New app could be ‘AirBnB moment’ for recruitment sector

Up to £1m has been invested in new technology that is claimed can be the ‘AirBnB moment’ for the recruitment industry.

Manchester tech start-up Caroo has launched a mobile device that puts job seekers in touch, anonymously, with potential employers, cutting out middlemen and the conventional CV, as well as time-consuming searches to browse career opportunities.

Caroo said it has worked on developing the app for the past two years in consultation with talent acquisition teams at employers including Adidas, the BBC, The Hut Group, Dentsu Aegis, GymShark, Boohoo and a range of other SMEs from Manchester’s thriving digital technology sector.

It claims the app is a ‘recruitment agency-free zone’ and hands complete control and anonymity to users through its ‘personal shopper experience for careers’.

And it says its app is a “safe place where brands talk directly to candidates and passive candidates can stay informed about relevant career opportunities based on their skills, experience and personal interests”.

Gareth Peterson, Caroo managing director, said: “We can bank, shop, travel and communicate in just a few taps on our mobile devices, yet when it comes to finding relevant career opportunities we are subjected to painful experiences and we hand control over to other people.

“Our users have designed an experience perfect for the passive candidate, where they can add their data in six taps, powering an algorithm that will recommend roles and brands based on core skills and interests, removing middlemen and irrelevant email alerts.”

He added: “The more we learn about our users, the better the matches become.”

He said Caroo’s employer portal was born from an idea after 20 years of interviewing and hiring thousands of candidates.

Caroo launched in the North West this week, with the intention of expanding into other sectors and the rest of the UK during 2019.

The focus is initially on the digital, technology and media sectors, offering free use of the system until March 2019.

Caroo also includes a free model targeted at start-ups and SMEs, where businesses can make up to four hires per year at no cost.

Gareth said: “The recruitment sector hasn’t had its AirBnB moment yet. Our users are leading the product strategy and we are excited for the future of recruitment technology, employer branding and candidate experience.”