Why are industry giants threatened by the rising popularity of Wonolo? Is it only the integration of entry-level jobs, or is there more to the app? I recently helped a friend recruit a few people with the help of Wonolo, and I have a lot to say.
No resumes work that suits your style, a plethora of locations to choose from to work, and quick payments. These are a few of the quirks of working through one of the most terrific apps out there for recruiters and seekers of entry-level jobs.
I have used apps like Shiftsmart but recently tried Wonolo for some time, and I have a lot to say about this impressive platform that attempts to organize entry-level job recruitment and human resources, which for years, has been unorganized.
Is Wonolo Legit?
I was a dummy for the first couple of weeks on the app. But I knew if I had to understand the whole funnel, I would have actually to complete a whole transaction. So I decided to recruit a few people for a few ships to help my friend with loading a couple of ship containers.
Let us take a look at some of my takeaways from what I experienced.
Key Features
Here are some of the key features of the Wonolo app:
- Real-time matching: Both recruiters and job seekers match each other based on their desired outlooks.
- Flexibility: Jobs are offered on the basis of shifts. Job seekers have the flexibility to choose the time and location of their desired work.
- No contracts: You don’t have to go through lengthy compliance and jobs are offered both on a part-time as well as a full-time basis.
- Transparent rating: Both employees and employers are rated on the app, which helps the app understand both parties equally.
- EMS: The app also acts as a great employee management tool with features like in-app messaging and task management available at the disposal of companies and their staff.
- Secure payment: Workers get their payment from the app which makes them a reliable layer between the employers and employees.
- Training: The app also lists a range of training and skill development literature which helps employment seekers to get better at their jobs.
How does it work?
As things stand, Wonolo is active in 20 cities across the USA. Here are some prerequisites for not just getting benefits from the Wonolo app but to make the most of it.
- Age: You must be of a legal age to work. The app requires you to be at least 18 years old.
- Work permit: You must obtain a necessary work permit from the authorities.
- App: You must have the mobile app version of Wonolo installed on your phone and must use it with an active internet connection.
- Authentication: You must authenticate the information you provide on the app i.e., name, contact number, address etc.
- Bank account: You must link your bank account with the app for the app to make direct payments.
The app reached out to employers who need human resources for entry-level jobs. These jobs can either be in shifts or frequent occurrences.
Firstly, you sign up for the app, enter your location, and then search for the type of job you want or check the list of jobs available in your surroundings that match your profile (your skills, interests, etc). You can filter the job by the wages, distance, or by how soon it starts.
If you are interested in a particular job then tap on it and accept it. You will then be notified about the success of your enrollment along with the shift details. You can cancel the enrollment in case you can’t make it. Notify the app when you start and end your job and then rate the employer at the end of the job. The employer does the same.
The app pays you via Stripe once you are done with the job. The wages are on an hourly basis.
Safety & Security
In terms of payment after jobs, it is pretty much a secure experience. You will definitely receive your payment if you have completed your job successfully. The app plays an intermediary in case the employer defaults.
The canceling process is a little tougher for employees as they have to notify 12 hours in advance if they want to cancel the shift. Late cancellation limits your job access and lowers your access. Multiple violations may even prevent you from using the app. Meanwhile no such strict punishment is there for employers in case they cancel the shifts at the last minute.
In the privacy policy of the Wonolo app, they do admit that the data employment seekers share with them can be used for marketing and advertising, which makes your analytics like work schedules, locations, contact details, and work history accessible to third-party advertisers.
User Interface and Design
Wonolo has a pretty minimalistic user interface, with all the design done predominantly in white and yellow. White is the backdrop of the app, and all the call-to-action buttons and headers are in yellow. There is attention to detail, especially in listing the jobs where you can recognize an employer from the rounded thumbnail of their logo.
Among other impressive UX/UI aspects is the map-based search, which works very effectively. Overall the emphasis is on minimalism and not on exuberance.
User Reviews and Ratings
Most users seem very happy with the flexibility of accepting and canceling shifts. There isn’t a single complaint about payments or claims regarding payments. The app is rated 4.4 on the Play Store and 4.8 on the App Store, which is quite high according to the industry standards. Barring location based jobs (or the lack of it) is the only real concern among the users.
Pricing vs Value
The app is absolutely free to use for employment seekers. Employers have to pay a job listing price to list their jobs. After paying this listing fee, you are freed from sourcing, background checking, and managing the staff, as the app does all that for you.
If you are someone who needs a shift-based workforce very frequently, then Wonolo is pretty much ideal for you, and the price you pay to list your jobs is definitely worth it.
Wonolo App Alternatives
Shiftgig has been a popular app when it comes to matching employers and shift-based employment seekers. It aced the on-demand human resourcing before anyone could. Moonlighting is another very good alternative that focuses on creative and technical work apart from usual gigs.
Apps like TaskRabbit and Instawork also work on a concept similar to Wonolo. But as iterated earlier, the flexibility to find work, enroll for it, and cancel it is probably the highest in Wonolo.
Customer Service
There is a direct chat service available on the Wonolo app which addresses your common concerns. For advanced queries, you can always email the Wonolo support team or get in touch with them on social media. They are usually very quick to respond. I received a reply to my email on the same day.
There are plenty of videos, tutorials, and FAQs available on its website and across its social media handles for you to solve any of your queries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Wonolo pays you right after you finish your shifts. However, the amount may take from 24 hours to 7 days to reflect on your bank account.
The hourly wages on most listings on Wonolo are slightly above the minimum wages. You can expect to get paid anything between $10 and $15 per hour for your gigs on Wonolo.
The app does not charge any fees to find and enroll for a job or a gig. It charges those who want to list their gigs on the app.
Wonolo charges the companies who want to list their gigs on the app. Wonolo also runs a referral program which brings more traction on their app, which in return adds to their revenue.
Wrap Up!
Even after making active recruitments from the app, it was only yesterday that I discovered Wonolo stands for “Work Now Locally”. The app feels like a breeze, and by the looks of it, people are quite used to the whole concept these days. There is, of course, room for improvement in terms of transparency and equality for gig cancellations, but overall it is a pretty resourceful platform.
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