The role of web-casting and online videos is set to play a growing role
in online recruitment in coming
years, as the number of enquiries about Internet broadcasting technology
continues to rise.
Businesses are turning to online video as a means of carrying out fast and
efficient communications with potential candidates and also as an
ecologically-conscious way of cutting down on the paper and resources used in
conventional recruitment. The candidates themselves are also turning to the
technology to help them get ahead, with more and more creating video CVs to
allow employers to get an accurate gauge on them from the outset.
The online video and streaming solutions provider, StreamUK, released figures
last week showing that they had seen a 50 per cent rise in the number of
enquiries they had received about web-casting facilities over the past six
months.
The company's chief executive, Duncan Burbridge, said that response to their
development of new technology - particularly their Stream Connect broadcasting
platform - had been extremely strong.
I think the environmental and financial rewards are fundamental, but it
also creates positive connotations for a company proving that not only do they
take corporate communications seriously, but they’re also able to adapt with
modern technology, he said.
Geoff Newman from flat fee recruitment agency RecruitmentGenius.com
believes video in recruitment can be useful in the right context.
For creative industries such as marketing, music and design a
video CV can be an excellent way of differentiating yourself whilst
demonstrating your creativity. However video CVs are not right for everyone and
external factors such as lighting, background and noises may distract the user
from your message. Importantly there does not seem to be a great demand from
employers wishing to view videos that are more difficult to skim than a
traditional CV.
The most promising use of video in recruitment so far is asking canned
interview questions to pre-qualify candidates. A replacement for the telephone
interview, it can save a lot of time wasted asking the same questions and stop
unnecessary meetings.
