The Escape Pod Group Launches Freelancer Platform Go Shortlist

The Escape Pod Group, an independent advertising agency collective in Chicago, today announced the launch of Go Shortlist, a free online platform connecting the industry’s top creative freelancers with top ad agencies. Go Shortlist uses a proprietary algorithm combined with a personalised talent assessment to rank the top creative freelancers, making it easier for agency hiring managers to find the best available talent when they need it most.

Unlike other talent recruiting sites, the Go Shortlist platform uses a proprietary algorithm to generate comprehensive freelancer stats based on five competitive factors: Awards, Press, Social Influence, Reviews from Bookings, and Instinct Score (based on a personal talent assessment by the Go Shortlist team). The system dynamically ranks talent in the database and makes it easy to sort through the Top 100 available freelancers if hiring managers want to limit their search to only the cream of the crop. Freelancers are incentive to continually update their profiles, thereby increasing their overall ranking and visibility.

“The gig economy is exploding so there is a lot of great freelance talent out there. But finding creative firepower is a constant struggle for agencies, especially under duress. When you need a heavy hitter to concept ideas for a pitch or you’re staffing up for a new business win, it’s difficult to find the right talent at the right time,” said Norm Bilow, Managing Director and Co-founder of The Escape Pod Group.

On the freelance side, it is equally challenging for talent to stay top of mind with recruiters and hiring managers. “Even if you’re a top creative freelancer, you still have to hustle and promote yourself across numerous platforms - from portfolio sites to LinkedIn to email and social media - to find a new gig. We created Go Shortlist to make the entire process of finding top talent faster and more efficient for everyone. It is the only site that enables freelancers to showcase all their cred in one place to reflect how they measure competitively against the best in the industry,” said Heather Hayden, Founder/CEO of Go Shortlist and Director of Talent at The Escape Pod Group.

The Go Shortlist site is free for both freelancers and agencies. “Go Shortlist is a solution to a problem that affects us all. Yes, it’s our IP, but at the core, it’s all about need. Agencies are always on the hunt to find the best freelance talent, and the best freelance talent needs to be found. By creating a single, dynamic site that aggregates the best talent for hiring managers to be able to find who they need quickly and easily, we all win—with the best creative output and a powerful system that feeds off hustle,” added Hayden.

The Go Shortlist beta site is launching with more than 250 registered senior-level freelancers and 14 top-notch agencies, ranging from large ad shops to independent boutiques. Currently the platform is focused on Chicago/Midwest agencies and nationwide creatives, with plans to ultimately expand in the future.

Go Shortlist was built by The Escape Pod Group’s digital arm, Ora Interactive.