Two new websites to find work
Two Taranaki entrepreneurs have launched websites aiming to make it easier to connect job seekers with work.
The Conduit site aims to match employees based on their abilities and help them learn new skills and keep their qualifications up to date, while Job Hop connects jobseekers to employers offering casual work and same-day pay.
Conduit, created by Taranaki software company Vistic, allows individuals to store employment data, such as CVs, references, cover letters, and qualifications, and control who sees it.
‘‘The site can also be used for people to find positions so the employers can advertise for vacancies and it will match the people’s skills with what you are looking for,’’ Peter Nunn, Vistic managing director, said.
Nunn said employers could sometimes have to sift through hundreds of job applications but Conduit filters and presents only people with the skills or qualifications specified.
It also allowed people to match with jobs they may not have thought of, but for which they had suitable skills, Nunn said.
Vistic had been providing the service to the energy sector for 10 years and when Covid-19 hit the company saw a way to diversify its business, so it wasn’t reliant on one area.
Covid also presented an opportunity with the number of people newly out of work.
‘‘People are trying to upskill and cross skill and being able to have a place where you can register all of your qualifications and people can find you is quite important.’’
The website also connects people with training courses and notifies them when qualifications, such as a first-aid certificate, are about to expire.
‘‘The whole thing is to try to get people skilled, qualified and for people to be able to check their staff are safe to work.’’
Job Hop, the website for casual jobs, allows people to advertise that they are looking for work.
‘‘And businesses can advertise jobs on there and then through our smart-matching service they can actually match with people,’’ co-founder Gordon Heggie told RNZ.
Heggie said it was about getting someone through the door, which might lead to something more regular.
The employer or household pays a flat rate of $25 an hour for each hour of work they want to load as credit on their account, then Job Hop takes $3.50 from that as an administration fee.
The worker is paid a gross rate of $21.50 and the first $1.20 of each hour is their fee for advertising on the Job Hop platform.
The Ministry of Social Development has been helping Job Hop, making sure it meets its legal obligations.
Regional Commissioner Gloria Campbell said the website provided a useful opportunity for people to build their experience and skill set while adding to their CV.