This post was produced as part of the UW Comm Department’s undergraduate Entrepreneurial Journalism course.

by Simona Trakiyska

Remember the long hours spent filling out job applications? How about updating your resume and cover letter with each submission, just so they are customized. Today we know that the words: “complete these simple steps and click apply,” are fiction. And if by any chance the automated system selects your resume, don’t be confused, yet you are not the “lucky winner” – you are just in the same pile as everyone else, awaiting to be chosen for that “quick” phone interview and see if you qualify for the first in-person interview. And yes, usually there are two.

But what if you could throw this process away and just get to work?

Cell phones are ubiquitious
Image from usatoday30.usatoday.com

Employers often need experienced, hourly workers, who can successfully complete given tasks. The job demand varies: from employers seeking help for big corporate events, to part time babysitting jobs. One job posting can receive hundreds of resume responses, usually requiring a cover letter and a resume.  This making the recruiting process difficult. Employers have to go through the time-consuming process of reviewing these resumes and cover letters to select a few promising candidates for the job. This can be a frustrating process, not only for the employers, but the candidates themselves.  For example, not all hourly applicants own a smartphone, or a tablet, or a computer. As a result, not all qualified workers have access to web-based tools such as LinkedIn. With this in mind Luis Salazar, who is the co-founder and CEO of Jobaline, created a new mobile platform, specifically designed to match employers with eligible hourly workers.

In his article “How Simple Mobile Tech Can Put America Back to Work” Salazar mentions how “Companies rely on hourly employees, which represent over 59 percent of the US labor force and more than 74 million workers, reinforcing the notion that hourly workers truly are the backbone of business in America.”

Jobaline’s recruiting process does not use the traditional model of sending resumes and filling out long applications, instead one can conduct a pre-screened interview via any mobile device, even a feature phone. Jobaline can be really convenient for people who are on the “go” mode. For example, students manage busy day-to-day schedules, from classes to internships;  with the upcoming graduation season, students are on the verge of searching for jobs.

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