No Excuse for Not Using Video

I recently read an article by Mark Finn through TLNT called “6 Reasons Why Video Interviewing Will Soon Go Mainstream”. It was a great article with valid points to which many HR professionals can relate so I wanted to address my thoughts on the issues as well.

Culture Fit

Sourcing for job seekers-at a time where unemployment levels have left highly qualified candidates looking for new opportunities-is no longer the issue. The issues of today’s rebounding economy now lie in the selection process and which candidates appear to be the best cultural fit at your company. Social media has enabled hiring managers a glimpse into who these candidates might be, but then again, would you want someone judging you for a new position based off of your social media outlets? Video interviewing provides a fair look at a candidate’s personality that cannot be achieved by social media.

Affordable Out of State Options

Video interviewing technology also provides the opportunity for you to cast a wider net and reach out of state candidates that may be a fit for your company. Many candidates looking for jobs are willing to relocate so don’t limit your candidates to the x-mile radius surrounding your company because there are no travel fees with video! 

Video is the New Norm

Employers should also take notice to the evolving job seeker. This shift towards video also stems from the new generations’ comfort ability with video. Apps such as Facetime, Youtube, and Skype have made the millennials accustomed to being in front of a camera. As the workforce switches to a younger demographic, the use of this technology that doesn’t shock new job seekers only creates a more efficient hiring process.

Effortless Candidate Tracking

Don’t make it hard on yourself to remember every interviewee!  Video interviewing allows documentation of interviews so when you’re trying to remember which face goes to which resume, all you have to do is check the video!

As spring hiring begins and a new batch of recent college grads become job seekers, make your process easier on yourself by embracing TalentRooster technology, an efficient way to help you find the best talent for your company. No excuses!  

Savvy Recruiting Firm Using Video to Market Candidates

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right?  A recruiting firm based in New Jersey is taking full advantage of this adage by using video interviews to market their candidates.  Recruiters interview hundreds of candidates but only find jobs for a select few.  Some estimates state that over 90% of candidates interviewed are never placed! 

A recruiting firm based in New Jersey decided to use TalentRooster technology to their advantage and improve these grim statistics.  Each week their internal recruiting team meets to discuss the best candidates that are still available.  Then they created this powerful marketing piece and send it out to every client and prospect in their database.  The response has been overwhelming as clients can immediately identify candidates that might be a fit for their needs.  What a powerful tool to help job seekers find employment and ensure your business is maximizing every candidates opportunity for employment. 

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

30,000 Video Interviews Uploaded

An ideological shift is taking place in HR and recruting offices thoughout the U.S.  Advancements in video technology have presented a better way to screen and source candidates.  Video Interviews are becoming a staple in recruiting as professionals enjoy the cost savings derived in both time and money.  Companies like TalentRooster.com provide the ability to see and hear job seeking candidates answer questions specific to needs before a moment of time is committed to a phone screen or live interview.  A compelling factor to note is that the average view time of each video is around 35 seconds, despite the fact that videos can be much longer. It is equally as important to note that a video is not intended to replace the face to face interview, but merely to serve as a tool to ensure only the best candidates get past the front door.  Once you've enjoyed the benefits of this powerful technology it's hard to believe that we relied on paper alone for so many years. 

Recruiting Firm Studies Video Interview Impact

Following are some actual numbers from a TalentRooster client, a branch that was slow to adopt TalentRooster at first but is now using it regularly. The plus sign shows the approximate date in 2012 on which the branch started using TalentRooster more heavily. Note how this branch has seen a steady increase (that wasn’t seen the previous year) since starting to use TalentRooster.

Below is the GM chart for a branch that started out as a strong TalentRooster user but that has slowed down of late. The X sign shows the approximate date where the usage slowed. Note how the GM has slowed as well.

Certainly, there could be other factors for the GM increases and decreases at these branches, but it’s also fair to suggest that using TalentRooster videos in the hiring process can help you increase your bill rates, close the order faster, and secure your client’s loyalty.  You can’t be in staffing today without using video!!

