Need a job in service or manufacturing? Wichita sisters made an app for that
When the coronavirus pandemic began to spur massive layoffs in March, two sisters from Wichita had an idea to help: an app, set up like a dating app, that can connect job seekers with open positions to be drivers, grocers, packers or manufacturers.
Just about six months later, Deborah Gladney, 33, and Angela Muhwezi-Hall, 30, launched the QuickHire app. While the idea was born years ago, they knew when the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. and Wichita that it was the right time to introduce their business. They hope it will help people impacted by severe layoffs in industries like service, retail and hospitality. Almost 1,000 people have downloaded the app so far.
QuickHire’s design might look familiar to some. After job-seekers create their profile, they can swipe left or right on job postings in their area, similar to a dating app. QuickHire will ask candidates various onboarding questions to pair them with a job that could be a good match.
In recognition that some workers might not have a resume, they can also record a 30-second introductory video for the profile.
“Millennial workers need technology they’re used to,” said Gladney.
Job offerings and the app itself are still evolving, after the official launch earlier this month. But you won’t see white-collar office jobs that are otherwise found on common employment websites. The sisters chose to focus on jobs that might not require a college degree, such as those in manufacturing, service or retail.
The job search process in those fields isn’t always as uniform like it is in more traditional employment settings, Muhwezi-Hall said. Sometimes workers have to go in-person to ask if a company is even hiring. They aren’t as likely to see a posting for a server at a restaurant on LinkedIn as they are to hear about it by word of mouth. The app aims to change that and build more respect for service-sector jobs along the way.
Gladney and Muhwezi-Hall both grew up in Wichita. The app has grown so much since March that QuickHire is now Muhwezi-Hall’s full-time job. She currently lives in Los Angeles, but is preparing to move back to Wichita soon to work on QuickHire with her sister and devote more attention to its growth.
You don’t have to live in Wichita to use QuickHire in your job search, since you can enter your zip code to find openings in your area. But the sisters are looking to partner with local educational institutions and some larger Wichita companies. Those conversations are ongoing.
While the app’s services might be needed during the ongoing recession, it’s not easy to start a new business because of the economic climate. Gladney and Muhwezi-Hall said they’ve had to jump through some extra hurdles to find investment capital and have ended up largely self-funding their project so far. It’s pushed them to get creative about marketing and growing.
“There were certainly concerns launching during a pandemic, but there was an opportunity, too,” Gladney said. “Companies had to pivot, and so did people.”
For now, the app is just in its initial phase. When the team rolls out updates, they plan to add a 48-hour turnaround time for job seekers to hear back from employers, even if the message is that they’re still under consideration. Muhwezi-Hall hopes this will encourage candidates who otherwise might not hear back after applying for a position.
For the sisters, QuickHire is about more than just connecting people with work. Their parents immigrated to the U.S. from Uganda and supported their family of seven with these types of jobs, Gladney said. It’s about bringing dignity and respect back to the jobs that help keep the economy running, but aren’t always in the spotlight.
“We wanted to build a community for these workers,” Muhwezi-Hall said. “Because COVID-19 has shown us how essential they really are.”
Workers and employers can download the QuickHire app in either the Apple or Google Play store on their smart phones.
This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 4:37 AM.
