Hiresite prepares to expand nationwide, looks to expand staff soon

Detroit's Hiresite.com, an Internet start-up based out of downtown's Dime Building, specializes in finding people jobs and putting them to work. Putting them to work is the key feature. The company's founder, Corktown resident Ryan Nelson, says while most Internet job sites only care about putting people in touch with potential employers, his firm specializes in sealing the deal.

"We're worried about getting people hired," Nelson says. "We want to get people to work."

He hopes to do that with Hiresite soon, too. The year-old website just expanded its coverage area to all 50 states and is speaking with venture capital firms about taking the next step. If things go as planned, Nelson sees hiring a handful of people within the next six months.

Nelson floated around for a little bit in various jobs, becoming frustrated with sites such as Monster.com and Career.com. He considers them lacking when it came to user friendliness and imagined creating something simpler, a la Craigslist.

Nelson knew a lot of hiring took place outside of resumes and recommendations and wanted to use the web site as a way to get employers and jobseekers in the same room, such as a bar, to make the connections that fill jobs.

So far the idea is working, Nelson says. He choose Detroit because there are plenty of people looking for work (well known) and lots of companies looking for the right employees (not as well known). Nelson hopes to make more and more of these connections.

Source: Ryan Nelson, founder of Hiresite
Writer: Jon Zemke