On October 17, 2024, and hosted an insightful webinar on the challenges and strategies for securing remote work in today's competitive job market. The event provided valuable information for job seekers looking to navigate the complexities of remote job hunting.
Who are the speakers?
has been working for a decade in HR tech, including roles at Google Hire, Indeed, and Handshake.
- Built high-performing product marketing functions from scratch and hired over 100 people.
- Launched marquee products that changed their product categories (Google Pay, GCP, Indeed Hiring Platform).
- Worked with dozens of founders and marketing leaders to achieve their business goals using product marketing fundamentals.
has 15 years of experience in recruitment, including 10 years in headhunting for tech freelancers. He has also co-founded Jobgether, an HR Tech startup that makes job searching easier and more accessible. He is also committed to helping France/Spain relations by supporting French startups to set up in Madrid, as a founding member of the French Tech Madrid office.
The Current State of the Remote Job Market
- Companies can receive up to 1000 applications within 24 hours for a single remote position.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the demand for remote work.
- Many companies have reduced their recruitment teams, exacerbating the challenge of processing high volumes of applications.
Challenges in the Current Recruitment Process
- Volume of Applications: The sheer number of applications makes it impossible for recruiters to thoroughly review each one.
- Limited Review Time: Recruiters often spend only 2-3 seconds per CV due to time constraints.
- Incomplete Reviews: Many applications (potentially 900 out of 1000) may never be seen by human eyes.
- Overreliance on AI: Many companies use AI for initial screening, but these systems often rely on simple keyword matching, which can be flawed.
- Keyword Stuffing: Candidates have caught on to AI screening methods and often overfill their resumes with keywords, further complicating the process.
Jobgether's Approach to Solving Remote Job Search Challenges
- Identifying Suitable Remote Opportunities:
- Jobgether aggregates about 40,000 new remote roles weekly from 27,000 companies.
- They ensure jobs are correctly advertised for specific regions or countries.
- Addressing Overly Broad Job Descriptions:
- Jobgether acts as an AI career coach, helping candidates apply to roles where they have the strongest chance of success.
- They use a matching score, recommending applications only for roles with a 75% or higher match.
- Simplifying the Application Process:
- Candidates create a profile once, including CV, LinkedIn profile, and optional additional information.
- This allows for one-click applications, eliminating the need to repeatedly fill out lengthy forms.
- Helping Candidates Stand Out:
- Jobgether creates a shortlist of the top 10 candidates for each role, fast-tracking these to the recruiter.
- This increases the chances of the best-matched candidates being seen and considered.
Additional Features and Benefits
- AI Career Coach: Jobgether provides feedback on why candidates might not match certain roles and suggests skills to acquire based on market trends.
- Personality Assessment: They use a tool called "Assets First" to include personality matching in their algorithm.
- Video Introductions: Candidates can upload 30-second video introductions to further personalize their applications.
Q&A Session Highlights
The event included a lively Q&A session. Here are some key points addressed:
- AI Matching vs. Personal Referrals: While AI can't replicate the depth of a personal referral, Jobgether aims to provide a more comprehensive view of candidates beyond just their CV.
- Premium vs. Standard Packages: The premium package offers fast-tracking to all companies where a candidate is a top match, not just Jobgether's direct clients.
- Feedback Loop: Jobgether aims to provide insights on why candidates might not match certain roles and suggest improvements.
- Applying Criteria: Candidates are advised to apply to roles where they have a 75% or higher match score.
- Work-Life Balance in Remote Roles: While Jobgether can't guarantee specifics of company culture, they ensure the roles listed are genuinely remote and available in the candidate's location.
- Opportunities for African Candidates: Alex noted an increasing trend of companies hiring from Africa, particularly Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, due to time zone advantages and a young, talented workforce.