Why you might swipe right or use a talent butler to land your next job

A shake-up of hiring techniques is seeing job seekers use Tinder-style apps to find a job that perfectly matches their needs, while bosses are turning to talent butlers for long-term staff solutions.

Job recruitment is undergoing a major shake-up, with Tinder-style apps and subscription services among the offerings now available to job seekers and employers.

Those behind the new products say an overhaul of recruitment methods is long overdue, describing traditional hiring as “broken” and failing to keep up with the pace at which employers need to hire new staff.

“The days of the resume are dead,” says Sam McNamara, developer of jobs app Getahead. “And most employers don’t even read cover letters these days.

“Employers don’t care that you can write on a piece of paper, especially in hospitality and retail, and even in trades … they just want to know that you can turn up to work and can make a great coffee or whatever it is you will need to do on the job.”

SWIPE RIGHT

McNamara says the popularity of new hiring techniques is evidence of the need for change.

Within the first 24 hours of launching, the Getahead app registered more than 1500 job seekers, while major brands, including Wyndham Hotel Group, Acai Brothers and Retail Prodigy Group (which runs stores for Nike, Samsung and Toms in Australia) have also signed up to the platform.

Sam McNamara, developer of jobs app Getahead.

Job seekers can create a profile similar to that required by popular dating apps and select their work preferences, including salary expectations, and lifestyle conditions. They then swipe right to apply for jobs matched to them based on automated AI.

Cover letters and resumes are not required.

“We cut all the fluff,” McNamara says. “(In traditional recruitment, job seekers) might do four interviews with a company before they even know what the job is actually about.

“But with us, whether you are looking for a dog-friendly office, a remote work environment, a flexible remote environment or a women CEO, you are only matched with those jobs that fit your preferences.”

He says the technology, which is free for job seekers, will ensure candidates find their dream job.

For employers, who must disclose the salary for each role, McNamara hopes it will reduce the average time required to find new staff from 25 days to just 25 minutes.

MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE

Subscription services are also revolutionising the employment market, with recruiter Mathew Thompson recently launching Talent Butler with a plan to reduce inefficiencies and guarantee long-term staff solutions.

The service challenges traditional methods by eliminating the one-off lump sum typically paid to recruiters immediately after a candidate is hired. Instead, it provides a 12-month replacement guarantee for any recruit that leaves or doesn’t work out.

Recruiter Mathew Thompson recently launched TalentButler, which is like a subscription service for recruitment.

Subscription fees start at $595 per month which, given almost half of new hires fail within the first 18 months, is far more affordable than typical recruitment practices, Thompson says.

“You can subscribe to food services or Netflix, so why not (offer a job hire subscription service)?” he asks.

“The recruitment market has never evolved. Other recruiters are not motivated to make a change because it can be quite lucrative for them to do things the old way.”

WASTING TIME

After securing work within 24 hours on the Getahead app, Remy Tucker says she will never go back to applying for roles using a resume and cover letter again.

“I used to waste so much time reviewing my resume to match the company that I was applying for, writing a cover letter and making sure I included all the relevant key words,” says Tucker, who works in marketing and branding.

“Our generation has been yearning for something that has been updated and suits our lifestyle and preference for technology and this is it.”

After securing work within 24 hours on the Getahead app, Remy Tucker says she will never go back to applying for roles using a resume and cover letter again.

Tucker, 23, who learned about the app via TikTok, set her profile to match only with roles within small businesses or start-ups and that allowed her to work from home.

Tucker also selected to be matched with companies that offer end-of-year staff parties because she believes it demonstrates a good work culture.

TIPS FOR JOB SEEKERS

• Let prospective employers know your work preferences, whether that be working from home, in a dog-friendly workplace, etc.

• Be upfront about your salary expectations from the start.

• Show your personality in your resume or during the job interview – what you are passionate about, what you enjoy outside of work, etc.

• Look for new and timesaving job application processes – don’t include a cover letter if it is not required by the recruiter.

• Reach out to your close network for job opportunities.

• Be consistent and keep trying – don’t be discouraged if you are not immediately successful.

Source: Sam McNamara