Windsor tech firm looks to change way Canadians enter workforce

In an era when employers have jobs while many potential employees are still struggling to find work, Windsor-based tech company Picsume believes it has the solution for both parties.

The firm held its new human resources platform official launch last week aimed at allowing employees and companies to better market themselves, communicate and save time and money by streamlining the hiring process.

“It’s a new way to apply and get yourself into the workforce,” said Picsume’s co-founder/CEO Jordan Goure.

“What Picsume is is an image profile that allows you to represent yourself in a new way. The résumé is dead, Picsume is the future.

“It’s verified, validated data that employers can access anytime.”

While there are plenty of well-established human resource platforms already in existence, Goure said Picsume has identified a gap in the market.

“Hourly workers and new people entering the workforce don’t feel represented,” said Goure, who is also founder of BREW Microbrewery, Vin Winery, Wedding in the Woods and involved in real estate development.

Article content

Article content

“There are a lot of things that target executive positions or tech positions, specifically, but nothing for small and medium businesses or students and (hourly workers).

“What sets us apart is we’re targeting a new demographic. The ease of use, the interface and being a Canada-first platform gets candidates building their Picsumes before they even build a résumé.”

For job applicants, creating a profile on the platform (picsume.ca) is free.

Goure said companies using the platform, data and tools specifically designed for a business will be the revenue generators.

He said the company has developed proprietary technology using artificial intelligence that directs candidates and employers to each other using a variety of filtering tools.

Article content

It allows both to build profiles of themselves, including videos, in very specific ways that streamline the vetting process. It can also be tailored to companies of differing sizes, including large corporations.

“Ultimately, we (Job Shoppe) were looking for a tool that encompasses everything in one platform. That in itself saves a ton of resources and a ton of time,” said Job Shoppe president Meighen Nehme, who is also a co-founder of Picsume.

“The automation part of it is what’s really saving us time. It’s really important for us to fill positions quickly, get back to candidates quickly and into jobs quickly.

“There isn’t anything that allows a candidate to go on and brand themselves the way we have created here.

Article content

“This will help employers and candidates find and match jobs that they’re interested in doing.”

The platform will also allow for those looking to volunteer and organizations seeking people to connect easily. Companies can also use the platform for training.

“We have tech that pulls in every existing opportunity and brings it directly to our candidates,” Goure said. “If you built a Picsume today, you’d have 8,000 opportunities just in our region.”

The company’s platform has already caught the eye of both the public and private sector.

This month the company earned a grant of $30,000 from FedDev Ontario’s Idea Fund.

The National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program has also given the company a fully funded position for support. The federal program is aimed at supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in the innovation sectors.

Article content

The company has also been invited to be part of Collision Toronto’s Alpha Startup program at Canada’s largest technology conference being held this week.

Goure said attending the Collision conference will serve as the company’s introduction to a wider audience.

“We’re targeting some bigger employers across Ontario that have Canadian head offices,” Goure said.

“We’re going to let the technology bring us to the regions where we’re needed.”

[email protected]

Twitter.com/windstarwadell

Article content