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!

Video Interview Firm Surpasses 1,000 Uploads Per Month

Human Resource professionals, recruiters and talent acquisition managers must know a good thing when they see it!  As video interview technology continues to become a staple in recruiting, TalentRooster is quickly becoming the number one provider.  Since the start of the second quarter, over 1,000 videos per month are being uploaded to TalentRooster.com.  Granted there are other video providers, no one else is enjoying such explosive growth.  The reason?  TalentRooster was founded by a search, recruiting professional with 20 years of industry experience, which explains why their software is so popular in recruiting.  

“TalentRooster enables hiring managers to see and hear job seeking candidates answer questions relevant to their openings, before committing to a live interview” said founder David DeCapua.  “Let me be clear – video is not a replacement for the live interview, but rather video is the ultimate screening tool”, said DeCapua. 

Video technology demonstrates that your firm is current and forward thinking, which will help attract top candidates.  Whether your firm hires 50 or 50,000 people per year, video technology will save you untold amounts of time and money.   Go to TalentRooster.com to learn more! 

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. 

Recruiting 2.0 - Working Smarter with Video

As a hiring manager, how many times have you said “The resumes I am getting do not match what I’m looking for.....”?  Well, now is the time to rethink your hiring habits and see what you can do to improve your results.  For starters:

1.      The proof is in the details – Your job description is everything; it should be detailed, but not a novel.  Make sure that important “must haves” are at the top to catch those quick readers in their tracks before they hit the “apply” button.  A job seeker wants to read, submit and move on to the next.  Keep details short, sweet, to the point and use bullet points when necessary. 

2.      Get certain steps out of the way – If your process includes such things as an application on your company website or forms that have to be completed, then include them in your initial application; the dedicated job seeker will do all steps required and do them well.  The goal is to get the right people in the door and hired fast! 

3.      Meet them before they walk in your door – As mentioned in previous blogs (and by living in our everyday culture), technology is everywhere.  Require your candidates to make an effort, other than clicking “send”. Have them complete a quick Video Interview with questions tailored to what they need in order to succeed in the role you are trying to fill.  This will eliminate any and all frustration of spending time with the wrong candidate for the job.  You will know in 30 seconds whether or not a candidate is worthy of YOUR time.  

4.      Make your move – Don’t drag your feet with the perfect fit as the status of an active job seeker can change by the hour.  Hiring is a careful process and needs to be taken with caution, but don’t hesitate if the talent is there and willing to join your team.   The number one “killer” of finding the perfect candidate is time.  If you know the candidate is right, get the process moving! 

Investing in these practices will take time and patience, but the results will speak for themselves.  So, don’t waste any time and get started.  To learn more about video interviews click here. 

Video Interview Provides Edge over "Paper" Candidates

Video Interviewing has been catching fire by saving hiring manager’s time and money, so such a process should be used with care.  A video interview shouldn’t be something thrown together at the last minute; it should be created, perfected and then presented.  What are the steps one can take to create the best video interview? I’ll tell you.

Choose Wisely:  Video Interviews are not optimal for all job openings.  When the position calls for lots of face-to-face work, interaction with customers and over the phone skills, then a video interview is just the ammo you need to show off your skills.  Showing a potential employer your verbal and non-verbal communicative abilities will increase your chance for hire.  If they bring you in for a "live" interview, it's like a second as they know what they're getting!

Tailor your Q & A: The beauty of being “in the know” of what is expected of your next position is using that information to your advantage.  If there is a question you believe the hiring manager would want to know, answer it in your video!  Candidates that demostrate specific knowledge about a company or position will stand out from the others.   

Save more Time: If you're a job seeker that just can’t make it into an office, not a problem!  Simply record your video interview at home, review and send it to the hiring manager!  The beauty of technology is that it’s everywhere.  A camera isn’t far away which means a video interview isn’t far behind; take advantage of all possibilities!  Show a potential company that you stay current with technology!

