CareerPRISM: Harnessing Atala PRISM for Next-Gen Recruitment Solutions

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Houssem Benmahmoud

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

100000

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will develop CareerPRISM, a recruitment platform leveraging Atala PRISM and Cardano blockchain, to provide secure, transparent, and accessible job recruitment with user-controlled identities.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The specific components that will not be shared as open source include:

1. Core algorithms and proprietary models: We will keep our core algorithms and proprietary models as closed-source to protect the unique methodologies and innovations we have developed. These components may involve advanced data analytics, machine learning models, or proprietary techniques that provide a distinct advantage in the recruitment process.
2. Specific implementation details: While we recognize the importance of transparency, some specific implementation details of the CareerPRISM platform, especially those related to security measures and data handling, will not be publicly disclosed to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the system.
3. Intellectual property and trade secrets: We will take appropriate measures to safeguard our intellectual property, trade secrets, and proprietary knowledge that have been developed during the project. This includes protecting specific algorithms, methodologies, or unique features that contribute to the project's success and competitiveness.

By keeping these components proprietary, we aim to maintain the value and commercial viability of the project. However, we remain committed to fostering collaboration and will actively engage with the Cardano community through open discussions, sharing high-level insights, and collaborating on non-proprietary aspects of the project whenever possible.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - The project aims to create a robust recruitment platform that enhances job opportunities, supports economic growth, and promotes fair employment practices.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - By reducing unconscious bias and discrimination in the recruitment process, the project contributes to reducing inequalities in access to job opportunities and promotes a more inclusive and equitable society.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - The use of blockchain technology and self-sovereign identity principles in the recruitment platform fosters transparency, trust, and accountability, aligning with the goal of building strong institutions and promoting peace and justice.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution, CareerPRISM, aims to revolutionize the recruitment process by leveraging the power of Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain. The platform addresses the significant issues plaguing traditional recruitment systems, such as lack of transparency, security, accessibility, and potential for unconscious bias and discrimination.

Traditional recruitment systems often involve multiple intermediaries, each handling sensitive personal data, leading to privacy concerns and potential data breaches. Moreover, the verification of credentials and work history is often a time-consuming and error-prone process. CareerPRISM addresses these issues by empowering individuals with control over their own identities and credentials. Using the principles of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), users can securely and privately share their credentials with potential employers, enhancing the privacy and security of the job seekers and providing employers with a trustworthy means of verifying credentials.

One of the most significant issues with traditional recruitment systems is the potential for unconscious bias and discrimination. Despite laws and regulations designed to prevent discrimination in hiring, unconscious biases can still creep into the recruitment process. These biases can be based on a candidate's race, gender, age, or even their name. For example, studies have shown that candidates with names that sound African-American, Middle Eastern, or Asian are less likely to be called for interviews compared to candidates with "Western" sounding names, even when their qualifications are identical (Bertrand & Mullainathan, 2004; Kang et al., 2016; Oreopoulos, 2011).

CareerPRISM reduces the potential for unconscious bias and discrimination by verifying credentials without revealing unnecessary personal information, allowing hiring decisions to be made based on qualifications rather than personal characteristics.

Furthermore, traditional recruitment systems often lack accessibility. Individuals without formal education or legal documentation may find it challenging to participate in the traditional job market. CareerPRISM is designed to be accessible to all, including those who may not have access to technology or legal documentation. This is achieved through the concept of guardianship in SSI, where a holder of human and legal rights can delegate the authority of their DIDs to another party. This feature can help bring more people into the job market, reducing social and economic inequality.

CareerPRISM will engage a wide range of stakeholders, including job seekers, employers, and educational institutions. The platform will offer training and support to users through the Atala PRISM Pioneer Program, helping them to understand and use the platform effectively. We will demonstrate our impact by tracking key metrics such as the number of users, the number of credentials verified, and user satisfaction levels. We will also seek feedback from our users to continuously improve our platform.

CareerPRISM is important to Cardano because it showcases the practical application of Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain. By demonstrating how these technologies can revolutionize a real-world process like recruitment, we can encourage more people and organizations to explore and adopt them. This aligns with Cardano's mission of driving positive global change through blockchain technology.

References:

• Bertrand, M., & Mullainathan, S. (2004). Are Emily and Greg More Employable Than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination. The American Economic Review, 94(4), 991-1013.

Link to Study

• Kang, S. K., DeCelles, K. A., Tilcsik, A., & Jun, S. (2016). Whitened Résumés: Race and Self-Presentation in the Labor Market. Administrative Science Quarterly, 61(3), 469-502.

Link to Study

• Oreopoulos, P. (2011). Why Do Skilled Immigrants Struggle in the Labor Market? A Field Experiment with Thirteen Thousand Resumes. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 3(4), 148-171.

