While in-person interviewing has always been considered the best way to connect person to person, any hiring strategy these days includes virtual recruiting. Interviewing via video is efficient, versatile, and opens the doors to an even wider candidate pool. And not only that, we’ve all become accustomed to interacting this way, and over time, any stress associated with presenting ourselves on video has eased.
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According to an article in Entrepreneur Magazine, virtual recruiting has actually become a new normal.
Some organizations are going even further, and setting up online recruiting events, like career fairs or info sessions, mimicking traditional offline versions. Virtual recruiting events may include presentations, fireside chats, a Q&A, and networking sessions.
What types of virtual recruiting events are there?
- Online careers fair: At an online careers fair, candidates can visit virtual “stalls” to hear employers give talks about their organization and job opportunities. Typically, virtual careers fairs accommodate networking and candidates can submit their resumes to organizations they’re interested in.
- Virtual info session: Info sessions are an opportunity for candidates to learn about employers and hear current employees share their experiences. Some info sessions also involve virtual interviews.
- ‘Ask me anything’ (AMA) session: An AMA session is usually carried out on social media by someone prominent within an organization that’s hiring. They’re a chance for potential candidates to ask questions and “meet” an organization via a public online platform.
- Virtual interview: A virtual interview typically uses a video conferencing platform to connect a candidate with a representative or panel of representatives from a hiring organization.
Online recruitment events are beneficial because organizations can:
- Minimize expenses: You won’t need to hire or decorate a venue, provide refreshments, or reimburse the travel expenses of your recruitment staff and speakers.
- Provide fair hiring opportunities: Virtual events are more accessible, even for those with childcare responsibilities, restricted mobility, and limited time or resources.
- Attract wider candidate pools: You’ll reach even wider audiences, which increases your chances of hiring the best talent, because virtual events don’t require candidates to travel far or commit much time.
- Attract wider speaker pools: For the same reason, you’ll also have more speakers to choose from, whether that’s internal employees or external professionals with relevant experience.
- Have greater analytics options: Most virtual event platforms have a basic level of automatic reporting including tracking registration and attendance figures. Video engagement platforms like Livestorm will also collect engagement data such as the number of messages sent, number of poll responses, and duration of attendance for each registrant.
- And even, benefit the environment: You can do your part to meet your organization’s ‘green’ objectives by saving fuel required to travel to and hold in-person events.
With all the advantages above, the focus on virtual recruiting is one development likely here to stay even as the pandemic recedes.
