Video CV: Pros in the recruiting process
Online interview tools, live video interviews or deferred video interviews: in this period, we have witnessed the diffusion of numerous video recruiting systems. Social distancing has forced companies in the human resources sector and dealing with personnel management, to adopt new solutions to manage remote selections without losing efficiency and effectiveness. Among these, the video CV allows recruiters to “meet the candidates in advance” and get to know better the people behind the CVs.
An asynchronous video presentation tool in your ATS
After the release of Meetin, the live video interviewing platform, we developed a new tool to simplify the management of remote selections: the video CV. It is an asynchronous video presentation system that allows the candidate to record a short presentation (audio and video), completely free and personal, in order to be better known by the human resources staff, highlighting aspects that hardly emerge from the simple reading of the paper CV (e.g. personality, motivation, attitude, communication skills, etc.).
This new feature is integrated within ATS In-recruiting and can be activated for each job advertisement by simply customizing the application form. In this way, the recruiter offers the candidate the opportunity to record a video presentation which, from that moment on, is associated with the candidate’s file and stored in the DB, completing the candidate’s profile.
The advantages of the video presentation in the search and selection process
The video CV is an extremely advantageous In-Recruiting feature for recruiters and candidates, especially because of its usability. The recruiter can easily share the video presentation with external users and review it by simply logging into his private area of the software. The candidate, on the other hand, can record his video CV directly at the application stage, he can review the video before saving and sending it, or he can decide to record it again and for an unlimited number of times until he is satisfied.
Compared to other similar tools spread on the market, to use In-recruiting video CV you don’t need to download apps, programs or other tools because it was developed with a technology that allows you to record the video directly from your browser. This means that if until recently, in order to send a video CV, the candidate had to resort to external sources, now it only takes a few clicks, when registering for the ad, to associate a video presentation to your profile.
The benefits of a video resume for recruiters and HR professionals
The video CV is a resource for all recruiters and HR teams. While some of the benefits are quite obvious, let’s take a detailed look at the potential of this tool and why using it can make a difference.
1. It’s a practical, immediate and shared tool
If you use a Talent Acquisition software such as In-recruiting, the video CV system is integrated with the platform and its operation is immediate and intuitive. This means that, once recorded, the candidate’s video CV can be viewed at any time from their personal file, simply by logging into their ATS restricted area. But that’s not all. The video CV can be shared with other external users or watched by other members of the HR team, or other branches of the company, who have access to the platform and the company database.
2. Speed up selection of application
The appearance of a new field related to the video presentation in the application form personalizes the process of registering for the ad. Recruiters can decide to use this field, which can be activated on the forms of all individual ads, instead of the traditional CV or as an additional filter to speed up the pre-screening process and save time when the number of applications is very high. For example, when two equally valid profiles have the same skills, the video CV can highlight hidden talent that can make the difference and prompt the recruiter to invite a candidate for an interview.
3. Offers a complete overview of the candidate
The video presentation breaks down the distance between recruiter and candidate in advance. The recruiter can use it to get to know the candidate better by going beyond the information on the CV. In a way, it is a preview of the actual knowledge: it can spark curiosity and help to have a clearer vision of the type of candidate you want to invite for an interview.
4. Highlight soft skills and other hidden strengths competencies
In addition to the technical and “self-recognized” skills, if you can call them that, which are included in the CV, the video presentation highlights other aspects of the candidate that may not be apparent from the paper CV. Soft skills, motivation, personality, communication skills…everything can play a role in the recruiting process. Attitude is also important: gestures, posture, the ability to keep your gaze fixed on the webcam as if it were the recruiter’s eye, verbal and non-verbal language. A good recruiter is able to analyze these factors and pick out the competencies of the candidate that will not necessarily be valid for the ad to which he or she is applying, but that may be an added value for other open positions that may be offered (e.g. spontaneity, being at ease and communicating easily will certainly be appreciated in positions that require contact with the public).
5. Strengthens Employer Branding
A company, employment agency or recruitment firm that adopts a video presentation system shows that it is particularly careful to keep up with the times and technological developments. A factor that can be decisive in the eyes of ambitious candidates and can affect talent attraction.
Why should a candidate record a video CV?
As we have already mentioned, the benefits of the video CV are numerous from the candidate’s point of view as well. So let’s try to understand why you should do it.
1. Opportunities and initiative
A candidate who decides to record a video presentation when applying for a job shows that they can take advantage of a great opportunity. For ads that receive hundreds of applications, there are few factors that can make a difference. A candidate who records a video resume, even if they are unfamiliar with the technology, shows that they can challenge themselves, that they can deal with new things, and this is synonymous with resourcefulness.
2. Experience an innovative and positive application experience
It doesn’t happen every day, but recording a video presentation is definitely a dynamic experience that reinforces the candidate experience. It interrupts the routine of searching and registering for jobs and brings novelty and innovation to the application process as well. Unlike traditional delayed video, the candidate can record the video CV as many times as they want, at any time and from desktop and mobile devices. All of which contribute to an improved and enjoyable stay in the recruiting process.
3. It’s Inclusive
The fact that no skills are required to be able to record your own video presentation puts candidates all on equal footing. From a technical skills point of view, it’s an inclusive system because it gives all candidates, even those with no skills in the field, the ability to record it. To do so, you don’t need apps, software, technical skills or video editing skills to rework the file to send via email or link. All you need is a PC or smartphone and a webcam to record your video CV. The 2020 lockdown months have certainly brought a lot of people closer to video communication systems.
4. Make yourself known 360°
The video CV is a presentation, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, free and personal. The candidate does not have to answer pre-set questions, but can highlight aspects of his or her personality, skills (hard and soft skills), and experiences that distinguish them from others. With the video CV, the candidate becomes unique and peculiar, highlighting aspects that hardly emerge from the CV: communication skills, motivation, ambition, attitude and open-mindedness, etc.
The video presentation integrates with the paper CV, therefore, and is configured as a new resource that candidates can provide to recruiters and human resources staff to complete and enrich their profile and be evaluated for current and future job offers.
Digital Marketing presso Inrecruiting