Link to Study

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.

CareerPRISM directly addresses the challenge of bringing together stakeholders to accelerate the adoption and product-market-fit of Atala PRISM. By creating a recruitment platform that leverages Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain, we are not only providing a practical application of these technologies but also demonstrating their potential to revolutionize real-world processes.

CareerPRISM will engage a wide range of stakeholders, including job seekers, employers, and educational institutions. By bringing these stakeholders together, we can facilitate conversations about interoperability, credential schemas, and technology gaps, which are key to the success of any Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) project. This aligns with the challenge's focus on convening stakeholders to talk through details of interoperability and technology gaps.

In terms of benefits to the Cardano ecosystem, CareerPRISM will contribute in several ways:

Driving Adoption: By demonstrating the practical application of Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain, CareerPRISM can encourage more people and organizations to explore and adopt these technologies. This can lead to increased usage of the Cardano blockchain and wider adoption of Atala PRISM.

Growing the Community: CareerPRISM will attract a wide range of users, including job seekers, employers, and educational institutions. This can bring new members into the Cardano community, contributing to its growth and diversity.

Solving a Key Problem: CareerPRISM addresses the significant issues plaguing traditional recruitment systems, such as lack of transparency, security, accessibility, and potential for unconscious bias and discrimination. By solving these issues, CareerPRISM can showcase the potential of blockchain technology to address real-world problems.

Strengthening the Ecosystem: By engaging a wide range of stakeholders and facilitating conversations about interoperability and technology gaps, CareerPRISM can contribute to the strengthening of the Cardano ecosystem.

In terms of quantifying the impact, we aim to attract thousands of users within the first year of launching the platform. We also aim to verify thousands of credentials during this period. These are realistic targets given the growing demand for secure, transparent, and accessible recruitment solutions.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team is well-equipped to deliver the CareerPRISM project with high levels of trust and accountability. We have a strong combination of skills, experience, and partnerships that position us uniquely to execute this project successfully.

1. Experienced Team: Our team includes a CRM Consultant and Atala PRISM Pioneer with 5 years of experience optimizing CRM solutions, and a Ph.D. holder in Digital-Servitization and Statistics and Applied Economics Engineer with extensive knowledge in marketing, strategy, and B2B consulting. This diverse mix of skills and experience ensures that we have the necessary expertise to handle all aspects of the project, from technical development to marketing and strategy.
2. Partnership with PeakSoft GmbH: Our partnership with PeakSoft GmbH, a software development company specialized in Software Quality Assurance and Blockchain Development, further strengthens our capability to deliver this project. PeakSoft's team includes Plutus and Atala PRISM pioneers, which ensures that they have a deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem and the technical expertise to develop, test, and assure the quality of our solution.
3. Proven Track Record: Our team members and partners have a proven track record of delivering successful projects. This demonstrates our ability to execute complex projects and deliver results.

In terms of managing funds properly, we will implement a rigorous financial management process that includes:

1. Budget Planning: We will develop a detailed budget plan that outlines how the funds will be used. This plan will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that the funds are being used efficiently and effectively.
2. Financial Reporting: We will provide regular financial reports that detail how the funds have been used. These reports will be transparent and will be shared with the Cardano community and other stakeholders.
3. Audit and Review: We will conduct regular audits and reviews to ensure that the funds are being used appropriately and in accordance with the project's objectives.

These measures will ensure that we manage the funds properly and maintain high levels of trust and accountability throughout the project.

[Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Project Kick-off and Planning (Month 1)

Key Activities:

• Finalize project plan
• Set up communication and collaboration tools
• Kick-off meeting with the team and stakeholders

Success Criteria:

• Project plan finalized and approved
• Communication and collaboration tools set up
• Kick-off meeting successfully conducted

Milestone 2: Design and Development of the Platform (Months 2-5)

Key Activities:

• Define user requirements
• Design user interface and experience
• Develop the platform's core features
• Integrate Atala PRISM for secure identity management
• Implement Atala PRISM's verifiable credentials for credential verification
• Leverage Atala PRISM's privacy features for data protection

Success Criteria:

• User requirements defined
• User interface and experience designed
• Core features developed
• Integration with Atala PRISM completed

Milestone 3: Testing and Quality Assurance (Months 6-7)

Key Activities:

• Conduct functional and non-functional testing
• Perform security audits
• Fix bugs and issues identified during testing
• Validate the integrity of Atala PRISM integration

Success Criteria:

• Functional and non-functional testing completed
• Security audits conducted
• All critical bugs and issues fixed

Milestone 4: Governance Framework Development and User Training (Months 8-9)

