Brunswick to pioneer 'text message job applications'

BRUNSWICK -- Applying for a job just got easier for residents of Brunswick, which is testing a high-tech way to match job seekers with potential employers.

It is called Text2Hire, and it's being pioneered by Brunswick at the city's upcoming Job & Career Fair this Friday at the Brunswick Community Recreation and Fitness Center.

"It gives the employers a chance to reach more applicants, to find a better fit for their stores, and it gives an applicant a chance to find more employers that they may be more apt to work at," says Joe Regallis, President and CEO of Flexhire.

Regallis, a Cleveland entrepreneur, came up with the idea of text messaging a job application or a resume to a prospective employer.

His company, Flexhire, developed the software and the process.

"Job applicants need a quick and easy way to distribute their information to employers who are hiring," Regallis tells WKYC.

"You register for free on the www.flexhire.com site as a job seeker, fill out a universal job application, then you can use your cell phone to text message your application to those who are hiring."

The Buehler's Fresh Foods grocery store in Brunswick is one of the first businesses in the country to accept job applications via text message.

"This allows us to preview the application a little more thoroughly, to give more individualized, personalized attention to the candidate," says JoAnne Vrtacnik, Community Relations Manager for Buehler's.

Flyers posted throughout the store give text numbers and job ID numbers for each specific open position.

People registered with Flexhire need just one line of text and a push of the "send" button on their cell phone to put their job application directly into the in-box of those doing the hiring.

"For starters, we have gone green here at Buehler's," says Vrtacnik. "We can find out a lot of information from the texted job application and then a follow-up phone call makes it more personal."

The Flexhire software is designed to filter certain qualifications instantly for employers, so more highly qualfied candidates can be identified quickly.

"They can review your application online and, if they're interested in talking to you further, they can schedule the interview online as well," says Regallis.

Texting job applicants also receive a texted reply that their resume has been received. Updates on an applicant's status are also texted or emailed.

"You are actually taking your job application and literally tethering it to your cell phone," Regallis explained, "and that way, you can distribute it instantly."

Brunswick has agreed to test the Text2Hire system at Friday's Job & Career Fair.

"Our city administration (is) always looking for innovative approaches to business attraction to the region. So this is another step," says Brunswick councilman-at-large Pat McNamara, who chairs the economic development committee.

"The power of digital technology is very exciting, very dynamic. We're hoping this takes off in such a way that virtually everyone will follow suit," McNamara told WKYC.

"Our job fairs have been growing by leaps and bounds. The need is great. We wanted to khow how we can expedite the process and we found Flexhire."

Last year, McNamara says some of the 500 job seekers at the city's Job Fair ran out of paper resumes, and the paper application process slowed things down for many others.

Visitors to Friday's Job and Career Fair are being encouraged to register with www.Flexhire.com in advance so they easily text their application to any employer they visit at the fair.

The city believes people could very quickly move from booth to booth, entering text messages from their cell phone one after another, to employers which interest them.

"In five minutes, you could submit five applications," McNamara said.