Episode 40: DSM High School Students Find Opportunities Through New Software Program

Kiki Levy is just 18 years old and already the founder and CEO for Better HireS. The company provides opportunities and connections for high school students to find meaningful work experiences to help determine whether they might want to continue on a future career path in that industry. She talked with The Partnership’s Mike Colwell about how this business idea come to life.

Getting Started

Going into her junior year of high school, Kiki says she received a lot of support from Roosevelt High School teachers and administration as she worked on Better HireS. With so many students from different backgrounds, the school district is sensitive to the challenges these students face and is very equity focused.

The Better HireS platform is utilized by both local companies and Roosevelt students. The initial partnership begins with the high school student’s interest. The student can send an email through the Better HireS system to show their interest with a specific company.

In the future, Kiki hopes to add a blog component to assist students who may not have previously written professional communication or put together a resume. She’d also like to add a messaging function to the website, as well as expand more into Greater Des Moines (DSM) and eventually the entire state of Iowa.

A Focus on Marketing

Kiki says there’s a concerted effort to reach out to students who might not have phones or who might need to be made aware of the opportunities that are available to them. By focusing on social media and word of mouth, as well as email marketing, Kiki hopes to increase name recognition in school districts outside of Roosevelt.

DSM businesses have been open to work with Better HireS students. Marketing jobs, in particular, have been a focus for these businesses and offer ways for students to use their artistic skills in positions such as graphic design.

Troubleshooting During Growth

One problem Kiki has run into as Better HireS continues to grow is finding ways to be searchable without outrageous spending. Students and businesses are interested but the numbers need to increase so that the right matches can be made. This is a focus for Kiki as she takes the company into its next phase.

Small Business and Startup Stories DSM was a podcast previously produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. For more information on small businesses and startup resources, sign up for our Small Business Resources Newsletter, read DSM Success Stories or check out our blog posts.