Quality Time with Qwick: What Jill Erickson Wants You to Know About Working for a Startup in the Gig Economy

Qwick Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Baxter recently kicked off a series of “Quality Time with Qwick” interviews. In each conversation, he and a top company executive discuss corporate culture, leadership, life at a fast-growing startup, and what it’s like to be part of the Qwick team.

In this Quality Time with Qwick Q&A, Jamie talks with Chief Marketplace Officer Jill Erickson.

Jaime Baxter: To start, tell us about your career path and what attracted you to Qwick.

Jill Erickson: I joined Qwick in 2020 as the Chief Revenue Officer responsible for the demand side of the marketplace. I’ve since become the Chief Marketplace Officer, overseeing and supporting both operations and demand for the marketplace.

I’ve spent my whole career in technology and talent, and I’ve always been passionate about connecting great talent with great employers. A former colleague who is passionate about Qwick introduced me to the organization. We’re both here now, working toward this exciting mission of successfully matching three million Professional shifts in 30 U.S. cities by the end of 2024. The on-demand gig business model that Qwick has developed is truly a game changer.

JB: The last two years have been a roller coaster for so many of us. As you reflect on your work, what have you learned?

JE: The Qwick team started 2021 wondering how our Business Partners would re-engage as the pandemic situation changed. We talked to all types of businesses about their predictions, and they believed that people wanted to get back to normal. Most also recognized a forthcoming labor shortage.

Qwick’s traditional value proposition was to solve for things like call-offs, turnover, quality, and seasonality. What’s meaningful to me is that we added a special topic to our value prop: recovery. Many of our Partners could not have reopened without our Professionals, and some struggle even today. Not everyone wants to work full time, and lots of people prefer a flexible work schedule. Qwick solves this problem.

We worked hard to understand the landscape and adjust. The forecast we put together in January 2021 was changed five times. In the end, Qwick grew 3x compared to our original forecast. The lesson I learned is to never give up.

JB: What qualities do you see in Qwick’s best Business Partners?

JE: We rate our Business Partners according to a “Business Qwick Score,” or BQS. Successful Partners really pay attention to what is enticing and important to our Professionals. We’re always looking for quality, of course. Great Partners pay well and don’t have complicated compliance requirements for our Professionals. Their managers also enter shifts in advance, so Professionals can plan ahead.

JB: And what about Professionals? What helps someone shine on the Qwick platform?

JE: Our philosophy is to create the best experience possible. That increases the lifetime value for both our Professionals and our Partners on the platform.

Qwick’s Partners rate Professionals based on their performance and behavior. Professionals who do well have proven experience in the skill they sign up for. They’re reliable. They’re professional. They’re personable. They show up on time. Professionals who earn five-star ratings get requested back more often.

JB: Let’s talk leadership, for a moment. How do you motivate your team?

JE: My team is growing really, really fast. In January 2021, we were just a couple of people. Now, there are over 100 people on the marketplace team. Demand and operations have grown so much. I’m constantly thinking about what I can do to make the team successful. In book terms, that’s called servant leadership, and any conversation I have with a team member is about what I can do to help them succeed.

Transparency is huge, too. Being open and honest helps bring out the best in each team member. At the same time, I’m always looking for ways to promote and recognize great performance and behavior. Whether it’s somebody who opened the door for me or somebody who brought in a million-dollar account, people are doing great things every day.

JB: In your view, what makes Qwick a great place to work?

JE: Qwick is different than any company that I’ve ever worked for. It is the epitome of a great place to work because of the people. The culture that this leadership team believes in and promotes every day is the reason I am here, and it’s the reason I’m successful here. We have a culture of transparency. We value open and honest communication. Employees matter, and we all really work hard to reach our goals. You’re treated fairly. You’re included. You wake up every morning and you want to go to work.

JB: What’s your advice for someone interested in working at Qwick?

JE: Qwick hires smart people from a variety of industries. You don’t need experience in our specific industry, but you do need excitement. The number one thing I look for during interviews is someone’s excitement about being a part of this. If you believe in our mission and you’re excited about this problem that we’re solving, we can teach you the rest.