UpSquad

?? Most workforce programs don’t struggle with interest—they struggle with conversion. Thousands of people explore workforce training and certification programs every day—whether it’s in healthcare, CDL, drone pilot operations, or private security. But most never complete the process. ?? Why do they fall off? ? They don’t understand the exact steps to qualify ? They don’t know where to train or how to pay for it ? They get overwhelmed by confusing or incomplete information ?? What’s missing? A structured, step-by-step system that guides them from interest to enrollment. ?? Custom chat solutions bridge this gap. Instead of leaving candidates to figure it out on their own, a well-built chat system provides: ? Personalized career guidance based on skills & goals ? Clear instructions on training & certification requirements ? Financial aid & tuition assistance insights ? A direct path from exploration to program enrollment ?? It’s time to rethink workforce engagement. Static websites and job boards aren’t enough—converting interest into program registrations requires interactive, guided solutions.

Excited to share this insightful Jobs for the Future (JFF) webinar featuring UpSquad's Co-founder, Venki Mandapati, and Skillsgapp's Co-founder, Tina Zwolinski as they discuss how apprenticeships are transforming workforce development! ?? In this session, we dive into how UpSquad and Skillionaire Games by skillsgapp are empowering organizations with innovative digital solutions to bridge the skills gap, connect talent to opportunities, and drive economic mobility. ???? Check out the full conversation and see how we're helping our customers scale their workforce and training programs! ???? #Apprenticeships #WorkforceDevelopment #UpSquad #Skillsgapp #FutureOfWork #JFF #TalentStrategy https://lnkd.in/eV9_QfJE

?? Healthcare hiring isn’t like other industries. In retail or hospitality, job seekers can apply and start working within days or weeks—the average time to hire in retail is just 24.6 days. ? Healthcare? It’s a different story. The average time to fill an entry-level healthcare role is 49 days—and that doesn’t even account for the months of required training and certification before a candidate can even apply. Many potential workers spend 6–9 months just getting qualified before they can enter the workforce. ?? The problem? Job boards don’t solve this challenge. Posting an opening for a Medical Assistant or Phlebotomist doesn’t answer: ? Do I need certification? ? Where can I train? ? How much will it cost—and can I get assistance? ? What’s my career path beyond this role? ?? Without clear guidance, many potential healthcare workers never take the first step. ?? What’s the solution? ?? Custom chat-driven career guidance. Workforce boards, training providers & healthcare systems must actively support candidates through the entire journey—matching them with roles, training, and funding. ?? If other industries have streamlined hiring with modern engagement tools, why is healthcare still relying on outdated job boards?

?? Chat isn’t just a support tool—it’s a conversion engine. ??? Retail & E-commerce: Brands like Amazon & Walmart use AI chatbots to recommend products & assist customers in real time—boosting engagement & sales. ?? Banking & Finance: Financial institutions leverage custom chat to guide users through loans, credit applications & account management 24/7. ?? Travel & Hospitality: Airlines & hotel brands use AI-powered chatbots to handle bookings, provide real-time travel updates & offer personalized recommendations—boosting reservations & customer satisfaction. ?? Meanwhile, healthcare workforce stakeholders are stuck in the past. Many still rely on static job boards & outdated recruitment tactics, failing to meet the expectations of a tech-native workforce. ?? Reality check: ?? Today’s job seekers prefer instant, digital engagement—not forms & PDFs. ?? 80% abandon chat within 2 minutes if they don’t get specific answers. ?? Custom chatbots convert 50% higher than static forms. ?? It’s time for healthcare workforce leaders to catch up. Chat isn’t just for FAQs—it’s a proven driver of engagement & conversion.

