Robert Half Survey - More Job Interviews Going Video

Office Team, a division of Robert Half International surveyed over 500 HR professionals to learn more about their use of video and recruitng - the results are not surprising...  (Click here to read survey). 

The top three reasons why first interviews are a waste of time?  Professionalism, Communication and Image.  All three can be readily identified in a 60 second video, before a recruiter / HR professional invests any of their valuable time. Move the paradigm within your hiring process by adding TalentRooster video technology, today!

Skype Changing The Job Interview Process

This week Time magazine published an article touting the virtues of video interviewing - Yea!!  While we couldn't agree more that video is a phenomenal idea for HR / Recruiting professionals, we think the fine people at Time missed a couple crucial points....  Following are some thoughts to consider before live streaming with a candidate. 

1.  You are trapped!  If you Skype and the candidate isn't a fit - too bad.  There's at least 20 minutes you'll never get back.  With TalentRooster candidates create pre-recorded videos, answering questions specific to your needs.  Video interview can be viewed 24/7 and turned off at any time without hurt feelings.

2.  Time.  With live streaming you have to pick a mutual time that works, which is more complicated than it sounds.  Plus you have to hope that neither party is relying on a wireless network our you'll risk the connection timing out. Video interviews are HD and pre-recorded, which means they are bullet proof.  Watch them at your leisure.

3.  Quality.  Remember Max Headroom from the Pepsi ads?  With live streaming the videos are often not in real time - they lag, have audio visual sync issues and in general are hard to watch.  TalentRooster pre-recorded videos do not have any of these issues. 

Video is a great thing for HR / Recruiting professionals eager to find significant savings within their recruiting budgets.  Contact TalentRooster to learn more about this powerful tool.
Time Article

Candidate Records Video With iPhone - Lands Job!

It's happening more and more and we absolutely love it!  A candidate living in Charlotte, North Carolina was moving back to central Ohio.  While conducting her job search, she came upon TalentRooster video interview technology.  She pulled out her iPhone and created this video, which she uploaded to TalentRooster.com.  A recruiter found the video, sent it over to a perfect fit client and a "live" interview was immediately scheduled.  Guess what?  She got the job in record time, all because the video told the hiring manager exactly what he needed to know BEFORE he ever met the candidate!!

Video is smart, green and the future of recruiting!  Contact TalentRooster.com to learn how easy it is to add video to your recruiting process!

Spherion Franchisee First To Offer Video Interviews

As the employment market continues to improve, recruiters and human resource professionals are utilizing powerful new technologies to expedite the age old recruiting process.  Traditionally companies have a need and place ads on job boards, local media and company websites, which draw hundreds of responses – most of which are not qualified. Resumes are sourced; phone screens conducted and ultimately first interviews are extended. 

The average length of a first interview is forty minutes and statistics show most hiring managers know within ninety seconds whether or not they will hire a candidate.  Less than five percent of those that receive a first interview will be extended an offer for employment. 

Spherion franchise owners, Scott and Eric Overmyer, found a way to use technology and improve these grim statistics.  Beginning in April, Spherion will begin utilizing TalentRooster video technology to market their candidates to local businesses.  “We are excited to bring this powerful technology to Northern Indiana and believe it will provide a unique differentiator for our brand” said Eric Overmyer.  “We can now introduce candidates via video, enabling our clients to see and hear candidates answer questions relevant to their needs.  Eighty percent of the uncertainties are addressed by the video, before our clients invest any of their valuable time”. 

TalentRooster is a video screening tool utilized by hundreds of human resource and recruiting professionals.  Go to TalentRooster.com to learn more. 

Video Interview Webinar For Talent Acquisition

As more and more companies come to realize the benefits of video interview technology, many are in need of further education.  Within the next couple of years video will be a requirement for virtually every job application.  Human Resources leadership needs help navigating these uncertain waters and TalentRooster is happy to help.  Please join us on Wednesday February 15th at 4PM EST for an informational webinar.  Attendees will learn all they need to know about video technology, risks, rewards, costs and savings.  Click Here to sign up - it's free and you can jump in or out at any time.  We look forward to sharing this potent information. 

