If you watch science fiction films, your idea of virtual reality may be a little more advanced than current technology. However, there's no denying that virtual reality applications are up and coming. Virtual reality (VR), also called immersive multimedia, is a computer-generated environment that simulates physical presence in either real world or imaginary places. VR aims to recreate sensory experiences to evoke place, taste, sight, smells, sounds and touch, and it is already in use for corporate applications such as recruiting.
According to the PewResearch Center’s report “Killer Apps in the Gigabit Age,” a few respondents foresaw virtual reality being applied to most interactions that we currently only do face to face, even beyond entertainment. Work, tourism and family connectivity will have fewer limitations, extending to academic and scientific research, health and education, and civic responsibility. Some even suggested that virtual reality will eliminate the barriers of time and space for better collaboration and problem-solving.
In my work as the CEO and CTO of a workforce solutions and staffing agency, I’ve explored three areas of recruiting where VR is starting to take off.
The Military
The military uses VR to train and prepare soldiers for different combat situations, according to Wareable.com. VR military combat training lets the military expose new soldiers to a wider variety of training scenarios with less time and cost than field training. It also uses VR as a recruitment tool, designed to engage the typical recruits between the ages of 16 and 24. The UK military uses VR for recruiting, letting interested recruits experience what it’s like to fight in a war zone. They also use a simplified online application and a “100 Percent Army Fit” app that lets recruits build up their fitness to the level of a soldier in training.
Colleges and Universities
Colleges are starting to use VR to recruit potential students. It not only increases engagement, it also reduces costs, creating a positive return on investment. For instance, the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia uses cardboard headsets and a smartphone app to give high school students a virtual tour of their campus. Trinity University uses cardboard VR headsets as well at recruiting events at high schools and colleges, as well as with alumni. Many schools are also using VR in college athletic recruiting. The University of Michigan, Iowa State University and the University of Las Vegas all use VR to recruit athletes for football.
Corporate Applications
Virtual recruiting is already a major part of many employment recruiters’ recruitment processes. It lets employers expand their recruiting efforts to wider geographic areas with fewer travel expenses. Virtual job fairs and virtual open houses let recruiters connect with interested candidates and conduct interviews without leaving the office.
For example, General Mills is using virtual reality for recruiting at the suggestion of one of the company’s application developers. The cereal maker used a 360-degree GoPro rig to shoot scenes all over the company headquarters and surrounding area. They then use this video at career fairs, usually the only company there using VR. They're also considering using VR for other things including tours of offices and plants as well as training.
Virtual reality has further applications for recruiting, including tours, assessments, interviews and meetings. Companies can create virtual tours of their headquarters, offices around the world or work environments to attract top talent. They can also create virtual assessments for candidates to perform to learn their skill levels and abilities. They can interview candidates and meet with them virtually, saving travel and accommodations expenses and cutting down on recruitment time.
VR Gear
Two popular VR viewer platforms are Google Cardboard and Samsung’s Gear VR. Both of them use a smartphone as the display and specialized VR apps to immerse the viewer in different places.
Cardboard is an economical viewer that can be custom-branded and used as a mailing or giveaway after an event. Gear VR is a higher-end VR experience and can be good for special meetings, clients and events to make an impact.
VR has solutions for many traditional recruiting pain points. You can start with a simple VR test sample or fully incorporate VR into your recruiting process to get a sense for how it can change your recruiting results. How will your company use VR for recruiting? What are your recruiting process challenges?
