L.T. Ladino-Bryson of vCandidates.com
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with L.T. Ladino-Bryson, the founder and CEO of vCandidates.com, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of vCandidates.com – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
Creating vCandidates.com is based on the cumulative “Slumdog Millionaire” experiences I lived as a candidate, recruiter, and employer. Having been an executive recruiter who placed over 600 candidates in less than 5 years, my desire was to create something that would help give job seekers a competitive edge and solve many concerns they had.
As a candidate, I know what it is like to have to submit numerous resumes and search on multiple job search boards. After surveying 3000 candidates, I learned that their most pressing issues included: 1) the need for more communication throughout the hiring process; 2) the belief that their employers did not care what happened to transitioning workforce members when let go and; 3) the need for privacy online and ability to track where they applied.
vCandidates.com was developed to answer all of those concerns by taking the onus of searching for opportunities off of the job seekers’ shoulders. We also reduced the number of hoops recruiters had to jump through to find great talent.
In addition, we knew it was important for our company to not ignore the most overlooked area in an employee’s lifecycle. From startups to large corporations, many overlook the need for implementing proper off-boarding processes. As a result, employers are able to take advantage of our services by offering a 90-day subscription that can be included into severance packages when laying off one or many employees who earn $40K+. It is a little token of empathy to help their workforce move forward during a times of uncertainty and help them get back on their feet quicker and in a more competitive manner.
As a whole, vCandidates.com combines job search, career development, and off-boarding resources onto one SaaS platform.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
One of the biggest hurdles was getting the right information regarding how to initiate and grow as a startup. There is a bevy of information available to entrepreneurs. However, so much of it contradicts itself and can leave the savviest executive unsure of how to move a venture forward. Entrepreneurs must realize that the startup industry is a business, first and foremost.
Most advice given was provided with a cookie-cutter ideology. It is important for CEOs and founders to take all of the information in, remain open to new ideas and concepts, but ultimately use what makes the most sense for their venture. Strategies that work for one will not necessarily work for another. It was important for me to remember what my core business was and remain true to myself as an unapologetic CEO.
What does the future hold for vCandidates.com?
“Our future is so bright we gotta wear shades”. In our immediate future, our entire team is excited about being able to expand our sales and customer service teams so that we can help job seekers become more competitive and viable candidates (now that local competition has become national with remote workers). We have several development projects on the horizon, including an enterprise learning module that tackles the difficult conversation of creating a considerate off-boarding process. We will also continue to create educational content for job seekers.
We are excited that, as a career development platform, our resources have helped 47% of those who completed our 9-Step Boot Camp, used the content learned, and were interviewed and hired before connecting with recruiting professionals. We are excited about being able to help job seekers become more competitive.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Tempe?
The local Tempe startup scene is vibrant. If your company is settling in the city, be sure to get connected and tap into the startup community and its resources. Join the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, connect with Karen Norwicki at Phoenix Business RadioX podcast to tell your company’s story, reach out to the Arizona Technology Council to participate in events, connect with other tech founders, and utilize co-working spaces like MAC6 to help connect you with like-minded entrepreneurs who can help you grow your business. Overall, we could not have made it this far without the support of other startup leaders who helped champion us all along.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Be realistic and do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zones. The hardest part about being an entrepreneur is that many want to venture out with having one foot in and one foot out. Just remember that investors like to see funders 100% committed to their ventures. Also, it is great to have an innovative idea, but it is your passion that brings it to life. Good luck!