First sold as an entertainment space, the metaverse (or virtual reality in general) is finding more and more applications in the working world, including job search and recruitment. Here are 4 ways virtual reality can be used to support candidates and recruiters in the near future.
1. Preparing for an interview
Virtual reality is a formidable training tool. It is already used to train airplane pilots, doctors and various technical professions. However, there are now virtual reality applications that can simulate an interview in the metaverse. The immersive skills development application Bodyswaps, created in England, is one of them:
The learner interacts – using his or her voice – with avatars for which scripts have been written and previously played by actors,” explained Christophe Mallet, co-founder of the immersive skills development application Bodyswaps.
The tool is currently available in French and English to employment assistance organizations, including Forem in Belgium and Contact North in Ontario.
Career counsellors can send learners to practice certain interview techniques such as anxiety management, body language, self-awareness, storytelling, etc. The exercise can be done before or after a classic mock interview. It’s a way to increase competence in self-care,” he adds.
According to internal data, the solution shows that candidates feel more confident in several skill areas, including “answering unexpected questions”, “analyzing questions to identify the interviewer’s expectations”, “connecting strengths with career ambitions”. (See infographic here)
Other similar solutions: Virtual Speech, Talespin.
2. Holding job fairs
During the pandemic, large companies looked for ways to meet candidates without having to travel or have physical contact with them. “Virtual” events became common; and some took the expirement to the extreme by setting up shop in the metaverse.
South Korean telecom company SK Telecom held its first job fair on a homegrown metaverse platform “ifland” last September, and plans to repeat the experience. Next March, LG Eletronics and Samsung Electronics (now in its second experiment) will also hold job fairs in the metaverse.
Recruiters can evaluate candidates while giving presentations of their company portfolio on the platform,” explained Oh Sung-eun, a counselor at Seoul National University’s Career Development Center, in an article in Korea JoongAng Daily.
3. Welcoming new employees
The metaverse goes from being an attraction tool to an integration and training tool when candidates are hired. The car manufacturer Hyundai has taken a leap into the future by offering its new recruits an integration activity in the form of an immersive integration journey.
Hyundai’s website describes the experience as such:
New employees chose their destination from among the most famous European cities such as Barcelona, Prague, Istanbul and enjoyed a two-hour online journey. Live content, quality narration and rich storytelling helped create a very enjoyable experience. Above all, the live conversations with a local guide allowed them to learn about local cuisine, culture, etc., which made it feel like they were really on a trip.”
Once new employees have gotten to know each other, the metaverse can become a training tool again. Hyundai is considering moving its annual training to the metaverse. In a similar vein, MGM Resort (hotels and casinos) has created a VR experience that allows prospective employees to practice responding to difficult customers.
Virtual reality gives employees the opportunity to correct themselves without the stress or worry of making a mistake,” explained Chief Human Resources Officer Laura Lee, in a Business Insider article.
4. Conducting screening interviews
One step that no company seems willing to take so far is to use metaverse to conduct a job interview. And that’s understandable, given that virtual reality headsets aren’t yet commonplace in homes.
That could easily change, however,” warns tech analyst Nick Kolakowski. “With Facebook investing billions of dollars in its virtual reality-powered metaverse, and companies like Microsoft exploring business-oriented VR applications for the HoloLens and other VR devices, there is potentially a future where candidates are interviewed in virtual reality, especially if companies can simulate aspects of their operations.”
Something to follow.