"I Look Forward to Meeting You"

You spend hours, days and sometimes weeks preparing your resume and cover letter. Family and friends tell you their thoughts, you read it a million times and finally you send it out to your target employers. You feel relieved and you might even get an auto reply stating "We have received your information and will be in contact soon." That's great, but now the waiting game begins. The thoughts running through your mind are "if only they would meet me, I know they would hire me" or "I would fit in really well there and I know I can learn fast." Well, instead of thinking all of this, why not tell and employer yourself? It seems crazy, maybe a little scary and also...brilliant!

A video interview is something to help you, to show who you are and what you know. We have all had that moment during our job search where we say "I have this great point I would like to make, but I don't know how to put it on my resume" and that's what TalentRooster is here for. We want to help, period. A video interview gives you the perfect amount of time to state your case, show your personality and land that job!

The facts don't lie. We have over 14,000 videos uploaded onto our site, we have signed over 40 companies to use our technology and we continue to hear success stories from recruiters and job seekers.  Increase your chance for hire by 30% or more with a potent video interview, powered by TalentRooster technology.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different result.  If you're still stuck at the fork in the road, we encourage you to choose this route...we will show you the way.

Video Resumes Increase Your Opportunities!

Search, recruiting and staffing firms have had a tough go the past couple of years. They are forced to compete with multiple providers and usually low price is the ultimate "winner". Dawson Resources (based in central Ohio), was tired of fighting this battle and decided to get on board with video resume technology - they wanted a differentiator.

A large call center opened in town and began seeking bids from several providers, multiple providers were selected. The staffing firms were asked to submit candidates, coordinate interviews and follow up with the hiring managers, which is very time consuming and hard to get traction. Dawson Resources submitted their candidates using video resume technology, while the competition is still attaching Word documents to email..... The client loved it and hired multiple candidates immediately! Dawson's candidates are being seen and hired straight from video!

Dawson anticipates filling 90% of the positions before anyone else gets a chance. Better yet, the client has been sending these video resumes throughout the company resulting in more business for Dawson - truly a great success story. Contact TalentRooster to learn how your firm can add this tactical advantage! TalentRooster.com

Temporary Bump In Hiring - What To Do Now....

Thinking further about the increase in business to search, recruiting, staffing and HR firms, I had some additional thoughts. Granted we all want to see continued growth, but what can we do to sow the seeds? It’s time to peel back the onion and take a hard look at how your firm operates. Is your business paralleling what the market is doing or stuck in ways of the past? My firm used to place secretaries, receptionists and the like, but that market has all but evaporated due to cutbacks and technology enhancements. We began focusing our energies where we believe the future was headed; higher level office positions, accounting, IT and healthcare.

We used to have several branches throughout the city, today we do everything out of one location with fewer employees. Ironically we are having better sales with one branch than we had with many while enjoying significant operational efficiencies. Historically we spent a tidy sum advertising in the Yellow Pages and help wanted sections of the local newspapers. Now we utilize online resources, essentially moving money from antiquated expenses to modern that make better sense.

We have also embraced new ideas that demonstrate our firm is on board with technology. We are using TalentRooster “intelligent resumes” to help us create a competitive edge over our competitors. We felt that while our competitors are still sending our paper resumes, we’d stand out by sending video resumes. And we’ve had some success…many clients have embraced our new offering, and some now only want to see video resumes.

I hope you find these tips helpful to your business – Happy selling!

Fortune 500 Going With Video Resumes

It's rhetorical question time!! If you could see and hear a candidate, plus review their personality profile, relevant test scores, links to their social media sites and more BEFORE committing to a time consuming interview, would you? OF COURSE YOU WOULD - told you it was rhetorical....



