Do you remember when I went to a tweet-up in New Orleans? The event was coordinated by Franny Oxford, and one of the sponsors of was KODA.
I have no idea how this happened, but Katie Del Guercio [who is the biz development director of KODA] and I have become fast friends. She is fun, smart, and very passionate about helping people find new jobs. Moreover, she wants people to find great careers. Needless to say, Katie is much more optimistic than I am.
I tooled around the site, and I’m now a big fan of KODA. Unlike traditional job boards, you have the ability to fill out a richer, more meaningful profile. The technology is a little faster and brighter, too. Right now, the site is in beta and Katie is looking for feedback from job seekers. Can you create a profile and take the site for a spin? Send Katie feedback or feel free to leave comments below.
Thanks!
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I just spoke with Katie on Monday regarding KODA for an upcoming post. She is really great, and I love hearing her talk from the startup point of view. What a cool experience to be having just a few years out of school. Hell – what a cool experience to be having any time.
Business can be so exciting if it is just done right… which seems to be the greatest challenge.
Hey there, I followed you on twitter. I like your blog and the fact that you like punk rock, I jammed with propagandhi when they were in town in June. =) But anyhow I was wondering if you were interested in exchanging links? Shoot me an email if so. I am always looking to connect with fellow bloggers.
@Mike Did you set up a profile and give her feedback? You know, I’m usually pretty tough on job boards but this is one of the first ones that tries to hit the concept of ’social recruiting’ so I like that.
Hey L, I can’t access from my browser, they need to be more open in their tech….
M
Internet Explorer 6 is the only browser that KODA does not work in. The reason is because its 6 years old and two versions outdated.
Shameless optimist. Guilty. I think that specific experience and academic training are much less important than personal attributes and strengths in determining great performance. I also think that everyone has a shot of figuring out how to contribute to the economy while doing something they’re good at. Disclaimer: self-inquiry is tough.
KODA is much more “match.com” than “monster.com.” Take some time this weekend to check it out, and let me know if we’re onto something. katie@koda.us
even Microsoft has stopped supporting IE6.
@Laurie – i gave her just a little. I plan on spending more time there as part of my own profile of KODA. We may do something with KODA at work as well.
@Mark Are you trying to get on the site using the Mosaic browser? Dude you gotta upgrade!
@DaveW I think my old company has a version of IE that might be older than version 6. Sad.
@Mike Good on all levels. I think the site has tons of potential and I like the people at KODA. I also love the commitment they’ve made to staying in New Orleans. How cool is that?
@Katie Self-inquiry is so tough. I should have been a psychologist because much of HR is dealing with the aftereffects of people who make poor career choices. Hopefully KODA will help job seekers avoid the trappings and pitfalls the come with picking the wrong career track.
KODA has a nice layout, but other than that, it looks like any other professional networking site…just with a “Kum Ba Yah” angle.
I’ve only just started to poke around…but I’ve put up a profile, and if that was interesting to do, well…
I’m hoping it takes off because, I’m not looking to relocate to SF or NOLA. But so far, so good
What it doesn’t answer is how will it improve my life (as the person that leads recruiting)? More specifically, how will it improve my life beyond the other failed eHarmony recruiting knock offs? There is at least one of these starting a month, and I ask the same questions of each. But KODA does nothing to make that clear on the site, how they truly differentiate themselve. It’s the same things I want to know from candidates, How you gonna make me money, or save me money, and prove it.
I don’t mean to harsh your buzz, but I would be interested to understand their goals and business model as well. The vast majority of these small start ups exist to be purchased by bigger players and make the prinicpals lots of money (which I begrudge no one the right to do), or they simply die away after two years of struggling. How does KODA plan to be viable?
As the founder and CEO of KODA I would be more than happy to demo the site and explain the benefits to anyone interested. My email is jeff@koda.us
KODA is nothing like the eHramony knock offs. I dont believe its technically possible to make 1-to-1 recommendations like they claim. Recommendation engines should be used to help people understand the options available but not make decisions for them.
It may be naive of me, but I wish people would take the time to research the product or see a demo before going onto a discussion board and knocking it.
Puf, I asked Katie the same question when I interviewed her for a Jobacle post.
http://www.jobacle.com/blog/2009/7/21/koda-the-opportunity-community.html
I think they’ve got some great ideas. Can’t wait to see what happens when it fires out of beta like a cannonball (or maybe a laser, if you’d like to enter this century).
@Jeff
Don’t get your boxers in a wad. Puf just wants to know what you’re going to do that make it better than the others out there who’ve come and gone. It’s a chance to sell your benefits and showcase your awesomeness. I asked the same question of Katie when we first spoke, so maybe you guys need to make that more obvious. “We’re different from everyone else, because… ?”
@JD Well KODA will need to make a fan out of you. Contact Jeff.
@DysfJ Or you could be my dishwasher repairwoman. I thought we had a plan?
@Puf You are cynical just like me, but I think KODA is poised to make better love connections than most job boards. I’m all for putting people back to work, so if there’s something new out there that gets me excited, I want to be all over it. I think we need a little optimism in the job board space (did I just write that?), and I’m betting that KODA can get people back to work.
@Jeff My audience is great, and Punk Rock HR is a safe space for beta feedback. They’re not knocking the product at all, but really, giving you some initial feedback (which I invited). Recruiters on other sites will eat your heart out just for the fun of it, so let’s give Puf and JD a hand for being somewhat gentle. Readers of PRHR always rally behind good ideas, and I know you can win them over with KODA. I believe in your product and your team.
@Ben Katie is my BFF. I claimed her. You can’t have her.
I could do NC…they’ve got biscuits there.