University of Phoenix pilots skills-based recruitment platform for employers

The University of Phoenix is piloting a new skills-based job search platform, UOPX Talent Source, aimed at matching employers' skill needs with a talent pool of students and alumni. 

The project is part of the university's broader effort to create a career-focused ecosystem for working adult learners and employers.

Higher education institutions and employers face significant challenges in recruitment, particularly in identifying candidates with the necessary skills. The University of Phoenix’s new platform, UOPX Talent Source, wants to address this by allowing employers to identify students who possess the skills required for specific job openings.

Sandip Bhakta, Vice President of Career Services and Support at University of Phoenix, explains, "This platform seeks to bridge the gap between recruiters seeking skilled talent, and students who often feel they need to be 100% qualified before applying for jobs. We help employers identify talent pools based on skills while giving students the opportunity to apply for open positions."

UOPX Talent Source enables employers to access a skills-based job search platform where they can efficiently find and target candidates. Employers can upload job descriptions, which are then analysed to generate a list of required skills.

These descriptions are reviewed and validated by the employers, who can create a customised talent pool based on skill matches. Candidates whose skills align with the job requirements are then invited to apply through the Career Navigator platform.

The platform aims to support a more equitable talent screening process by enabling employers to adopt a skills-first approach to recruitment. This approach offers access to a diverse pool of candidates within the University of Phoenix student body.

UOPX Talent Source builds on the concepts established by the University’s Career Navigator platform, launched a year ago. The Career Navigator provides personalised career guidance and support to students and alumni, helping them navigate their career journeys with confidence. The new platform enhances this by directly connecting students with potential employers based on their skills.

Francisco Contreras, Senior Product Manager at the University of Phoenix, notes, "We are committed to thoroughly understanding the needs of our students. This includes their aspiring for professional growth, and employers seeking skilled talent to meet their demands."

UOPX Talent Source is designed to be a  streamlined recruitment process, with a dashboard that provides insights such as application views and click-through rates. 

Leo Goncalves, Vice President of Workforce Solutions Group at the University of Phoenix, shares, "Employers face many challenges to find skilled talent and can benefit from an array of tools that streamline the talent acquisition process. The UOPX Talent Source programme is part of the University’s holistic approach to identifying solutions that enhance employer success and talent mobility."