TalentRooster is in serious discussions with several Fortune 500 companies that "get it" - you should too! Many people (and companies) are caught in the discrimination paradigm and they are completely missing out on the future of the hiring process. Check out this piece from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.) - even they are on board with video resume technology.



Soon, many companies will be utilizing TalentRooster intelligent resume / video resume technology as a means to expedite and manage their hiring process - it just makes sense. Check out our website (TalentRooster.com) as we will soon be rolling out the only site where candidates can professionally film themselves from home, easily! I'm over 40 and the furthest thing from a technologist, so I had to make sure this process was entirely user friendly! It is - even I can do it! Check it out - it's coming soon!

A Blogging Guru Comments on TalentRooster

Ok, ok - so I toot my own horn too much - isn't that what an excited entrepreneur is supposed to do? As video resume technology continues to pick up momentum, TalentRooster is continually mentioned as the best site on the net - and it's NOT me saying it (although I'm inclined to agree)! Check out THIS PIECE, written by one of the top bloggers, who writes on video resume / video CV technology. The video resume space is quickly getting crowded by technologists that don't have any experience with recruiting, search or staffing - and it shows! Its like asking a ten year old to drive a car - they'd have a general idea, but likely end up in a ditch or worse......

Darrin ("The Interview Guru") took the time to call and discuss the TalentRooster model, our goals, vision for the future and more. Frankly I was impressed as I thought most bloggers write based on assumptions - not Darrin - he really drilled down and asked the hard questions. Now if we could only get others to ask these same questions of our "competitors"..... Virtually all of TalentRooster's competitors take the same approach to this technology - film yourself, upload it, brand it, add graphics, etc - it's not professional, it's not standardized and will not help a candidate land a job. In fact, those methodologies are everythng that's bad about video resumes. This technology is coming fast - do your homework before committing to a bad model - there are plenty to choose from.....

HR Recruiting Pros ALL Going Video

We had to know that sooner or later technology would improve the search, recruiting staffing, HR world - it's just logical progression. I still enjoy my CD collection and have a "land line" in my house - come to think of it, I also have an impressive assortment of movies on VHS...
Virtually everyday there is a new piece regarding video resume technology - begrudgingly the hiring world has come to accept that you can't stop progress and video resumes are the future of the hiring process. It's an interesting struggle as generation X has had to learn all technology on the fly, verses generation Y, who has grown up with technology and has no problem learning something new - they seem to feed on it! Kids that are 10-15 today will never understand how we marketed ourselves with "paper" - it will seem so lame (I think they're right!). Social networking sites have changed the game and hiring managers want to see that job seekers "get it". When my firm had a need, we reviewed video resumes (on TalentRooster) which saved us a TON of time AND we found the right candidate! Check out this piece for more information on the future of video and hiring - there's new evidence daily!

Hiring Managers Rely on Social Networking Sites

There is so much talk about social networking sites when it comes to your job search - should or shouldn't I... This piece provides a great perspective from a hiring manager, who unequivically believes in the power of social sites to source candidates and build teams. If you are not taking full advantage, you are missing out!

Using Social Medial For Your Job Search

Utilize social media sites to help in your job search - it works and shows employers that you are on board with technology! http://tinyurl.com/c4ekke

Video Resumes - The Future is fast approaching

We've all been there - the candidate isn't a fit, but now you are trapped in a 30 minute interview... Video technology will be the solution to this problem as this firm in California figured out. http://tinyurl.com/2az6psv

TalentRooster featured by TempWorks in an article on technology and recruiting

TalentRooster was selected by TempWorks to appear in a featured article on technology and recruiting. http://tinyurl.com/38gzaan

Work Life Balance

Interesting read in today's WSJ - too much work make's Jack a dull boy.... http://tinyurl.com/22kc4n9

Great WSJ Article - Video Resumes!