The Missing Piece in Healthcare Workforce Chat ?? Most career, training, and workforce organizations already use chat, but it’s stuck in one of two extremes: ? Basic “receptionist” chatbots – These can answer simple FAQs, direct users to a PDF, or connect them to a live agent… but they can’t provide real career guidance or move candidates forward. ? Generic LLMs – Tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Perplexity deliver broad, AI-generated answers—but not the exact information an organization wants users to receive. The result? Misinformation, dead ends, and lost conversions. The real answer is in the middle: CUSTOM CHAT ? A well-built custom chatbot is trained specifically for an organization’s goals, audience, and mission—giving users the right information at the right time while ensuring high engagement and conversion rates. ? But here’s the challenge: custom chat solutions are hard to build. Hiring a general chatbot provider won’t cut it—you need a specialist who understands the specific needs of your industry. ? In entry-level healthcare workforce engagement, the true measure of success is conversion—turning career interest into program registrations and job placements. ?? The Data Proves It: ?? 65% of users prefer chat-based career guidance over phone calls or emails. ??80% of chat users abandon within 2 minutes if the chatbot can’t provide granular, relevant information. ??Custom chatbots convert 50% higher than static forms. ??Custom chatbots create 180% higher engagement than traditional web content and 110% higher than commercial social content. ?? The bottom line: If you want a chatbot to truly move the needle, it has to be custom-built for your workforce needs.

?? Why Don’t More People Start a Career in Healthcare? Unlike retail, hospitality, customer service, or gig jobs, healthcare careers require more than just submitting an application—most entry-level roles require training, certification, and financial investment before candidates can even get started. For many, the two biggest barriers are: ?? Not knowing where to start—fear of taking the first step because they don’t know who to ask or what to do. ?? Cost concerns—assuming certification is too expensive without understanding tuition assistance options. ?? Here’s where chat-based engagement changes everything. ?? 18-32-year-olds prefer chat-based tools over traditional web content. Chat allows them to ask real questions and get personalized feedback without self-consciousness. ?? A custom chat solution answers critical career questions step by step, guiding potential candidates from curiosity to certification without overwhelming them. https://lnkd.in/gfT74Dgt

?? The Next Generation of Job Seekers Expects More Healthcare faces a growing workforce gap, but many job seekers aren’t engaging with traditional recruitment methods. Why? Because the way they search for jobs has changed. ?? 72% of job seekers prefer chat-based tools for research and education ?? 84% of job seekers find custom chat solutions beneficial ? Over 58% of Gen Z expects AI-driven career guidance Today’s workforce—especially those transitioning from retail, hospitality, or gig work—has grown up with on-demand, personalized digital experiences. Yet, most healthcare recruitment still relies on static job boards and outdated career pages. The result? Missed opportunities, fewer applicants, and higher turnover. ?? What needs to change? Health systems and workforce organizations must embrace modern, interactive solutions that engage candidates where they are—through personalized chat-based career guidance. https://lnkd.in/eb9cmYxj

?? The Growing Workforce Gap in Entry-Level Healthcare ?? Demand for entry-level workers will grow by 15% on average, yet many health systems struggle to attract and retain talent in frontline roles. ?? 59% of entry-level healthcare workers leave within their first year! ?? Many potential candidates NEVER ENTER HEALTHCARE because they don’t understand the steps required to get started. ?? Traditional job boards fail to engage this audience because they don’t provide career education, guidance, or support. For many job seekers, especially those from retail, hospitality, and gig work, the process of entering healthcare is unclear and overwhelming. Without a structured way to explore careers, get matched to the right roles, and navigate certification requirements, high turnover and low applicant conversion persist. ?? What needs to change? Health systems must take an active role in candidate education, ensuring potential hires understand their career options before they apply. https://lnkd.in/eb9cmYxj

As we continue to evolve and upgrade our platform to make it more appealing to our current and future customers, we welcome the New Year and our newest partner Memphis Medical District Collaborative on board. We are excited to see how our partnership will help MMDC scale up its services using our unique workforce development platform. #HappyNewYear #workforcedevelopmentplatform #MMDC #healthcarejobs

Thank you for the mention, American Society for Reproductive Medicine - ASRM. We are always happy to hear about how our virtual platform is connecting people to opportunities that drive their personal and professional growth! #professionalnetwork #workforcedevelopment