Platform enables web developers to ‘date’ big companies for full-time jobs

GroupTalent lets coders get paid for freelance work with new media companies and tech startups in place of an interview, with the aim of landing a full-time position.

While platforms such as Gild Source help employers ascertain programmers’ skillsets by directly analyzing their previous code, it’s much harder to determine if they would be the right fit for their company. A new site called GroupTalent is enabling coders to get paid for freelance work with new media companies and tech startups in place of an interview, with the aim of landing a full-time position.

Currently operating in New York and San Francisco, visitors can search for listings that are suited to their abilities and interests. These listings take the form of short, part-time contracts for one-off projects ranging from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, enabling candidates to complete them by taking a holiday from their current job, or in their evenings and weekends. Potential employees are paid handsomely for the trial – typically between USD 3,000 and USD 7,000 a week – and the work is kept hidden from current employers if the candidate wishes. If the company and candidate are a good match, they can arrange a more permanent position.

GroupTalent currently includes gigs with brands such as Klout, Indiegogo and SpaceX, and – although it is exclusively for web developers at the moment – could expand into other industries in the future. Could this try-before-you-buy model work for other recruitment situations?

Spotted by: Murtaza Patel