few minutes and see in real time how they score against various job opportunities in the network.”

The search process at itzbig only asks users to enter a desired position or location to start providing matches, whereas other services require more detailed information (including publicly available resumes). Initially known only by a profile number (which can be changed to anything), users have complete control over what information (skills, education, work experience, and personal information) is given. The network then uses all input information to find possible matches for each user. Differing from other services, itzbig not only compares how well employment opportunities match the user's requirements, but also how well a user scores against the employer’s requirements. Of course, the more information a job candidate provides, the smarter the network will be in finding specific matches.

As for the interface, it is simple and easy to manuever. Within minutes, I found myself with a full profile complete with a list of my skills (thanks to the new Smart Skills feature seen in the screenshot) and a few matches. Using the service's Dashboard, users can maintain an unlimited number of active profiles, each of which will anonymously portray different skills sets with various job interests.

Itzbig is a great tool with a unique approach to finding a job. Although it may be focused towards those who are already employed, I am sure that itzbig could be just as useful for the unemployed who cannot seem to find the perfect match for their skills elsewhere. Be aware, however, that itzbig's job market is currently limited to California and Texas, with more areas to come as the service matures.  Several Bay area companies such as Advent, CNET, eBay, Logitech, Yahoo!, and Sanmina-SCI have already begun using the technology.

“This is a network that is built for passive job candidates,” said David Schutt, Global Director of Recruitment and Employment for Sanmina-SCI. “The fact that the candidate can create a profile to match a particular job opening, and do so with privacy and anonymity, is a powerful proposition.