It may not yet have the name recognition of Jamba Juice, but three recent Cal Poly graduates have put their education to use to create what they say is a new and innovative business.
Wihire.com is an online job recruiting Web site where students and recent college graduates ready to highlight their particular skills and talents can find entry-level jobs, internships, part-time employment and volunteer opportunities, said the site’s founders, industrial technology graduate Jesse Dundon, agriculture business graduate, Kevin Rice and business administration graduate Ryan Fry.
WiHire encourages students to create free multimedia profiles where they can upload video resumes, feature examples of their work, communicate directly with company recruiters and view job postings that apply to their course of study or school.
Users do not have to create a profile to access the Web site, however, they will gain more out of the experience if they do, the founders say.
Dundon, Rice and Fry became friends in high school and came up with the idea when they began to look for jobs of their own.
During their searches, they decided that there were many ways to improve online social networking and personalized recruiting.
“They really care about what they do” said Ronda Beaman, a Cal Poly graduate school of business teacher who helped Dundon in the beginning stages of the project. “I think that no matter what idea they came up with, they would have been a success.”
The WiHire partners work directly with campus clubs and company recruiters to help job-seeking students. Their Career Development Workshops offer students a low-pressure forum where they can receive career advice from company recruiters, career center personnel and local businesses.
After a successful workshop this past January at Cal Poly, the team is partnering with the Orfalea College of Business to host three more workshops this fall.
Additional services the Web site offers include advice videos, a job board and a company profile browser.
WiHire is currently talking to investors and hopes to secure big investments in January 2009. With increased capital, they will be able to expand the Web site. It’s currently in it’s beta version.
“We’re definitely in that initial stage,” said Dundon. “We’re confident that it’s going to take off. Without a lot of capital, it’s difficult.”
Though WiHire is primarily working with campuses in California, the founders eventually hope to expand.
“We definitely have international aspirations,” said Dundon.
Dundon said Cal Poly and its learn-by-doing philosophy has helped him achieve his goals.
“All the IT teachers have helped make me who I am today,” Dundon said.
For more information about the site and the upcoming workshops, visit wihire.com.