If someone else has skills that you need, don’t pay for them, SWAP THEM! You and your skillset are the most valuable assets you own. The skills you have are a great negotiation tool with the people who have the skills you need. If you need a website designed for example, why pay for it? Do something for someone else and simply ‘swap’ your skills. You could design their new system; tutor them in maths or even teach them to bake amazing cakes!
This is where SwopBox comes in. SwopBox is essentially a skill sharing platform or ‘online community’. Users can list what they want and what they can do in return! The skill swapping doesn't cost anything for either of the users! In order to make sure that swaps are fair, the swap value can be ascertained before either side actually does any work.
There are two primary uses for the service:
Firstly, with unemployment figures going through the roof and thousands of graduates currently unemployed, it is important to help them get into the professional work place. But most have no experience, no portfolio and no credible references. So, SwopBox works as a ‘middle man’ to connect students (of all disciplines) with real customers and employers! This, in turn, helps them gain real experience. This experience can then be demonstrated in their portfolio, on their LinkedIn page and wherever else it may be required. Employers are no longer taking such a huge risk hiring graduates as they have experience delivering for real people, in a professional environment.
The solution gives the employer a risk free ‘try before you buy’ scheme for potential employees. Traditionally solutions such as SHL have been used to assess a candidate’s logic and reasoning, but a project scenario would be a much more efficient way to assess candidates and would mitigate the risk of candidates of low calibre being invited to interviews (mathematical reasoning might prove logical affinity, but what better way to test a candidates aptitude for the job!). This solution would provide a platform to conduct these ‘tests’ for free.
The second key use is for non-students. A small business owner or individual could use the service to swap skills in order to achieve personal or community project goals. From a small business point of view, the tool is a fantastic ‘business generator’. Yes, you are doing something for free. But, that doesn’t mean it’s always going to be free! For example, you could design 1 page of a website in return for a piece of work. Users will usually need more than one page and if your work is good enough, they will be paying for more! Every satisfied customer will tell a number of their friends and family about their great experience! It’s a fantastic way to spread the word about you, your company and your products!
From a community point of view, it’s a great way to pull the people in your area together, to work towards a common goal. With so many skills in one place, you will always be able to find someone to lend a hand. Running projects to help and support the community has never been so easy!
We all know how social media has changed the world; Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin, where would we be without them today? SwopBox will become the next social platform enabling better networking, skill development and ultimately streamlined recruitment! By enabling users to actually carry out 'work' for an employer, we have designed a truly unique service which will streamline the recruitment process.
The project team includes: IT consultants; sales representatives and business graduates!
