Podcasting as Recruiting Tool
A growing number of employers are beginning to use podcasts as recruitment advertising in an effort to standout and connect with the iPod generation now entering the workforce.
'Jobcasting' as it's called is a fairly new tool among corporate recruiters. Companies like Microsoft and Accenture were among the first to recognize the media as a marketing tool. Microsoft began theirs in March of 2005. You can hear several of them on the Microsoft Jobs Blog. Now a new service called 'Jobs in Pods' has become the most prominent site to hear jobcasts from employers in the US and Canada. In existence since March of 2007, the site now claims several prominent companies such as Intel Corporation, ZoomInfo.com, AT&T, Verizon Wireless among its clients.
What's unique about the service is that employers don't have to have any knowledge about actual podcasting. "We do all the work," says Chris Russell the founder of Jobs in Pods. "All the employer has to do is pick up the phone and answer the questions," he adds. Once the call is finished, the audio file is then published on Jobinpods.com and sites like Podcast.com, Blogorama and Podcast Alley. They even make their way onto a YouTube channel as videos where the audio is teamed with an image placeholder that details the topic of the podcast.
Jobcasts are also available for employers to place directly on their own corporate career site via the use of a widget or RSS feed.
Each jobcast is about 8-10 minutes long and typically discusses one job in detail or a particular career path within a department. Employers are given the questions ahead of time so they may prepare. Russell believes that podcasting is part of online recruiting's future. "Social media is taking over and employers can either embrace it or hide. Blogs, podcasts, video and social networks will soon become the candidates preferred choice of contact", he adds.
Courtesy of pr-usa.net
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corporate podcasting
1 comment:
Podcasting is definitely an interesting recruitment tool and can be a powerful way to talk to the “right candidates”. Employers have a huge opportunity to develop a much more personal & open communication with potentially interesting candidates around the world, through web 2.0 marketing tools.
Nonetheless, I would argue that this recruitment tool is not as simple as you portray for several reasons :
• It is new, therefore it will take a bit of time for corporations to feel comfortable with it.
• Podcasting recruitment should be part of a global e-branding recruitment strategy, and not simply a tactical tool.
• Creating the right communication message to attract the right candidates is complex, but very necessary for success.
• Corporations have to be ready to “create their own story” and to “open their doors” to potentially interesting candidates, that best identify with their organisation.
Building an employer brand means questioning the organisation, the career paths a company can offer to high performers, the capacity to attract interesting profiles outside of the core functions, how to create a global talent pipeline, how to differentiate from other equally attractive competitors, etc..
Despite what you may think, I am convinced that developing a unique e-branding approach to recruitment, will definitely help corporations succeed in attracting the best talent for their organisation. Video podcasts take the whole communication tool one step further, as the target audience can visually identify with possible future managers &/or employees in a given company.
Myself and my associate, launched our blog last week highlighting the importance of e-employer branding. In order to better understand the video podcasting tool, we developed our own podcast on “E-brand your recruitment”. Take a look if you have time : http://blog.terraconnecta.com
Anne Marie Ronayne
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