Employers Reel In Job Applications

With college on the horizon, Wilbur Cross High School seniors Oren Mendieta and Angeline Rivera are on the hunt for a job to cover tuition expenses — so they showed up to a Ninth Square job fair hosted by a new app looking to connect local employers and employees to-be.

That job fair took place on Orange Street between Crown and Center Streets on Monday afternoon.

The app at the center of the fair is called Jobreel. Founded in 2023 by Emily Grewal, it connects applicants to employers through videos, ​“taking it a step further than a stack of resumés,” said Elena Grewal, owner of the East Rock ice cream shop Elena’s on Orange and the first user of her sister’s app. 

“I noticed that Elena was being inundated with resumés, so we worked together to find a better connection between jobseekers and employers,” said Emily. ​“On sites like Indeed, your resumé is just another piece of paper in a stack, but Jobreel gives applicants a better chance of finding the right fit by showing off their personality.”

To use the app, jobseekers must upload a 30-second video detailing their current position, prior experiences, and career interests.

Shaheim Thomas, a server at Elena’s on Orange, was hired through Jobreel in April. ​“I found the position on Indeed, and there was a link to the Jobreel application in the description. I said, ​‘I don’t know what this is,’ but I uploaded the video and it worked out.”

The application consisted of 15 questions covering everything from customer service to healthcare access experience, as well as an introductory video. ​“Usually, these applications will have 30 redundant questions, but the Jobreel application was asking things about healthcare, which I hadn’t seen before but really liked,” said Thomas.

Since starting at Elena’s on Orange, Thomas has recommended Jobreel to all of his friends. ​“It’s easy and simple to maneuver, and it was way more tailored to my customer service experience. The app hasn’t left my phone.”

Cross seniors Mendieta and Rivera found the app to be a breeze. ​“I’m not good on camera, so I was anxious, but it gives you that human communication that you can’t find on a resumé,” said Rivera.

Mendieta, who recently left a server position at poké bowl chain Pokémoto, appreciated the app’s consideration of common concerns amongst job applicants. ​“Pokémoto was a nightmare,” she said. ​“Especially at an in-person job fair, I’m getting more information about expectations for the role and what my day-to-day would look like.” 

The pair has previously searched for jobs on Indeed, but they have often been met with rejections after waiting periods of up to three months for responses. At Monday’s job fair, Mendieta and Rivera were able to connect with Soul de Cuba, Elena’s on Orange, Olmo, and more employers within the span of less than an hour.

“Resumés are stressful because you have to list out everything you’ve ever done,” said Mendieta. ​“But Jobreel assesses you based on your actual customer service skills and provides insight into your personality that you can’t find on a piece of paper.

Mendieta and Rivera were waiting in line to speak to bagel shop Olmo owners Craig and Cara Hutchinson, who fielded several prospective applicants. Olmo was one of Jobreel’s first clients and has since hired three employees through the app.

“We just saw the technology and just thought, ​‘This is genius, this is exactly what we need,’” said Cara. Previously, Olmo accepted job applications on its website and Indeed. Now, Jobreel is the only platform through which the bagel shop hires.

“[Customer service] is all about charisma,” said Craig. ​“We want to make sure we’re hiring someone who can hold a 30-second conversation, and Jobreel gives us a snapshot of an applicant’s personality.”

Currently, Olmo is hiring weekend servers, catering drivers, and line cooks. Employees are often cross-trained after understanding how they fit into the shop’s flow.

“The video is an [attention] grabber,” said Cara. ​“Jobreel ensures that we’re getting qualified candidates, many of whom we may never have given the time of day to if they were just another resumé in the stack.”