Finding your passion—and turning it into money—is tricky for anyone, but especially for women. The persistent gender wage gap, the lack of top female executives, and the dearth of mentorship present unique challenges. Luckily, our friends at Levo League give young women the tools and resources they need to navigate the workplace and to feel empowered and challenged in their careers. Check out their site for tips, tricks, and generally pretty wonderful advice about how to get the job you deserve.
Entrepreneurs have caught onto the fact that we love to swipe right. An estimated 50 million people use Tinder every day—with an average of 12 million matches per day. So, it does kind of make sense that a swipe-and-match model could also work well during a job hunt. Employers can sit back and browse through potential job candidates, and job candidates can tell their story in a fun, multi-dimensional way, beyond your basic resume (video! photos! witty one-liners!). Here, we present three fresh-on-the-scene Tinder-like job hunting apps, and how best to use them.
1. Switch
The Switch app lets job seekers swipe through various job postings at top companies like Accenture, eBay, and Walmart, selecting the ones they like most. When a match occurs (i.e. the employer likes you back), the candidate can connect and chat instantly with the hiring manager. Switch also features an incognito mode, allowing users to browse different listings without their profile popping up (think how you can see who’s viewed your profile on LinkedIn). Switch reports that one out of 10 right swipes by a job seeker results in a match with an employer, and for employers, one out of three right swipes result in a match with a candidate.
READ MORE: The Secret to Escaping Your Job Search Rut
Tips for first-time users? Above all, take the time to create a solid profile. “It’s the first—and sometimes only—thing employers will see after you swipe to apply to their positions, so make it count,” said Switch’s founder and CEO, Yarden Tadmor. Also double check that your job function, industry, and skills match up to the position you’re seeking—the app’s algorithm pays attention to these areas, Tadmor added.
And there are ways for employers to make the most of Switch, too. Your job post should provide as much detail as possible, starting with location, years of experience required, and salary range. Use the company description field to lay out the company basics, and feel free to freshen it up with your organization’s voice and tone, Tadmor said.
2. Jobr
Jobr, which launched in May of last year, is a job discovery app featuring aggregated listings, as well as those posted directly by recruiters (search through positions at Google, Facebook, and more). Employers can create a job ad by uploading an image and logo, company and job descriptions, and 10 relevant skills for the position. Candidates can either upload a resume or fill out a profile, but uploading a resume offers the best chance for success, along with, of course, swiping right, said co-founder TJ Nahigian. According to user feedback surveys, 80 percent of people who uploaded a resume and swiped right between five and 10 times got at least one interview within a week, he said.
READ MORE: 10 Ways to Psych Yourself Up About Job Hunting
And if you’re worried about your current employer seeing your profile, fear not: Jobr will block your resume from your current company’s view, as long as that company is listed in your resume or profile. In addition, most employers only see a candidate after they express interest, Nahigian said.
3. JobSnap
The JobSnap app is set to launch this month and caters to Generation Z (ages 22 and under) with in-demand jobs at hotels, retail stores, and restaurants. Founder Jeff Boodie created the app to solve the problem young candidates face when they have little to no experience listed on their resume. “These are candidates who don’t have the experience but have the personality,” he said.
The app has a swipe model with a twist: Job candidates and employers upload 30-second videos to tell their story, which replace the usual photo and profile. “We’re 2.0 Tinder,” Boodie said.
Because the videos are so short, candidates and employers alike must flex their creative muscle to get noticed. Candidates should find an interesting way to share their career aspirations and showcase their personalities. “What is your dream? Employers recognize where you are now is not where you’re going to end up,” Boodie said. “They are aware that this is an entry-level job, but they want someone who’s passionate.”
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