Today’s employers are in constant need of talent, but the daunting process of hiring is often costly and time-consuming. With interviews, multiple layers of approvals, mounds of paperwork, negotiations, and so on, opting for temporary or part time hires has become a more ideal option. Combined with a volatile economy that has led to the rise of layoffs and voluntary separation schemes over the last few years, temporary employment provides organizations greater flexibility in hiring only when absolutely necessary.
Subsequently, the availability of part time positions addresses the challenges that students often face in seeking meaningful industry experiences beyond traditional internships prior to graduation. Such opportunities may also be the key to the decline in graduates who are well equipped to meet industry demands.
These were among the considerations that sparked up during a chance conversation at a class pizza party, which brought two brilliant millennial minds together with the hopes of changing the future of employment. Diana Woon Jia Hui and Adrina binti Adam from the Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) degree programme at INTI International College Subang, recognized these needs and embarked on a business called WeCruited, a platform that enables students to discover their passion while aiding employers to source and hire quality talents at a competitive cost.
The brain child of Diana Woon, WeCruited stemmed from a 2016 business pitch challenge she participated in which aimed to provide students with part-time event related job experiences. This then expanded into securing part-time internships, full-time internships and mentorship programmes online at various companies after a surge of demand came from both employers and students.
“As college students ourselves, we saw an opportunity to help fellow college students gain industry experiences by working part-time in relevant fields while studying. Beyond the perks of earning some income on the side, students are better able to understand industry needs and learn a variety of work cultures even before graduating. Our vision is to normalize the idea of part-time internships and we hope to kick start a culture of working college students who are well equipped by the time they enter the workplace as full time employees,” shared a very passionate Adrina Adam, who is completing her final semester in SNHU’s 4+0 Bachelor of Science in Business Studies programme.
Through their own efforts, the dynamic duo have collaborated with over 50 employers from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-up companies, and connected them with over 150 students who are keen to take on various part-time roles available at these respective companies. These part-time roles usually involve a 15 to 20 hour working arrangement per week, customizable according to employers’ needs over a three-month period.
Over a span of seven months, these young entrepreneurs have helped secure 15 internship positions (both part-time and full-time internships) and are hiring for companies such as SupplyBunny and Offpeak. They have also managed to bring onboard mentors from prominent companies such as WeWork and Airbnb to assist students in their professional development, networking and soft skills development.
“We are excited for the future of WeCruited and we hope to expand our business in connecting employers and graduates for full-time opportunities. At present, we are focusing our efforts towards connecting students from various universities and colleges to employers for part-time internships as a start. These opportunities allow students to discover their passion earlier, regardless if they are on their 3-month semester break or if they’re currently studying.
“Employers are also able to hire quality talents as WeCruited conducts the sourcing of candidates, filtering of resumes based on the requirements provided, and schedules interview sessions. All this, and we only charge a one-off payment based upon successful hires. We truly believe our services will bring value to employers and help students explore their talents, potential and develop new skills along the way,” shared Diana who is currently in her third year of SNHU’s 4+0 Bachelor of Science in Business Studies programme.
While the changes and demands of the fourth industrial revolution continue to make headlines, Diana and Adrina hope that WeCruited can play a role to support the development of innovative graduates with the right mix of soft skills and industry relevant skills. Starting at a grass root level, the two friends are certain that their efforts to create a culture of working college students with ample industry experience prior to graduation will prepare current students to embrace and adapt to the demands of Industry 4.0. Diana and Adrina recognize the value of early work exposure, having gone through INTI’s curriculum and work based courses that have exposed them to industry-relevant experiences and entrepreneurial skills from the onset of their college journey.