Here is a simple/smart/humanistic approach to hiring. Specialized has a position for a graphic director that needs to be filled. Instead of just posting the position with copy the creative director added a video of himself talking about the position and who their looking for (a rock star of course). With just a quick watch, the viewer is able to understand the attitude, style, and lifestyle the company houses (wasn’t over done, glitzy, or too corporate).
Most hiring managers and companies forget: half of the interview process is selling a candidate on the culture, the opportunity and the people they’ll be working with. This video takes a proactive approach to culture pre-sell before the interview even takes place and is likely to attract high-quality candidates.
Many more companies were making the effort to create culture videos when the economy was strong and a talent shortage made it harder to attract high-quality people. A chees-ey but impactful video – created by Micrsoft interns – documents an employee taking advantage of 30 Microsoft perks during one day at work. Keep in mind, this video was posted in early 2008, so these perks may no longer be offered – but it certainly makes a compelling case of everything Microsoft does for their employees.
Video could have many other applications during the interview process. Many candidates are starting to use video resumes as a “warm” introduction of themselves – as opposed to a near-anonymous resume or phone call. And many companies (including Organic) are currently considering the pros and cons of pre-screen video interviews – asking candidates to answer a pre-determined set of questions to get a sense of whether they’re a fit for a position – and allowing the hiring managers to view on their own. This allows for both scheduling flexibility and time savings.
All of these techniques help give a clearer impression – for both the hiring manager and the candidate – of not just whether there is a qualification fit… but is there a culture fit.
Casey Riggleman
Traci Armstrong