Michigan’s Workforce Development System Revolutionizes the Job Interview Process

Employers in Michigan now have the ability to virtually conduct job interviews -- saving scarce time and money. Michigan Works!, through funding provided by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, has teamed up with InterviewUSA, Inc. to provide a computer-based job interview system for employers and job seekers to use -- the Virtual Video Interviewô (VVI) system.

The VVI system was developed to match qualified workers with job openings through a simulated face-to-face video interview with a prospective employer. Job seekers are provided a structured interview through questions prompted by the computer and responses are captured for viewing by employers. This gives the employers the ability to virtually screen candidates on demand and eliminates the need for a first interview.

Association President and CEO Linda F. Kinney said, The Virtual Video Interview system will revolutionize the way our business services’ teams assist our employers. We are a demand-driven system and this system will help meet our employers’ hiring needs while saving them additional time and money associated with having an initial face-to-face interview.

The VVI system allows employers to review and follow up with the candidates. Further, employers are able to ascertain the jobseeker’s knowledge, skills, and abilities and are able to determine if the candidate is a good fit organizationally prior to granting a face-to-face interview. Thus, the candidate pool for prospective employers and the quality of candidates will increase as the employer can review interactive digital media rather than relying on a printed resume.

Our employers will have access to cutting-edge technology when addressing their workforce needs, Kinney said.

We are honored to have the opportunity to help the Michigan Works! Association and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth meet their goal of providing the comprehensive and powerful solutions available to meet the state’s critical workforce needs, said Raj Doraisamy, president and CEO of InterviewUSA, Inc.

Michigan’s leadership here is notable because their acquisition occurred prior to Google’s much publicized acquisition of the video sharing site, YouTube. Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, was quoted at that time as saying ’video is the next step in the evolution of the internet,’ said Bryan St.Laurent, Director of the Michigan Project.

Implementation of the VVI system in Michigan began in October. The system is now being installed in the 100-plus Michigan Works! service centers located throughout the state.

A job seeker visiting one of the local Michigan Works! offices said, I had never been through a video interview, but I believe I now have a better chance of obtaining a job.

InterviewUSA, Inc. (IUSA) has been setting the video interview standard with its patent-pending solution nationally and abroad. Currently, the firm has provided solutions to two of the largest school districts in the nation for use in teacher recruitment (LAUSD and CCSD). Also, they have provided solutions for workforce boards in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and call centers in Florida and Louisiana as well as assisting law enforcement agencies. Interview USA provides HR screening tools.

InterviewUSA, Inc. also recently delivered its solutions to two adjacent Workforce Boards in southern Illinois (the Mid-America Workforce Board, and the Madison County Employment and Training) to develop and implement plans to assist military and civilian spouses disrupted as a result of BRAC 2005. The two WIBS serve the seven county region surrounding Scott Air Force Base, the largest employer in the Southwestern Illinois Economic Development Region. The U.S. Department of Labor has noted that because the core direction of BRAC 2005 was primarily on realignment and redeployment there is a need to focus on assisting the spouses of the disrupted military and civilian personnel. One hundred thirty-one (131) military and eight hundred thirty-two (832) civilian personnel will be relocating to Illinois from many areas of the United States, including North Dakota, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Virginia.
IUSA is currently completing other contracts in other states in the workforce arena and in other vertical markets.

Further information can be obtained from Michigan Works! at 1-800-285-WORKS.