When some of his friends struggled to find qualified employees, Kevin Sada realized there was a significant gap in the job market. Paid job postings on social media and existing platforms were not delivering the desired results, while job seekers often failed to find opportunities that matched their skills and preferences. This challenge led to the creation of Portali Punës – an innovative platform designed to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers, bringing a more structured and transparent approach to recruitment in Albania.
But what makes this startup unique, and how is it gaining ground in a competitive market full of challenges? We explore this in an interview with the founder of Portali Punës, Kevin Sada.
How did the idea for Portali Punës come about?
The idea for Portali Punës was born last summer when some of my friends were looking to expand their teams—some owned family businesses, while others managed larger enterprises. In conversations with them, they mentioned that they had posted paid job listings on various social media platforms and websites. However, they received few or no responses and lacked clarity on how long their job listings would remain active or how visible they were.
As a suggestion from these friends, the idea came to me to develop a platform that would create a bridge between businesses and job seekers, helping both sides navigate the employment process more effectively.
What Is your mission? What problem are you solving?
The mission of Portali Punës is simple: to create a space where businesses can find employees, and job seekers can find the jobs they desire.
The primary issue we aim to solve is the lack of a structured and transparent platform for employers and job seekers in Albania. Businesses often post job openings but receive few applications or lack clarity on the effectiveness of their listings. On the other hand, job seekers frequently struggle to find suitable job opportunities that match their experience and preferences or lack the time and resources to stay updated on new job postings.
What innovation or unique features does your startup bring?
Currently, the platform is in its early stage (MVP) and offers several key features:
For Businesses:
- The ability to create a profile with company information, industry details, contact information, website, and social media links.
- Free job postings.
- Insights on profile views and job listing performance.
- A detailed report on engagement with job posts on our social media channels (views, comments, shares & saves).
For Job Seekers:
- Advanced job search filters by keywords, profession, city, job type, salary, etc.
- The ability to build a free online CV in under five minutes.
- Automated notifications for new job opportunities via Email, SMS, or WhatsApp.
- A blog section with career advice and tips for businesses and job seekers.
What are the challenges of running a startup in Albania, especially in your industry? Has it been difficult to form a team for the project?
Every beginning is challenging, and the Albanian market is no exception. Some of the biggest obstacles include:
- Lack of trust in new platforms: Many businesses and job seekers still prefer traditional methods or existing job portals with established user bases.
- Competition: Competing with platforms that have been in the market for years and already have a large audience.
- Funding: Albanian startups face limited financial support, making it difficult to scale quickly and develop additional platform features.
As for building a team, I wouldn’t consider it a major challenge. From the beginning, I have worked with people who believe in the platform’s vision and are committed to its growth. Currently, we are a small but highly efficient team.
How have customers responded to your product?
The feedback has been diverse. Many have praised the initiative and thanked us for helping them find employees or job opportunities. We’ve also received constructive criticism and suggestions on how to improve the platform further.
Overall, for every new feature we have introduced, the response has been positive.
Who is your main audience, and how are you reaching them?
Our core audience includes:
- Businesses looking to recruit staff.
- Job seekers searching for new career opportunities.
How we reach them:
- Social Media – Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & LinkedIn.
- Videos with Albanian influencers – Some are informative, while others use humor to engage audiences.
- SEO & Google Ads – Optimizing the website for search engines like Google Search.
- Word of Mouth – Recommendations from satisfied users.
What are your future plans?
The future of Portali Punës holds great potential.
Upcoming Features:
- Premium options for businesses.
- Advanced algorithms to match job seekers with relevant job openings.
- Automation of the application process.
Long-Term Vision:
Some businesses have suggested creating a dedicated page where they can not only post job listings but also promote their products, training sessions, seminars, webinars, and certifications. While these ideas are part of our long-term strategy, our primary focus right now is expanding our audience and building a strong community.
With Portali Punës, Kevin Sada is reshaping the Albanian job market by providing a smarter, more effective way for businesses and job seekers to connect. Could this be the future of recruitment in Albania? The early signs suggest so.
0 comments