Review and Reflect: Now that you've captured of your personality, post it on all of your social media sites!  You’re not depending on a paper resume like everyone else, so use this tool to demonstrate that you took initiative, far beyond clicking "send".   Social media is powerful - you never know who will see or forward it.  Go to TalentRooster.com to learn how to make the perfect video profile!    

Job Fair Season Perfect Time To Add Video Interviews

Finally the weather and the job market are beginning to heat up! To meet the expected hiring needs, many companies host job fairs at hotels, conference centers or career service centers at local universities.  Hundreds or thousands of candidates attend these events, handing out resumes to anyone willing to speak with them.  If you're a recruiter or HR professional, what's the point in attending these events if you can't remember each candidate?

Unless you're "Rainman" chances are you forget a person within 24 hours of meeting.  But if you are meeting hundreds of people in a short period of time, you will remember even fewer.  Returning from a recruiting event with a stack of resumes is pointless if you can't remember the person!  Fortunately, there is a solution - video!

Next time you have a job fair to attend, contact TalentRooster and have them set you up with pre-recorded video interview technology.  This way you can record every candidate, rate and share them with other hiring managers immediately.  Imagine meeting the ideal candidate, filming them on the spot and sending over to a hiring manager - all within minutes.  Plus, all of your candidates are housed in a video repository, where only you and your designees have access.  You can view them 24/7 and they are iPhone / iPad friendly. 

Once you give video interview technology a chance you will never look back.  It makes sense, saves time and will significantly improve your process.  Let TalentRooster show you how. 

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. 

2012 HR Leadership Strategy - Video Interviews

A new year brings the opportunity for self improvement – not only personally, but professionally as well.  Personally you might join a gym, but no one is really watching  or holding you accountable, so most people will give up after a couple of weeks.  Professionally someone is always watching, which is why change is so critically important.  If you are not continually demonstrating that you bring best practices or new ideas that improve the business, someone else will.  Especially today, when we live in an age of information where change moves at the speed of light.  Seasoned professionals no longer have the luxury of doing a good job – we have to do more every day. 

So what are your plans for 2012?  What are you going to bring to leadership that will make them take notice and appreciate the value you bring?  Ten years ago managers had the courage to fight leadership for a website! Today these same arguments are being made for social media exposure.  As logical as both of these seem, it was a battle!  For 2012, make it your goal  to be the leader pushing to add video to your existing application process.  This is another classic example of an early technology (e.g. websites and social media) that most companies will have in the next couple of years.  Video enables you to see and hear candidates answer questions relevant to your opening, before ever meeting in person.  You already forward appropriate candidates to leadership - now you can include their video as well.  How much time and money will that save? 

There are thousands of companies such as Wal-Mart, Ocean Spray, Abercrombie and Fitch, Starbucks that are already taking advantage of this powerful technology.  Heck, even Santa figured out the potency of video!   Santa Uses Video Technology To Hire Team

Make 2012 the year you bring video technology to your company.  It’s a technology that everyone will be glad you introduced! 

Shake Off The Turkey Coma and Land a Job With Video Technology!!

Now that your turkey induced coma has subsided, it's time to get back to your job search!  The year is quickly coming to an end and you need to have your new career set for 2012! 

So what are you going to do differently that will get you that critical interview?  It's not going to happen by submitting your Word document and cover letter - you should know that by now...  Unemployment is still hovering at near record levels so you are going to have to think outside the traditional box. 

People don't rely on paper anymore - in 2011, 43% of all first interviews were done via webcam.  It's time for you to accept this reality and develop a strategy that works for your career goals.  If you are unfamiliar with social media and video interview technology, spend some time on sites like TalentRooster or YouTube to see how other savvy candidates are standing out form the pack.  Upon completion of your video, think about adding a "click here to meet me" button to your resume, blog and LinkedIn profile.  Allow potential employers to see and hear you, versus viewing a static paper resume.  Your "elevator pitch" might just make the difference. 

