Elevator Pitch is a regular feature on Lifehacker where we profile startups and new companies and pick their brains for entrepreneurial advice. This week, we’re talking with CEO Gen George from OneShift.
In 128 words or less, explain your business idea.
OneShift is an online job network that directly matches job seekers to employers in order to provide temporary or permanent part-time employment. The network’s format is similar to a dating website; a seeker’s availability, location and skills are visible to a business searching for a suitable candidate. The internal database only matches those employees whose profiles are exactly what the job advertisement requires. This direct connection with job seekers means that, unlike an agency, no time is wasted with the physical process of candidate assessment, interview and selection- everything happens online.
What strategies are you using to grow and finance your idea?
In terms of strategies, social media has been a huge driver for the business. Without it, we would not be able to connect with our network on a more casual and personal level. Our Facebook page has over 140,000 likes and is a great place for sharing tips on profiles, funny videos and hearing what users have to say about our user experience.
OneShift was self-funded to begin with, and just last month took on staffing and facility management company Programmed as an investor, purchasing 27.5 per cent.
What’s the biggest challenge facing your business?
Our biggest challenge has been keeping up with the growth of the business. Since June 2012, OneShift has grown to over 270,000 users around Australia. It has expanded beyond our original focus, which was hospitality and catering for 18 to 24 year olds, to all sorts of jobs (such as CT radiographer and BAS agents) with an age range from 14 to 86 years old.
How do your differentiate your business from your competitors?
There are many recruitment businesses operating within Australia. Our competitors include other online job agencies such as SEEK and MyCareer, recruitment agencies focused on the part-time and temporary work market such as Adecco, local newspapers, notice boards and more traditional ‘word of mouth’ networks. So while we are not the only online job network in Australia, OneShift is the only employment website in the country with a specific functionality designed to match employees to employers based solely on their suitability for the job.
What one phone, tablet or PC application could you not live without?
My iPhone is glued to my hand. LITERALLY 24/7. because with an online business you need to be across all aspects and at all times.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
You are better off being 80 per cent ready for the race and being in the race, than 100 per cent ready and missing the race altogether.
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