You need experience to get a job, but need the job to get experience.
52% of four-year college graduates remain unemployed or underemployed for at least a year. Moreover, 45% of graduates a decade after graduation still don't have a job that requires a four-year degree. Why is it so hard for early career professionals to get a job, even with a college degree?
This "experience paradox" only exists because, as of right now, employers don't have a better way vetting talent than evaluating their prior experiences. However, looking at someone's past as the only litmus test for future success means that people who are just starting out in their careers, or pivoting into a new field, are disproportionally disadvantaged in the hiring process.
This is hurting employers too. Impersonal talent filters and antiquated hiring methods are preventing employers from accessing some of the most highly motivated, high quality and diverse talent in the market. And because resumes and interviews don't give a complete and honest picture of a candidate, employers will make the wrong hire about 80% of the time, resulting in turnover that can cost 50% of the hire's annual salary.
We help early career candidates overcome the experience paradox
At Otterwise, we believe in hiring for skills and merit, not your background.
Otterwise helps early career candidates gain practical experience through pre-hire projects with employers. By helping candidates demonstrate their abilities in a realistic setting, employers can identify hidden skills and attributes — leading to better-informed hiring decisions that reduce the risk of turnover by 40% and improve career outcomes for candidates.
With Otterwise, both candidates and employers get to test whether the partnership is a good fit. For employers, projects are designed to reveal a candidate's skills, personality, behaviors, and career interests in the most candid way possible. For candidates, the projects help them experience a week or month-in-the-life of the job while continuing to develop market-ready skills.
For organizations not quite ready to hire, Otterwise can still help! Companies can host projects designed to complete the discovery work needed to de-risk a new business opportunities, or move the needle when stuck with a problem. Otterwise projects are more affordable than most consulting firms, and provide the project sponsors with a team of pre-vetted candidates who are eager to leave a strong impact towards a vision they are passionate about.
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otterwise
hiring needs
business needs
candidates seeking experience
for candidates
build career experience and be seen for your skills and drive
for employers
hire pre-vetted talent with 40% reduced risk of turnover
for project sponsors
gain a team to solve a business need in less than 1 month
Why Otterwise?
The only way to test whether the career and culture is the right fit for you before committing to a job.
1
Learn how to describe your skills and passion in the language of the workplace
2
Experience a week or month-in-the-life with hands-on projects for real startups
3
Receive guidance, advice and career support from top mentors in your industry
4
Replace the resumes and application process with projects that get you hired