When replying to jobs posted on Monster, CareerBuilder and other sites, include your video!  89% of employers revealed that they would watch a video resume if it were submitted to them.  Although most employers have not yet used this new technology as an evaluative tool,  only 17% have actually viewed a video resume, however the vast majority are open to the idea.  These numbers are growing exponentially and it's only a matter of time until every company requires video as part of their applications process.  Get this - the primary reason why employers would value a candidate's video is the ability to assess a candidate's professional presentation and demeanor.  How many times have you said, "if they'd just meet me, they'd hire me"!!  Hiring managers feel the same way - give yourself the chance!  Check out TalentRooster.com to learn how to create your professional video that will move you to the front of the hiring line!!

Recruiter Uses Video - Hits In Park HR!

One of the many benefits of social media and video technology is that you never know who will see it!  Recently a recruiter sent a fantastic success story that we had to share.  Apparently a candidate came in to interview for a position - she was fantastic, a virtual "homerun".  The recruiter sent the candidate over to a top client.  Unfortunately, the client decided to go another direction....  The recruiter had spent a significant amount of time on this candidate, even helping her film a professional video interview / video resume, using TalentRooster technology.  The candidate asked for a copy of the video to add to her resume and use it to market herself. Since it's branded to the recruiting firm, the recruiter figured, "why not"?  Heck, candidates use the resumes we create to market themselves anyway.....

The video worked like a charm and the candidate was successful landing a couple of interviews!  In the recruiting world, this is usually where the story ends.  Recruiters spend an inordinate amount of time helping a candidate perfect their resume and interviewing skills.  Candidates use this "shiny" resume and interview tips to land a job... without the recruiter!  Candidate 10; Recruiter 0. 

Our story has a different twist.  A candidate marketed her TalentRooster video directly to a company - they absolutely loved the technology and scheduled an interview.  However the company decided to call the recruiter that created the video interview / video resume to lean more about the technology - the door was now open for the recruiter!  Realizing the candidate had gone direct, the recruiter was complementary and wanted the hiring manager to know that if this candidate didn't work out she had other qualified candidates.  There were multiple openings so the hiring manager asked the recruiter to come in and meet in person.  The recruiter ended up with several positions to fill AND an exclusive! 

If you are not using TalentRooster video technology to market your candidates you are missing out on a great opportunity.  Contact us today to learn how video will increase your revenues and shorten the hiring process!

Wal-Mart Embraces Video Interviewing for Job Applicants

 

Mike Grennier, who is in charge of corporate recruiting for Wal-Mart spoke last week at the HR tech conference in Las Vegas. Following are some excerpts from his talk.

First, let's start with Mike's great session on how Wal-Mart has been able to reduce the cost and time associated with first round interviews by using video interview technology. I liked this session not only for the cool things Wal-Mart is doing with video technology to overhaul their interview process but also for Mike's engaging and persuasive presentation on why video interviewing makes sense for organizations.

Here are the pearls of wisdom from this session:

- The reason for video technology is twofold: 1) You save $ in screening candidates with a first round interview (flights, hotels, cabs, etc.) 2) Saves hiring managers time as they can screen candidates on their own schedule.

- Video technology should replace the first round interview in your interview process. It is NOT a substitute for final interviews.

- By using video technology, Wal-Mart has saved an estimated cost of $2.2 million in 2011 and $3.1 million in 2012. Any time you can save over $5 million in two years, you're doing something right!

- Hiring Manager adoption for this is very high. In a recorded interview with a hiring manager, she asked them to please not take this tool away from them. I've seen this type of buy-in from hiring managers only a handful of times in the HR Technology space. Very powerful stuff!

- For candidates that don't have webcams (this # is decreasing rapidly), Wal-Mart ships out free webcams that are company branded. Not only is this a nice touch with their employer brand but it helps provide candidates with instructions on how to use webcam so interviews go smoothly.

- Cost and time savings are the most important benefits but another result of more video

interviewing is decreasing Wal-Mart’s recruiting organization's ecological footprint as well!

