How to Date for a Job
February 17, 2015
Randy Newman would say this about the resume: “It’s dead! It’s dead!” and weave some story lyrics. While the resume is not entirely dead, it is slowly going down the wayside as job seekers ditch it in favor of online portfolios and social media Web sites. Inc. highlights a new way companies are finding employees in the article, “The Hiring Tool That Could Kill The Resume.” Tom Leung is the founder of a new startup called Poachable, an app that helps companies find job candidates.
Poachable uses a Tinder-style platform to find passive job candidates, people already employed and not currently seeking. The app asks the job candidate about the ideal job requirements, then it returns results based on the specifications. Leung created the startup to help people find their dream job. Leung also wants companies to move away from the archaic resume format.
Leung has shared that in his experience, companies are not asking for resumes. They want to know specifics that are not available on them. Leung cites that he is trying to make the hiring process simpler:
“For professionals, the quandary they find themselves in is this: They’re in a job and like it, but would be open to a great opportunity yet don’t want to go and publish their resume on Monster or write on LinkedIn that they are looking for a new job. So right now, they can come to us and say where they’re working and what opportunities they would consider. It’s kind of like in junior high that you wouldn’t ask a girl out directly, but your friend would ask on your behalf. In some ways, we do that online and go to the employer and say, ‘Here’s this guy, here’s his experience, he lives in the area and thinks your company is interesting, would you want to set up an informational call?’”
While Leung’s startup is admirable, it makes one wonder what about people who are not gainfully employed and are looking for a dream job. He is doing a disservice to recent college graduates; those laid off, or have a niche market. He should open the target audience to get more users. At least Tinder is open for everybody.
Whitney Grace, February 17, 2015
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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One Response to “How to Date for a Job”
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Thanks for the mention Whitney. You’re absolutely right that we’re currently focused on mid-career, employed people.
However, we do intend to work with all sorts of people in the long term including people in school or between jobs.
We just needed to start with one specific audience and then expand from there. We’re a young startup with 5 employees but we’re working as fast as we can. Thanks for bearing with us! -Tom