Skype Recruitment
Skype Recruitment by Simon Harle
"Can you hear me? Hang on a sec, I'm just turning the video on.
Got you, I can see you now....."
After nearly seven years in the recruitment industry, I
experienced a first, a placement that was completely fascilitated
by Skype. What was most surprising to me, was not the way in which
the placement took place, but the amount of time it has taken for
this to happen.
It went like this:
Skype call 1: Candidate and I have a Skype chat as they are
abroad. I already know the candidate and have an opportunity that I
know they will want me to run by them.
Details submitted to client.
Skype call 2: Client speaks to candidate and conducts the first
interview.
Skype call 3: Second interview takes place with two more members
of the agency and candidate who was five hours behind.
Skype call 4: The final conversation took place with the agency
and their client, followed by an offer 24 hours later.
Now I remember three or four years ago people talking about how
recruitment would be revolutionised by video calling, but it just
never seemed to take off. It seems like such an obvious and
straightforward improvement in global recruitment so why aren't we
making better use of it?
With DNA increasingly working with agencies and candidates all
over the world, video calling is now a part of our day-to-day
procedure in recruiting and making sure the process is as quick and
effective as possible. It seems like the obvious option when there
are large amounts of water and sand between people, a
'face-to-face' conversation trumps a phone call any day and then of
course there's the added financial benefits (Skype is free).
We recently suggested the use of Skype to a brand new client in
our first meeting - "genius" was the reaction.
One thing I'm not trying to say is that video calling should
replace face to face meetings, as a consultant and a business I
cannot place enough value on meeting someone in person, but even
getting across London can be a feat that most would prefer to
avoid, so is a video call the solution?
I was recently caught out when I arranged to have a Skype call
with someone who I believed to be in Cape Town, they actually
turned out to be in Brixton, but knew that by having a Skype call
was a quicker way of getting the ball rolling. It certainly
was!
I see video calling as a way of enhancing the recruitment
process as opposed to replacing any of the existing essential
components, if used in this way I defy anyone not to see the value.
Hiring time could essentially be halved, making the entire process
ultimately more effective and efficient in finding the best talent.
Those that choose to ignore the benefits of video calling will
continue to spend money flying people here there and everywhere as
well as potentially meeting people they shouldn't.
It's certainly one to think about, especially if you're looking
to hire people internationally. Get in touch if you want more
information on how we, or skype, can help.
Our Skype Addresses:
Simon.harle-at-dna
Ali.wallace-at-dna
I look forward to seeing you soon.
