By Nancy Mann Jackson, Glassdoor.com
Your smartphone is always with you, and recruiters know that. That’s why growing numbers of them are utilizing mobile technologies to recruit and vet job candidates.
Utilizing mobile technology in the hiring process can make the application and interview process move along much more quickly, says Erin Peterson, recruitment outsourcing practice leader with Aon Hewitt, a global leader in human capital consulting and outsourcing solutions. New technologies also make the hiring process seem “more fair for the candidate,” Peterson said. “Lots of candidates say that after they apply for a job, they feel like their resume falls into a black hole. Mobile tools give every candidate a chance to tell their story.”
For instance, companies are making job applications available via mobile device, offering job-fit assessment surveys via mobile device, and even conducting interviews via text and mobile phone automation. Here are four ways that PNC Financial Services Group is using mobile technology to improve its hiring process:
1. Mobile recruiting website.
PNC launched a mobile website (m.pnc.jobs) targeted to college and graduate students, which contains information about employment opportunities and offers a place for job candidates to leave contact information “without going through a full application process,” says Jillian Snavley, vice president and senior recruiting manager for PNC. “The site was launched in tandem with a QR code to capture and organize leads for follow-up purposes.” The mobile website includes simplified search functionality, narrowing search options to “keyword” and “state” to reduce the number of clicks and fields to view jobs.
2. Viral videos.
Harnessing the power of YouTube, PNC recently launched a new playlist called “A Great Place to Work.” The playlist includes videos of PNC employees talking about their experiences with the company.
3. Mobile interviews. For high-volume recruiting efforts, PNC uses a recorded audio interface to screen candidates more effectively and efficiently. Similar to a voicemail system, the mobile interview asks a recorded question then beeps, and then the candidate responds to the question. The applicant can complete the interview at his or her convenience and the recruiter can listen to his or her recorded answers later. Student applicants for jobs at PNC now participate in recorded video interviews to minimize travel, and the company is also piloting a live video interface for real-time interviews.
4. Interview scheduling. For hiring events, PNC uses automated tools such as a self-scheduling tool that is designed for candidates, recruiters and hiring managers and reduces the amount of time spent on scheduling, Snavley says.
Using mobile technologies in the hiring process is a growing trend, Snavley says, and PNC is actively working on several other innovations to continue to improve the recruiting and hiring process. “New technology makes the application process easier for candidates and recruiters,” she says. “For the company, it is more effective and scalable.”
Have you used mobile technology in researching, applying, or interviewing for a job? How did you like it? Let us know.
Check out the latest Career Insider eNewsletter - December 15, 2011.
