This post was written by our Co-Founder JuIiet Eccleston

When Jeff Howe first coined the word ‘Crowdsourcing’ back in 2006, he was describing the rising phenomenon in which the power of the many was leveraged and used to accomplish feats that once were the responsibility of a specialised few. Technical advances and social media mean that the world is an increasingly connected place, and individuals can network, collaborate and share ideas more easily than ever before. Now, large groups of people can seek each other out and pull together for the same cause with ease. It’s a fantastic and efficient way to solve problems, research and innovate. And the same can be achieved by professionals who are harnessing its collaborative benefits to search for jobs.

The problems with traditional job hunting

The traditional approach of using recruitment agencies or scouring advertisements on job boards is one which I feel is dated and inefficient – and I’m not alone. In fact, when we recently surveyed over 600 professionals about their thoughts on agencies, 41% of respondents expressed concerns that recruiters would put them forward for jobs that they weren’t suitable for or interested in. Other apprehensions mentioned included the lack of direct contact with a potential employer, getting insufficient feedback about their application and feeling like they have lost control over the process. And job boards aren’t much better: they rely on you being in the right place at the right time to see a vacancy posted by a potential employer, which is far from time-effective.

The power of a peer recommendation platform

It’s no surprise, then, that an overwhelming 95% of those we surveyed stated that they’d be more likely to apply for a role if it was recommended to them by a peer rather than a recruiter. Combine this with what we know about the power of crowdsourcing and we have AnyGood?, a platform which enables professionals to recommend their peers for roles that they think they are suitable for. It’s a fantastic and much more effective way to find out about ideal job openings.

The platform works by using the currency of your own reputation. Instead of a recruiter acting as a middleman on your behalf, or you having to approach employers via a job board, people that have worked with you before and know you professionally will suggest you to prospective employers with vacancies – with your permission, of course. It’s an effectual means for well-connected groups of professionals to collaborate and tap into the power of their networks. If you’ve ever had a contact tip you off about a great job that they know about and which they think you’d be perfect for, then you’ll know the value of word of mouth recommendations.

What’s more, the platform creates a more even playing field for all candidates because you’ll be recommended for roles based on merit, experience and skills, by the people who know you best. And, because nominations are anonymous, bias from hirers is minimalised. I’ve found it especially good for professionals who are returning after a career break because it helps them find work commensurate with their abilities. Plus, it’s a real-confidence booster to have a fellow professional vouch for your skills.

In my view, now is the time to disrupt the traditional way that we search for jobs and use a method which is fairer and more effective. In fact, just as the general concept of crowdsourcing has rapidly evolved, it won’t be long before the use of this method for job hunting becomes the new norm. So, why not join our rapidly expanding network of like-minded professionals and see for yourself how crowdsourcing can help you find the perfect job?

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