Odunayo Eweniyi is the co-founder of PushCV, a Nigerian startup that started as an automatic CV sending service but has since expanded its service bouquet for its various clients. Recently listed among Africa’s 10 best startups, she spoke to HumanIPO on various issues about the startup, starting with how it all started.
First of all, what is the story behind PushCV?
PushCV started as an automatic CV sending service. It started to relieve the stress of job hunting while letting people focus on building themselves up for the job they wanted. We believed that people needed a safe avenue for job applications and we were determined to give that to them. But over time, we discovered that out of many applications we had made, only a little fraction got call backs for interviews and the jobs; so we thought that their CVs must have something to do with it. We launched the CV rewriting and CV creation services (for fresh graduates).
But then again it wasn’t just enough to rewrite or create these CVs professionally and send them out, getting the candidate called for an interview. We had to make these candidates into who the new CVs
portrayed. We had to make them employable.
So PushCV grew into a Capacity Building Service. If great people are employed in an organization, that organization will expand and more jobs will be created. PushCV is now focused on building great people.
What services do you currently offer?
These are our current products: PushCV Learning Center, PushCV Careerpedia, PushCV Ask, PushCV Mock Interview, PushCV Resumes, and CV Matching. We are working on developing more.
Who are your targeted clients currently and potentially?
Our clients are in two parts: recruitment agencies and the users (employed and unemployed); so we provide quality CVs to recruiters and equip job seekers with what they need to excel at those jobs.
How do clients go about using your services and platform?
To use PushCV, all a user needs to do is sign up and upload his or her CV; users can also use any of our value added services. For now, recruiters with vacancies simply contact us and we will present the best CVs fitting their requirements to them using our special algorithm. We are working on an even more seamless CV sending platform to be released soon.
You were recently listed among 10 best startups in Africa. How did you feel?
It is a huge recognition for our Company and we felt very honoured. At the same time, being listed as one of the best ten startups in Africa just showed us that there is so much more we can accomplish.
We are focused on that now.
What do you think is unique about your startup?
Well the uniqueness of PushCV comes from its deviation from the prevalent practice of just sending CVs to employers. We are focused on individual development and empowerment. Before we send anyone’s CV to any employer, we want to make sure that the individual is well equipped for that job; which by extension means that the employer is getting the best person for the job. Career success should come from self-development. That is our aim.
What do you plan to achieve in Dublin?
In Dublin, we hope to connect with entrepreneurs in similar fields from different parts of the world; and meet international journalists; make people aware of who we are and what we do. Most of all we would like the world to know the PushCV story.
What are your short- and long-term plans for PushCV?
Well, our short and long term plans are the same. To change the way recruitment is done.
