Dianna Paxton didn't intend to launch her business as many industries became virtual when Covid-19 swept the nation in March.
But Flix CV, her Tampa-based startup that turns a portion of the hiring process virtual, could not have come at a better time for many.
"If (companies) were not forced to do this, I don't think a lot of corporations would’ve come here, had it not been (the shift to many) work from home," Paxton, whose company went live in February, said. "But as hard as it was at first to walk through, it's a fantastic opportunity because corporations are realizing we have to do business differently. People will not be comfortable flying into what is a potential job; it better be the final two. "
After being involved in the hiring process at Fortune 500 companies, Paxton could see frustration and time wasted at both ends. For the employer, a candidate could seem perfect on paper but a dud in the interview. There is also the issue of getting everyone in the company in the same room, at the same time, to spend hours interviewing with potential candidates. And for potential candidates?
"There's only so many doctor's appointments you can make up," Paxton said with a laugh.
Flix CV offers a 10-minute video that allows candidates to answer questions from the potential employer, which is then edited by Flix CV and sent to the company. The link also has a collaboration tool, allowing others in the company to make notes on the video or even a simple thumbs up or thumbs down.
"Many Fortune 500 companies need feedback from all around the world and these people are executives, so their time is really of value for them," Paxton said. "The goal is to optimize those you actually get in person. You don't want the interview to be an all-day experience and with this, you can get many of those initial questions out of the way."
Unlike Zoom or other video platforms, the potential job candidate can re-record themselves before sending their CV back to Flix CV.
"It's telling if there is a mistake or there is an awkwardness and they don't re-record and keep it in," Paxton said. "I don't change that — that's often the meat of figuring out the kind of candidate you have. It's amazing how they choose to answer questions and if they're not willing to re-record that tells you something too."
Paxton has roughly 10 companies she is currently working with, all in the Fortune 1000 or Fortune 500 categories. She is bootstrapped and is aiming to have 20 companies by the end of the year, with the potential for partnerships at talent pipelines like the University of South Florida.
"We're trying to be patient, since we are in the middle of a pandemic," Paxton said. "It it difficult (to meet with potential companies) but hopefully then it just is proof, like, 'See how difficult it was to get me in here? This is why you need Flix CV.'"
