Apparently, I missed the memo that a new website called NotchUp was launching. It has a unique (and what will probably prove to be flawed) business model whereby interviewers pay prospective interviewees to attend an interview session.
NotchUp is 100% free and takes less than five minutes to join. To get started, simply register, create a profile (which is similar to an online resume), and set an interview price. Your interview price is the price at which you’ll talk to prospective employers. Once you’ve created your profile, companies will search it and make you paid offers to interview if you have the skills and experience they’re looking for. Accept the offers you’re interested in, go to the interviews, and we’ll collect the money and transfer it to you.
This is especially relevant to me because I am currently in the job market and actively interviewing for a full time position!
From what I can tell, the site is currently in its beta release. I registered, was accepted 2 business days later, and created my profile (and set my interview price) yesterday. So far, I have no hits on my profile or offers, but it has only been a day. Unfortunately, I remain skeptical about the system as a whole since I don’t really believe in the business model. Likewise, in my searching of the blogosphere and ‘net, I have not been able to find an account of someone actually getting an offer, taking an interview, and getting paid.
NotchUp Positives
- Innovative Idea — The creative model is what separates the site from run-of-the-mill job boards. Innovation is always a good thing, even if it doesn’t pan out… Plus, you just never know!
- Tapping Into Hard-to-Reach Job Pool — Hiring Personnel can tap into the fabled pool of “Great Fit But Currently Employed” talent. This is by far the biggest selling point and a core concept of the model — recruiters being able to easily target people that are happy where they are currently working, but might still be responsive to a great offer from a great company
NotchUp Negatives
- Gaming the System &mdash One of the biggest problems is that it seems easy to game the system, bolster a resume, lie that you are actually interested in a new position, and then get paid. The concept of a “professional interviewer” is amusing, but probably not too far from the truth. If money is involved, there will always be people that will work the system to their gain. The feedback system might help this, but I doubt it will dissuade people that are serious about beating the system.
- Flawed Thinking — Another flaw in my mind is in the willingness for major companies to pay potential interviewees for their time, when, in fact, it is much more likely that an interviewee would pay for the opportunity to interview with a great company. There just seems to be something backwards about the idea, no matter what math they provide to justify the reasoning behind the payments.
- Layout & Design = Less than Original — The site’s layout, design, and style is very similar to the previous incarnation of the LinkedIn website. I’d like to see them build their own identity instead of borrowing from other job related sites.
NotchUp Screen Captures
Conclusion
For now, the jury remains out. If nothing else, it is an interesting concept and I’d be curious to see some stories of success or failure!
I’ll be sure to update this post if/when I am offered an interview through the NotchUp site.
