Scopings is an innovative online alternative to “job recruitment firms” that have traditionally matched companies with prospective employees and vice versa. Scopings allows professionals interested in prospective job opportunities the ability to apply unanimously  for jobs and likewise, for employers to screen top talent applicants prior to initiating the interview process. It is definitely a win-win situation for both parties. 

I had a chance to speak to Gil Shabat, founder of Scopings, and this is what he had to say:

What motivated the launch of Scopings?

The idea of Scopings was born about 3 years ago after we needed to look for new career opportunities and found firsthand how painful the process is on both sides. Professionals find it harder and harder to find the positions they really want, and employers having major challenges in reaching out top-talent professionals.

What is the value to employers and prospective job applicants?

Applicants can explore positions anonymously - people can anonymously connect with hiring managers to find out the information they need in order to determine whether a position might be for them to pursue ever before applying. That is, to entice and encourage people to take the first step and apply.   An anonymous hiring process allows people to apply without revealing their identities and without a resume. Interview less, learn more – the initial interviewing process is done completely online so people don’t need to go to unnecessary interviews, and can remain anonymous, while employers can identify only the few best people they might want to hire. “Pay per hire” – employers only pay a small commission only upon finding the right person.

What is your business standpoint?

On the short term we are striving to become the main link between employers and every source they deal with for recruiting purposes, so we can avoid the chicken and the egg problem (i.e. need a lot of companies for the sake of candidates, and many candidates for the sake of companies), and on the longer term we want to become the tool of choice for professionals to find their next career opportunity, and for employers to be able to get access to many  professionals they wouldn’t be able to get access with any other mean . The product is designed in a way to allow us to partner with many other vendors, so we can keep adding new value and improving the hiring process for the benefit of everyone’s involved, and the pricing model allows us to share our revenues with the community that helps us succeed.

Who are your competitors?

Although on first impression it seems that our competitors are all the major job boards + other niche sites, we  see ourselves more as a recruiter powered up by technology, and feel that our main competitors actually reside in the offline world, and companies using us can ultimately substantially decrease the use they do with recruiting firms.

The whole job search process is usually initiated in response to several possible circumstances. Some of these circumstances could include: boredom, lack of job satisfaction or job growth, loss of a job due to a lay off or being fired. Scopings offers a transitional platform for professionals to move their career ahead while benefiting from a weekly paycheque. Its definitely a wiser and more strategic approach.  

Click here for Scopings and employers can click here for more information. 

MyStrategicPlan is a web based strategic planning tool that enables users to plan and implement their strategies through a host of features. MyStrategicPlan caters to any business size and does so without isolating itself to large corporations based on their ability to pay. The software tool includes such relevant features as the ability for decision makers and staff to assign and monitor accountability, set measurable targets to assess success, effectively communicate strategy & establishment of consensus, develop a concise and specific method for achieving goals, and provide specific tactical steps for management to undertake. The comprehensive plan can be build in a short amount of time, even days, and the implementation of the plan can be monitored year long.

I had a chance to talk to the creator and VP of Marketing for MyStrategicPlan, Erica Olsen, and this is what she had to say:

Why did you start MyStrategicPlan?

MyStrategicPlan helps everyone run a better business. By the time someone is finished setting up their plan, they’ve learned the equivalent of a mini-MBA. The company started with the idea of giving even small businesses the chance to have a “Virtual VP of Strategy” who keeps things on track. We’re not just running a website, our plan is to start a strategy revolution.

What is MSP’s Business Model?

We use an annual per-user licensing model. Similar to many web applications, we offer a free trial after which billing begins.

How do you differ from your competitors?

Our industry contains either limited desktop strategic planning software that’s little more than an excel spreadsheet, or massive enterprise level strategic planning solutions that are far too expensive for medium or small businesses. We are the only affordable solution, and we provide so much more than just a platform to build a plan. Our software improves each month, and learning resources are added constantly- we do this because we truly want to start that strategy revolution.

Anything else you would like to share about your tool?

Tasks in MyStrategicPlan cascade from wide-reaching organizational objectives down to individual action plans, once the plan is done, MSP acts as a Performance Management System as well. We have been in business for 3 years, but are definitely still a startup- each day presents its own challenges for a young web application carving out a place in its industry!

MyStrategicPlan offers its services at a reasonable price point as indicated on their website. Navigating through the web pages, I found the features useful to new entrepreneurs as well as those who have an established web presence. It is surprising how the market has not capitalized on strategic planning tools, which essentially is the backbone of any business. If you have ever asked yourself three questions, “where is my organization now?”, “Where do I want to take it?” and “How will I get there?” then this tool will definitely prove to be a viable solution to your queries.

Click here to visit their blog and here for the homepage