Startup Finds Funding To Replace The CV For Employers

The resume has gone virtual, with fewer job applicants submitting their CV in paper and instead submitting one in a digital format. One startup, however, wants to nix the CV altogether and replace it with a mobile messaging app — for some businesses that are hiring, at least.

To some, it may seem far-fetched, but the startup, JOB TODAY, just announced the support of venture capitalists to gain some traction.

The company revealed Thursday (Jan. 28) a $10 million Series A round of funding led by Accel. According to reports by TechCrunch, other backers included Felix Capital and Mangrove Capital Partners.

JOB TODAY focuses its services on the small business and service industry segments, helping SMEs find potential new hires. It streamlines the search and application process for applicants by migrating workers to the mobile app and ensuring that applicants receive a response by business owners within 24 hours, according to reports.

Both employers and employees create a profile on the mobile application, which covers basic skill sets. The rest of the application process — like  providing more detailed information — occurs through the app’s messaging system, allowing both sides to discuss the position and qualifications in detail before an interview is booked.

Cofounder and COO Polina Montano said, for SMEs and the services sector, traditional resumes are often unnecessary.

“From my experience in retail and what we have seen talking to other business owners, a regular business owner in [the] retail industry, we don’t really need a full CV,” she told reporters.

JOB TODAY focuses on the hiring side of the transaction, with Montano adding that the tool addresses “the pain of hiring in the service area.”

[bctt tweet=”SMEs are ‘constantly faced with the challenge of hiring people in short term.'”]

“As a[n] SME, you are constantly faced with the challenge of hiring people in short term,” the COO said, also telling reporters that the mobile device is perfect for small business owners who are on the go and short on time.