Virtual Interviews in Second Life
Technologically Advanced Ways To Screw Up An Interview
Oh, Modern Technology. Sometimes you help, sometimes you hinder. And sometimes you make us look like dorks. The Wall Street Journal had this article about humans and how some of us may not be ready for virtual prime time. I think the WSJ was going for a technology / business / career angle, but the whole business-tone of the article fell apart for me quickly and it was just funny.
Recruitment advertising firm TMP Worldwide Advertising & Communications LLC recently held a virtual job fair. And what’s a virtual job fair without virtual interviews? Virtually pointless, you say? But what if you mix virtual interviews with people who had to look up “avatar” in their (actual) dictionaries? Then you’ve got something.
In theory, virtual interviewing seems like a good idea. It’s more efficient, cuts down on travel expenses, the individuals being interviewed have time to think before they type their answers to interview questions, higher-ups may be able to make a virtual appearance, etc. Sadly, I think only people who rock at the avatar thing (I don’t so I’m being vague—do you “use” an avatar? Do you “be” an avatar? Or is it just “an avatar thing”?) will kick virtual interview booty. Anyone who doesn’t spend time as a two-dimensional figment of their own imagination isn’t going to look at all professional.
Many things went awry. People couldn’t figure out how to dress their avatars in proper interview attire so they showed up to an executive interview wearing t-shirts and jeans. Someone’s avatar slumped over and fell asleep. When trying to hand over a résumé, the avatar handed over a beer instead. Part way through interviews avatars started floating. It’s funny, but not professional. And when are you most concerned with looking professional? Yep…
Fortunately, virtual interviews aren’t to be the norm quite yet.
Employers say they don’t view Second Life as a replacement for traditional recruitment methods but as an additional step that helps narrow the pool of candidates. “I do not envision the day that we would hire somebody virtually,” says Betty Smith, manager of university recruiting for the Americas region at H-P. “This is really a supplement to our regular recruiting practices.”
Here’s a hilarious video of actual humans reenacting Second Life avatars and their non-professional moments in the work place.
Posted by Alexa Harrington
