A free job-matching website for the Waikato region has gone live to support business owners and employees through Covid-19.
Waikato businesses can list their vacancies and job seekers can list themselves on the “Waikato Nxtstep” website.
Cambridge Business Chamber collaborated with Te Waka to turn the idea into reality in the space of a few weeks.
Chamber chief executive Kelly Bouzaid said they quickly realised that Covid-19 was going to destroy low unemployment statistics in Waipā and the greater Waikato.
The website is a way to help match employers and job seekers quickly and locally, and to make the recruitment process as easy and effective as possible, she said, stressing it was Waikato-wide.
“Our end goals are employment and business continuity for the Waikato. People are going to be looking for paid employment as we move between all four levels of the Covid-19 alert system, then into recovery. And when the lockdown levels change down there will be urgency in recruiting staff with the desired skill sets, including staff for the ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure projects when they get the green light.”
Bouzaid said they have been able to get the website up and running quickly by piggybacking on an existing online platform by NxtStep. The aim is for the website to achieve maximum benefit by including anyone wishing to use its capability and by capturing jobs available across sectors in the Waikato including cross-pollinating with other job listing sites and through wider collaboration.
Hamilton City Council smart cities advisor Jannat Maqbool said selecting NxtStep was an easy choice. “They have an existing site that didn’t need much customisation, their business model is all about supporting regions to retain talent, and they have staff willing to go the extra mile to help with the current situation.“
Nxtstep general manager Poncho Rivera-Pavon said his organisation is very proud to work with the Cambridge Business Chamber. “Our speciality is forging products that showcase job opportunities, and most importantly, creating meaningful connections between job seekers and employers. We are determined to support the region by facilitating these relationships during this time.”
Bouzaid said because Waikato Nxtstep’s sole focus is the local region, she hopes it will help find solutions fast to keep the community’s economy going.