Let TalentRooster bring your firm on board with this time and money saving technology!!

42% of First Interviews via Webcam Says Wall Street Journal

Validation is quickly approaching warp speed...  We've been telling readers for years that video technology is an absolute for both job seekers and hiring managers.  Hopefully you caught this piece in last week's Wall Street Journal, which made clear the reasons why video is becoming a staple in virtually all hiring processes.  We've been begging job seeking candidates to create a professional video resume / video interview, where they address issues specific to the company for which they desire to work!  Think of the impact to the hiring manager, who is used to static Word documents where the candidates have taken little to no initiative.  You could blow them away with video, where you clearly demonstrate you've done your homework and how your objectives align.... 

Oh - and hiring managers?  You need to modernize your process as well - "paper" resumes are so 90's! Don't let the "new hire" introduce this logical technology - YOU do it!  Your company leadership will thank you later - especially when they realize the economies of cost savings!! Show them you've still got it!!

TalentRooster is happy to help you through the process to ensure you get it  right - just send us a ping! Increase your chance for hire by 30% or more by injective video technology - it works and TalentRooster will show you how!

"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 Reduces Interview Process by 60%

You are recruiting for a position.  You post ads on Monster, Career Builder, Craigslist and several other sites. Within moments of posting your position resumes start pouring in - hundreds of them, maybe more. You've been doing it this way for ten years or more and candidates always respond.  But of those responses, how many are truly qualified? Statistically it's less than three percent - no matter how well you write the posting!

Compounding this challenge is that it takes no effort for a candidate to submit a resume - they have no investment.  In fact, many rely on resume aggregators that automatically submit their resume based on key words in each posting.  That's right - many of the resumes you receive were automatically sent without the candidate even reading the posting!

Here's the good news - companies are getting smarter and moving forward with technology to combat this issue.  Many are incorporating video in the applications process, which requires the candidate to show a little initiative and make an effort. There is no doubt that video will continue to proliferate the recruiting process as it makes too much sense.  Following is a powerful example. This firm had an opening for a B2B sales representative.  Rather than "post and pray", they got smart and required video as part of the submission process - it worked!  Of the candidates received, all took the time to complete the video and answer specific questions about the opening - how much time (and money) would this save your firm?  Click here to see their CB post.  Contact TalentRooster.com to learn how video resume technology can streamline your existing processes. 

Toothfish - Chilean Sea Bass; Video Resumes - ?

For years fisheries tried to sell consumers the Patagonian Toothfish - there were few takers... Why not? It was clear to everyone that the Toothfish was love at first bite! It was by far the most tasty, tender fish known to man, yet few would ever try it. Then a marketing guru entered the picture and changed the name to Chilean Sea Bass - quickly this prized fish became the fastest growing in the industry, simply due to a name change. It turns out that the initial name was not appealing to consumers, although they had never even tried it - how silly is that? For many, this same challenge exists with video resume technology!

We need help creating a better name for "video resumes". What's a better way to say professional, increase your chance for hire, get you in front of hiring managers, demonstrate you are on board with new technology, clearly the wave of the future, industry leader....

The term "video resume" congers up many unfounded assumptions, remenescent of the garbage you find on YouTube. But the fact is that video resume technology is here to stay and it's quickly becoming the preferred methodology for candidates AND hiring managers. Even Fortune 500 companies are beginning to realize the potential that this powerful technology offers. Many are beginning to require candidates to submit a video resume as part of the preliminary interview process.

Many companies are taking this powerful medium and using it to market their job openings to potential candidates. Just this week we found this video, where the company not only shows the work environment but cameos by some of the managers - how cool is that? Not only can a potental job seeker see where they would work, but who they will work with! Companies competing for top candidates better take note!

With over 40 search, recruiting, HR and staffing professionals utilizing our technology (Click here to see our map), it's only a matter of time until the "paper resume" heads the way of the eight track tape player. Check out TalentRooster to learn more - we're coming soon to a company near you!