Two Whangārei sisters have launched an employment platform that aims to flip the recruitment model on its head.
Instead of jobseekers having to submit one “soul-sucking” job application after another and employers having to sift through hundreds of applications, You Will Find is a candidate-focused database where employers can search through candidates and approach the most appropriate.
It is the brainchild of Mangakahia sisters Leah Timoko and Kirsty Tuhiwai, who have both worked in human resources, payroll and administration for nearly 20 years.
Timoko said the idea came to her last year, when she started searching for a job after taking parental leave.
She was shocked to find there had not been any advances in the recruitment industry, which still worked on the same old principle of employers posting an ad for an available job and getting hundreds of applications, and candidates having to apply for hundreds of jobs.
“It was eye-opening to see it’s still the same thing ... The job is the focus, not the person.”
Timoko said she wanted to turn job-seeking into a positive experience for candidates.
“At the moment it’s soul-sucking, either not hearing back or getting rejection after rejection.”
You Will Find offers plenty of benefits for employers too, who are currently overwhelmed with hundreds of applications when they post a job ad, Timoko said.
“Employers are getting bombarded with applications because jobseekers are desperate to find work. They are applying just out of desperation, even if they don’t meet the criteria.”
Common use of AI only made things worse: companies were using AI to write job ads and jobseekers were using AI to write their applications, creating further distance for the humans who meet in a job interview, she said.
“This is about bringing it back to the people.”
Timoko started to work with Tuhiwai, who also strongly believed in the idea of You Will Find.
“The recruitment industry hasn’t advanced at all in 10 years and it needs a shake-up - we think this is it.”
You Will Find starts with candidates creating a profile with their attributes, key skills and CV. Employers can use search filters to see if any candidates meet their criteria, then apply to find out more information.
Candidates retain their privacy until they agree an employer can see their profile, Timoko said.
The platform launched nationwide on February 1 and already has about 50 candidate profiles added.
Tuhiwai said she and her sister toyed with the idea of starting just in Northland first, where the job market is tough.
“We decided to go big or go home: if it was a success here, someone else could replicate it elsewhere. The decision was made to go nationwide.”
Feedback for You Will Find has so far been very positive.
Family is a main drive for the start-up business: Tuhiwai is a mother of five children and Timoko two, and both will work limited hours over school holidays.
The sisters say they are lucky to work with each other, with the two also living just five minutes away from each other.
Timoko said the pair previously worked together in the payroll department of a large company, so they know they can co-operate.
“If I can, I would want to work with my sister and my family, and people who I know support me. Not all families can but because we can, we will.”
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.