Since its founding nearly a decade ago, Boulder-based tech recruiter Creative Alignments has always done things a little different.
The firm doesn’t operate like most recruiters that charge companies a percentage of the hire’s first year salary as commission. Rather, they charge based on the time it takes to fill the role.
Now, as the pandemic has shaken up the job market, Creative Alignments is looking to break the mold again with a new program to help recent college graduates find work.
“As Covid-19 hit and most of our clients put recruiting on hold, we wanted to create a more recession-proof service offering,” founder and CEO Peggy Shell said.
The company recently announced its CA Launch program, a career accelerator for new grads that mixes the firm’s hiring expertise with individual career mentorship.
The program is designed to help recent college graduates prepare for interviews, refine their resume and cover letter, learn how to effectively network and discover the skills to excel in that new job.
The program currently has five members of its cohort and is accepting up to eight for this initial test. The entry fee is a sliding scale that Shell said is very flexible as Creative Alignments launches the new program.
“With this first cohort, you tell us what you want to pay and can pay,” she said. “It’s not just needs-based, you tell us the price and we’re going to say OK to that.”
The upcoming cohort runs from Aug. 10 through Sept. 17 and meets an hour each day from Monday through Thursday. Creative Alignments has a focus on technology, natural food and CPG startups and is actively seeking candidates interested in those fields.
“The ideal candidate is a self-motivated young professional, not only seeking this to get a job but also to be thoughtful about their career,” she said. “How do they create the skills and network that is going to serve them for a long time to come?”
When it comes to her goals for the program, Shell said jobs are the ultimate goal, though she acknowledged the challenges with that thinking during the pandemic. Ultimately, she said, Creative Alignments wants to help people be better employees.
“I hope they’re well prepared to get a job when the timing is right. And, they’re not only prepared to get one in their career path, they’re well prepared to be a great employee when they do get a job,” she said.
This first cohort will serve as a beta trial for Creative Alignments, as Shell anticipates the program will continue to iterate to meet the needs of candidates. She envisions opening the program up to students still in college or people a few years out of college as it goes on.
“We know that this is going to be a need for a while,” she said. “This market is not going to soften for job seekers.”
