Can recruiting be like online dating? A new platform is testing it out

Could finding the right employee for your company be as simple as swiping left or right on a profile? This tech platform is hoping employers find their perfect match. 

Lynk, an AI-driven knowledge management platform, recently announced its new product, TalentHub, a search engine that matches job applicants and companies according to their profile and criteria they both submitted — much like a dating app. 

"As a candidate, you sign up to our platform and we pull any third party data like your LinkedIn or your CV," says Hamilton Le, Lynk's senior vice president. "You could supplement whatever you would like into the platform and that turns into your profile." 

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Employers also fill out their own profile, complete with information ranging from what kind of technical skills they're looking for to what kind of culture fit they need. The software then presents employers with a list of corresponding profiles employers can sift through seamlessly. The app is intended to take the place of more traditional methods, which can be time consuming and a waste of resources, Le says. 

"Companies can search through all these profiles using any type of keywords or filters they want," Le says. "We have a search algorithm that we built specifically for them so that they could efficiently fit any openings that they have at their company."

TalentHub has already gathered a network of 1,200 candidates searching for jobs, who can connect directly with potential employers through the platform. Employers can also utilize advanced search options that reveal more personalized information about the candidates they're scouting, such as prompts that display employee's values and beliefs, as well as a filtration system employers can utilize to find specific information quickly. 

"An applicant's profile provides a deeper, more aligned matchmaking process between the employer and the candidate," Le says. "What differentiates us from other HR tools or even LinkedIn is that instead of where you worked, [we're] more about what you know. The unique aspect to your profile is that on top of your job history, you also have a more [personal] profile." 

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As employers grapple with a competitive talent market, hiring quickly and efficiently has become critical. And making that experience more accessible for both employers and employees can help employers find the right fit without losing steam: 49% of respondents declined a job offer because of a poor recruitment experience, according to recent data from PwC. The platform is currently being offered for free, so employers and candidates can quickly connect. 

Without available talent, many companies have resorted to hiring freezes, a short-term solution, Le says. Instead, employers need to change the way they recruit to find quality candidates that align with a company's purpose.  

"We're kind of at a crossroads here," Le says. "A lot of people are quitting the roles that they've been in for a while because they want to have a bit more flexibility or a better work life balance. Our platform represents those personal values a bit more."