SEATTLE — In a constantly changing and evolving world, one application strives to transform the process of locating and hiring personnel by making it more efficient, trustworthy and convenient for both parties.
Developed and launched in two major cities in South Africa, Kalido attempts to create a user-friendly environment for skilled and trusted professionals and clients to connect.
At first, the creation of another app devoted to connecting employees to employers may seem unnecessary. From SnagAJob to Indeed Job Search, there are countless resources presently available.
However, Kalido is different.
The Borgen Project had the opportunity to interview Jon Parsonage, Head of Marketing at Kalido. “We see a world of work that is changing, and moving away from the traditional, corporate based approach,” says Parsonage. “We want to empower people to make the connections that they need to make their business grow.”
Defined as a skills marketplace network, the application recognizes the recent shift in occupation from corporate to freelance, and strives to increase employment in South Africa, a crucially important topic at the moment.
Just this past quarter, the unemployment rate in South Africa rose to an alarming 26.7 percent, a 12-year high in the country.
Building trust in South Africa amongst clients and workers could assist in creating various employment opportunities, ultimately expanding employment in South Africa, stimulating the economy and helping to eradicate poverty in the country.
“Developing countries are often characterized by a vast economic divide… Kalido functions in a way that allows people to bridge this divide, empowering people from excluded sections of the population,” states Parsonage.
To become a member of Kalido, simply download the app and create an account either through email or Facebook. Once signed in, the network offers an extensive array of interactive features that allow users to input information relevant to the work desired.
But what truly differentiates Kalido from the countless other applications currently on the market is its unique concept of ‘goals,’ which help condense the number of results generated into a more accurate index.
Goals are essentially topics that express both personal interests as well as areas specifically related to locating work or identifying potential employees.
After constructing a goal statement from the interactive suggestion list, the app connects with and identifies people of similar interest or expertise in the field of that subject.
The ability to declare precise goals to a wide audience combined with the capability to view matched users’ profiles creates a level of transparency and trust between the two parties.
In addition to helping clients find employers, Kalido is also a social network, where people can meet others with similar hobbies and interests.
Increasing employment in South Africa is vital in the fight against poverty, and understanding that a significant portion of workers are constantly pursuing opportunities to work on flexible and personal schedules is critically important.
As the workforce and marketplace continue this economic shift, the necessity of one universal platform to connect personnel to employment opportunities arises.
Kalido just may be that platform.
“We believe that Kalido is a unique project. We have not seen a product that is designed to make the meaningful human connections that they need to grow their business,” claims Parsonage. “By focusing on its users’ immediate needs, Kalido is a forward looking app.”
Kalido intends to keep perusing its mission of increasing employment in South Africa and around the world.
In the upcoming weeks, the network plans to establish its mission in India and eventually cover all of South Africa before moving out into neighboring African countries.
Kalido is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
– Jordan J. Phelan
Photo: Flickr