Anyone who has ever worked in a dead-end job can attest to the fact that it can be soul-crushing. You get in a funk, where the only thing keeping you going is the fear of being unemployed. In a way, this is worse than being unemployed. At least when you are unemployed, there is a goal, a mission, something you are after. Working a dead end job just sucks the motivation out of you. One startup, Good.co is looking to help people get out of this loop. Good.co is, “self-discovery platform and network for a new generation of professionals looking for more meaning in their careers.”1 The Good.co team was kind enough to answer a few questions for us, and explain what that quote really means:
Good.Co
What is Good.co?
Good.Co is a science-backed self-discovery platform and network designed for a new generation of professionals looking for more meaning in both their careers and personal lives.
Who is Good.co aimed at?
Good.Co primarily targets young professionals seeking greater meaning in their careers and personal lives – generally speaking, those within the Millennial age group.
Why did you guys build Good.co?
The time and cost to hire today is the highest it’s ever been. 50% of new hires don’t last more than 18 months due to culture misfit. While the Internet has solved sourcing problems, it has paralyzed hiring. Meanwhile, over 70% of Americans report feeling disengaged at work, and in turn, this is costing American companies $450 – $550 billion a year.
How is your product different from what is currently available?
We’ve managed to blend science and pop culture to create a product that people enjoy using. When receiving feedback from users, we tend to hear two words repeatedly: “fun” and “accurate”.
On Good.Co, users take fun, science-backed quizzes on a socially connected platform and receive custom insights showing them how to get ahead in their careers. The insights Good.Co provides users with go one step further than traditional personality assessments. Instead of simply telling users that they’re an introvert, we go one step further and tell them what type of introvert they are, how they interact in the workplace, the type of environment they should seek out, weaknesses they should be aware of, and how others perceive them.
The Good.Co app also features a unique social platform that not only help people discover what their unique strengths are, but also allows them to learn the work styles of their coworkers, manager and more importantly, how they can build better relationships and thrive in their unique workplace culture.
Tell us your founding story. Was there an “ah ha” moment?
More focus than ever before is being put on the importance of workplace happiness and culture fit at work. Yet the idea of culture fit still remains a buzzword, and is difficult to define. We are decoding the science behind it and building the framework for workplace happiness to impact both people and companies. Unlike traditional workplace assessments, Good.Co is built for both job seekers and companies alike. Our goal is to empower job seekers and provide them with the information they need to discover workplace happiness.
Tell us about your founding team and their backgrounds.
Samar Birwadker (CEO) – previously worked as a senior brand strategist and insights manager for AKQA, Landor Associates and Schawk. Subbu Balakrishnan (CTO) – led technology practices at Razorfish, AKQA and others. Dr. Kerry Schofield – researcher at King’s College, London; chartered member of the British Psychological Society and member of the Royal Society of Medicine.
What’s the next step? What are your short-term goals?
We’re continuing to evolve and improve upon the consumer app, adding more depth and more engagement opportunities for the user. We’ll be launching the Android version within the coming weeks. We have an employer product in the pipeline (which we’ve been bombarded with requests for!) but are focusing on perfecting the consumer product before moving to the enterprise version.