The business leaders are starting to realize that paper resumes will soon be obsolete - nice piece! http://tinyurl.com/2dmaxh8

Seven ways technology will change recruiting

How in the world do you fill precious few jobs with top candidates when your office is flooded with literally thousands of applicants? That was the million-dollar question for recruitment agencies across the country in 2009. And it wasn't just a question of success — it was a question of survival. Still, in spite of a rotten job market, many firms not only managed to get it right, but found success in the process. How? By leveraging technology to solidify their talent pool, make the most of their budget and transform our longstanding industry culture of information hoarding into one of information sharing. In 2010, technology will continue to change the way we find great talent and build better relationships—with our clients, our candidates and each other. Here are seven ways I see it happening.

1. Recruiters and employers will track candidates' social media footprint. A skill set and work history on paper will never reveal a candidate's true personality. By visiting a candidate's social media pages, like Facebook and Twitter, you can learn their hobbies, interests and communication style. This makes it easier to thin the heard down to only the best, well-rounded candidates for a particular position and corporate culture.


2. Video resumes will take on new dimensions as a recruiting tool. Any yahoo with a webcam can create a video resume, right? True, but does it look polished? Does it deliver the important information and personality cues employers are looking for? Probably not. In 2010, video resumes will become more of a holistic profile that incorporates detailed skills assessments, work experience and professionally produced on-camera interviews that allow the candidate's personality and spontaneity to shine through. Forward-thinking recruiters and HR leaders will be able to offer video resume services easily and affordably to their candidates. These services will allow potential employers to evaluate the candidates of their choice without wasting time on interviews that go nowhere. They will also provide recruiters with a way to earn revenue on every candidate, even if they don't get hired.


3. Candidates will be empowered through "searchability." Forget the classifieds and massive job boards. Candidates can now search specific niche databases by keywords and target their job hunt. For recruiting agencies and employers, site optimization, social networking and cross-linking via blogs and other mechanisms will be key to expanding your reach and making sure candidates can easily find the opportunities you have for them.


4. Networking will be just as important online as offline. Remember the old shampoo commercial that talked about telling two friends, then they'll tell two friends, and so on and so on? That's the idea. Social networking is the electronic version of word-of-mouth referrals. Networks like LinkedIn enable you to e-mail job openings to your targeted contacts who can then forward them on to their connections, and so on and so on—until you find the right candidates. And here's the best part—it's FREE.


5. Mobile recruiting will slash time in "getting the word out." Imagine being able to instantly match an incoming request for a contract position to 30 profiles in your candidate database. You notify them all at once via text; they come to your office; the position gets filled—done. Simple as that. Watch for this technology sector to soar in the year ahead because it's going to make all our lives a whole lot easier.


6. Huge job boards will evolve or die a slow death. For years, Monster, CareerBuilder and many other gargantuan job sites have charged high rates for postings and thrived on delivering quantity, not quality, when it comes to candidates. For those of us who have grown frustrated — and we are many — niche job boards have provided greater ROI for less money. With social and, potentially, mobile recruiting providing even more cheaper, and effective options, big job boards will have to rethink their strategy and prove their worth, or eat dust.


7. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will eventually "play nice" with social recruiting. Nothing undermines your efforts to build relationships and garner referrals quite like a system that was never designed to do it in the first place. This is part of the information hoarding culture I was referring to earlier. Because of the compliance issues we face as recruiters, and our need for an automated process, applicant tracking systems are here to stay. But if I owned an ATS company, you can bet I'd be finding a way to be first-to-market with a more effective solution flexible enough to meet the growing demands of social recruiting. It has to happen, soon, or the systems we depend on will put us at odds with where the industry is going.

You've heard that necessity is the mother of invention. Without a doubt, savvy recruiters invented brilliant strategies to combat a dismal job market in 2009 by using emerging technology. This trend is only going to pick up speed in 2010 as information-sharing changes our industry—permanently. It's no fad, and that's a good thing. Technology will allow us to better serve our clients, support our candidates and strengthen our businesses as we build and maintain relationships in exciting new ways. How are you meeting the change? I'd love to hear what you're doing and the results you're getting. Here's to the revolution!