New Hawaiʻi-based app bypasses AI gatekeepers to connect employers, jobseekers
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Finding a job in HawaiĘ»i can feel like sending an application into a black hole, but a new app created by HawaiĘ»i residents called Shift Pass aims to change that by connecting local workers and employers directly.
Instead of relying on artificial intelligence to sort applicants before a person ever sees them, the app immediately matches local job seekers with local businesses looking for help.
Workers use the app for free, while employers pay $19.99 a month to post jobs, open shifts and last minute staffing needs.
Jessica Cockrell, co-creator of the Shift Pass app, said the idea grew out of a challenge she knew well since she has had trouble finding employees for their businesses.
"My husband just asked me one day, do you think this would be a good idea? And I said, I think it's a great idea," Cockrell said.
That conversation happened about a year ago, and the app soft launched at the end of January before officially launching in May. Cockrell said more than 1,000 users in Hawaii, including businesses and workers, have already signed up.
Shift Pass has focused on speed and simplicity. Cockrell described it as "a real time hiring app that connects workers directly with businesses."
She said workers create a free profile that offers more than a traditional résumé. Users can upload videos of themselves working, share photos, add licenses and certifications and include their résumé or CV in one place.
"You get to really say who you are," Cockrell said. "So, when the employer is looking for someone, they see you, they can see everything right there."
Once both sides agree to connect, they can begin chatting through the app before moving forward with the hiring process.
Cockrell said the biggest difference is that the app removes AI from the first step of hiring.
"Once they post their job it immediately connects to you. There's no searching; there's no looking," Cockrell said. "Now, the employer can scroll through the available employees. And same with the employees can scroll through the jobs that the employers have posted."
Cockrell said the app has already been producing results and that workers have been finding jobs and businesses connecting with applicants in real time. She said the goal has always been to remove unnecessary barriers while giving employers and job seekers a faster, more affordable way to connect.
"It's built to make hiring faster, easier and more affordable," Cockrell said. "People are already getting jobs on it. It's just super exciting."
The app is currently available only on mobile devices. Cockrell said users have asked about a computer version, and the team is considering that option in the future. For now, Shift Pass remains an app-based platform designed to help local employers and local workers find each other faster.
You can download Shift Pass on your iPhone and Android phones. You can click here to access the Shift Pass Instagram account.
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