Universities post videos online to attract staff

New videos posted by universities on the recruitment website www.jobs.ac.uk to attract jobseekers are being viewed hundreds of times a month.

The University of Nottingham and Keele University are the latest universities to post videos on the website to give candidates a taste of working life with them.

The University of Nottinghamís video was viewed 1,986 times in September when it was first posted on the online jobs board. Viewing figures have since remained high, having reached 823 by mid-October. In May 2007 The University of Warwick became the first university to post an employer video on the online jobs board and the monthly viewing figures reached 1,000 in July.

Andrew Gordon, director of jobs.ac.uk, the leading online jobs board for research, science and academic related professions, said: ìVideos posted on jobs boards and corporate websites add a new dimension for jobseekers who want to research their employer of choice. Higher Education (HE) institutions are embracing new technology including e-recruitment to raise their profile online and attract high calibre candidates. A strong online presence and greater accessibility online is now more important than ever in order for universities to reach jobseekers who search on the internet.î

Philip Williams, head of marketing at Keele University, said: With its science park and thriving conference facilities, Keele recruits a wide range of staff - not only academics and administrators. The video is a quick, visual way to show the breadth of jobs available. Keele is a great place to live and work, and the video forms part of our employer branding strategy.

Keele Universityís video includes clips of staff talking about their working life and information on its location, child care facilities and leisure and cultural attractions.

The University of Nottinghamís employer video, which is posted on www.jobs.ac.uk and on its own website, forms a key part of their award-winning e-recruitment strategy.[1]

Peter McCracken, deputy director of human resources at The University of Nottingham, said: ìApplying for a job can often be seen as a one-way process. We are working to improve the information we provide to candidates, and the video is a great way to help inform their decisions and showcase the job opportunities available here. The video is also designed to help those who have not lived in the area before get a feel for life here, especially as we attract candidates from overseas.î

jobs.ac.uk predict that recruitment related videos will soon become commonplace on jobs boards, recruitment agency websites, corporate vacancy pages and even YouTube.

To view the new videos, visit: