With the onset of Covid 19, the working class took a huge hit with millions of people in India left jobless. Nirmit Parikh, a Stanford alumnus decided to take matters in his own hands and founded Apna, a digital hiring platform in India that connects organizations with masses of blue, grey, and entry-level white workers. Job seekers can create a profile on the site to include all their skills, education, and experience to search for jobs, contact the organization, schedule interviews, and get hired.
Meet the Founder
Nirmit got his bachelor’s from Nirma Institute of Technology in Instrumentation and Control Engineering and later went on to pursue an MBA from Stanford University. Coming from humble beginnings, he always had a knack for technology and innovation. At just 7 years old, he built a digital clock, and by the time he reached 13, he had already started learning robotics programming.
After completing his MBA, Nirmit Parekh joined Apple as part of the iPhone product and strategy team. While working at a prestigious company like Apple is a dream for many, Nirmit had a different vision. He recognized the challenges faced by workers in India’s unorganised blue-collar sector and decided to leave his job. In 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nirmit launched the company.
About the Organization
A mission-centric organization propelling India’s growth, Apna’s aspirations are strong. It seeks to empower the workforce to enable better professional opportunities between them and the workers. It connects people with employers from different industries and enhances its users’ career prospects.
At the core of Apna’s business is a mission to address the network gaps experienced by workers. Apna has developed an Android app available in multiple languages, offering over 70 categories. These categories are tailored to specialized professions such as carpenters, painters, and field sales representatives.
Through the app, users can interact with each other, sharing leads and career advice. Apna also provides resources for skill development, interview practice, and job enhancement. The company aims to further enhance its offerings by developing skilling courses, result- or job-based training, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
Partnerships With Other Companies
Apna has been involved in both government and private partnerships, such as the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the National Skill Development Corporation, and UNICEF YuWaah. Its clientele includes esteemed organizations such as BYJU’s, Flipkart, Zomato, Licious, Burger King, Zepto, Rapido, and PharmEasy. The entire job posting in less than five minutes makes connection with potential candidates easier for recruiters.
Social Media Strategy
Apna leverages social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram to share engaging content. Their social media posts focus on capturing users’ attention and fostering relatability. By utilizing these channels, Apna expands its online presence, reaches a broader audience, and generates interest in the platform. Their notable campaign, #ApnaKaamAyega, launched in April 2022, aimed to highlight Apna’s ability to connect job seekers with relevant opportunities.
Apna plans to launch more courses in sectors like sales and data support services to widen the scope of upskilling and create job opportunities in emerging technologies. Furthermore, Apna has introduced an international jobs feature, expanding career horizons by assisting Indians in finding work opportunities in the global market. These efforts align with Apna’s commitment to enhancing job prospects for its users.
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