Dive Brief:
- Capango, styled as a retail industry job seeker’s version of a dating app, was released for Android and iOS earlier this month, according to a statement. The mobile-first platform allows users to find job matches without having to upload a resume or go through a lengthy application process. Candidates "swipe right" for jobs they’re interested in and left for not.
- With over 700,000 jobs open in retail today, the app is looking to fill a niche where traditional job boards don’t seem to be effective, the statement said. Capango partnered with 3Pillar Global to launch the app. Another partnership with Shop!, a retail trade association, will give download access to the association's more than 350,000 job seekers.
- Candidates who use Capango are asked to tag their "powers" — code for their passions, interests, preferences and abilities — along with an optional 60-second video pitch in order to connect them more quickly and effectively to employers.
Dive Insight:
In today’s fast-paced recruitment market, speed matters; employers who lag behind in the hiring process are can be ghosted by potential hires, and the reason is often competition.
Other companies are snatching up some candidates before other employers have a chance to read their resume. The need for a mobile-optimized recruitment process is urgent because job seekers are looking for an integrated candidate experience that meets them where they search, including their mobile devices.
In the retail sector, where competition is fierce, many companies are implementing same-day interview and hiring strategies in order to beef up their efforts to stand out among a sea of employers. One recent example is Taco Bell's "party job fair", which provided food and games to applicants and netted a positive hiring return. Retailers will have to continue to come up with creative solutions to maintain head count and avoid losing customers because they’re short-staffed.