Key Activities:

• Develop a governance framework for the platform
• Define roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
• Establish decision-making processes and protocols
• Implement mechanisms for transparency and accountability
• Develop user manuals and guides
• Conduct user training sessions

Success Criteria:

• Governance framework developed
• Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders defined
• Decision-making processes and protocols established
• Mechanisms for transparency and accountability implemented
• User manuals and guides developed
• User training sessions conducted

Milestone 5: Platform Launch and Marketing (Month 10)

Key Activities:

• Launch the platform
• Conduct marketing and promotional activities
• Gather user feedback

Success Criteria:

• Platform successfully launched
• Marketing and promotional activities conducted
• User feedback gathered

Milestone 6: Post-Launch Support and Maintenance (Months 11-12)

Key Activities:

• Provide ongoing support to users
• Monitor platform performance
• Implement updates and improvements based on user feedback
• Maintain compatibility with Atala PRISM updates

Success Criteria:

• Ongoing support provided to users
• Platform performance monitored
• Updates and improvements implemented based on user feedback

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Houssem BENMAHMOUD: He is a CRM Consultant and Atala PRISM Pioneer. He brings 5 years of experience as a Sales Engineer and CRM key User within different international companies, optimizing CRM solutions. He will be responsible for project management, stakeholder engagement, and overseeing the overall execution of the project.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houssem-benmahmoud

Dr. Tihnhinane TAZAIRT: She is a Ph.D. in Digital-Servitization and Statistics and Applied Economics Engineer. She brings extensive knowledge in marketing, strategy, and B2B consulting. Se will be responsible for the marketing and promotion of the platform, as well as strategic planning.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinhinane-tazairt

PeakSoft GmbH: Our technical partner, PeakSoft GmbH, is a software development company based in Germany specialized in Software Quality Assurance and Blockchain Development. Their team includes Plutus and Atala PRISM pioneers, which further strengthens their understanding of the Cardano ecosystem and their ability to deliver on this project. They will be responsible for the technical development, testing, and quality assurance of our solution.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Milestone 1: Project Kick-off and Planning (15k ADA)

• Project planning and management
• Communication and collaboration tools
• Kick-off meeting and stakeholder engagement

Milestone 2: Design and Development of the Platform (30k ADA)

• User requirements definition
• User interface and experience design
• Platform development
• Integration with Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain

Milestone 3: Testing and Quality Assurance (20k ADA)

• Functional and non-functional testing
• Security audits
• Bug fixing

Milestone 4: Governance Framework Development and User Training (15k ADA)

• Develop a governance framework for the platform
• Define roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
• Establish decision-making processes and protocols
• Implement mechanisms for transparency and accountability
• Develop user manuals and guides
• Conduct user training sessions

Milestone 5: Platform Launch and Marketing (10k ADA)

• Platform launch
• Marketing and promotional activities
• Gathering of user feedback

Milestone 6: Post-Launch Support and Maintenance (10k ADA)

• Ongoing user support
• Platform performance monitoring
• Updates and improvements based on user feedback
• Maintain compatibility with Atala PRISM updates

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The cost of the CareerPRISM project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem for several reasons:

1. Innovative Solution: The project will deliver an innovative recruitment platform that leverages the power of Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain. This is a unique solution that addresses a real-world problem, providing value to both job seekers and employers.
2. Promotion of Atala PRISM and Cardano: By demonstrating the practical application of Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain, the project will promote these technologies and encourage their wider adoption. This will contribute to the growth and success of the Cardano ecosystem.
3. Fair and Equitable Hiring Practices: The project will promote fair and equitable hiring practices by minimizing the potential for unconscious bias and discrimination in recruitment processes. This aligns with Cardano's mission of promoting fairness and equality.
4. Experienced and Skilled Team: The project team consists of experienced professionals with a strong understanding of the Cardano ecosystem. The cost of the project includes fair compensation for their skills and expertise.
5. Partnership with PeakSoft GmbH: Our partnership with PeakSoft GmbH, a software development company specialized in Software Quality Assurance and Blockchain Development, ensures that we have the technical expertise to deliver on this project. The cost of their services is included in the project budget and represents value for money given their expertise and experience.

The costs of the project have been carefully calculated based on the scope of work, the complexity of the tasks, and the time and resources required to complete them. They are in line with the average wage in our country and typical freelance rates in our industry. We have also taken into account the costs of software tools, marketing and promotional activities, and user support.

In conclusion, we believe that the CareerPRISM project represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem. It will deliver a unique and innovative solution, promote the adoption of Atala PRISM and the Cardano blockchain, and contribute to the mission of promoting fairness and equality.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agrees to Fund Rules and also that data in the submission form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept