Meet Biagio Arobba, the chief technology officer at Loophire.
Tell us a little about your business. – We offer the same quality as a high-end recruiting agency but made affordable for small businesses. We help small businesses that are growing and need to establish a consistent recruiting process. This might be one person who is doing everything (we call it the “Chief Everything Officer”) and they need the extra hand in preparing the job information, doing a labor market analysis, finding candidates, screening them, and determining who to invite for an interview. We explain the importance of nurturing candidates, and we help make sure that hiring decisions are made in a timely manner. This results in a great experience all around. Hiring is tough enough as it is. This is why our mission is: to create the best hiring experience in the world.
How did you get started in the business? – I sort of fell into this industry. I met Chris Jones, owner of Loophire, through a Chamber of Commerce program, and we just clicked. Since working at Loophire, I have learned a ton about the industry and it has given me a new perspective on both the hiring side and the job seeker side.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Technology and startups are both challenging in their own way, but together it creates an extra challenge. There are techniques like “Scrum” that help us plan a realistic development schedule, and there are techniques like “Jobs-to-be-Done” that help make sure we are meeting the customer’s true needs as a growing startup.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – A few years ago, I was invited to participate in the Maverick Innovation Program at UNO. At the time, they were running a Lean Startup course in the evening for startup founders. As a technical person, I really benefited from the new perspective, and I took the time to learn as much as I could. Since then, I have been able to become better attune to the marketing and business side of a company and connect the dots on the technology side. At the end of the day, it’s all about the customer.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – I used to work on little projects here and there as a creative outlet until I realized how much it takes away from family time. So now, I try not to plan much so I can be on hand (and mentally present) for whoever needs me at home.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – 1) “A great experience has more long-term value than a great item.” 2) “Always try to do something challenging, but not overwhelming.” Some great advice is to spend time in areas you know or are familiar with. That way you can build confidence and figure out where that challenging horizon is at. If you’re faced with a difficult choice along the way, then by definition there is no right answer, so just make a choice.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – My all-time favorite is The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Szechuan Express. They are family-owned, they have been in Omaha for a long time, and they still make homemade dumplings by hand. Oh, and this is also where I met my wife over 20 years ago, so it has some sentimental value for me.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 401-7559; biagio@loophire.com; loophire.com. You can follow me on LinkedIn as well!