The Conference Coach™

In December 2008 the term unemployment was searched 8.2 million times online, a percentage increase of 206 from one year before and a change which clearly reflects our current economic struggles and changing labor environment.

With the large influx of potential candidates into the market and the continued contraction of job supply, it has become essential for many companies to cut hiring costs while at the same time maintaining high quality controls within the hiring process.

Web conferencing technologies offered by Copper Conferencing have created an efficient communication channel in many different markets allowing users to organize and “meet” subtracting the high monetary and time costs commonly found in air or ground travel. For HR departments, this means that an internet meeting may serve as an initial interview or screening. For hiring managers, the use of web conferencing as a hiring tool means that an internet meeting may replace an intial phone meeting or may serve as the primary interview if a candidate is located elsewhere. As web conferencing technology matures and market adoption broadens, it is only natural for its purpose to evolve and encompass new venues like hiring.

Hiring as a process has maintained a certain straight-line approach in recent history. The resume and the cover letter, a phone interview and then a meeting in person are the unquestionable norms. But there is much to be gained in time and effort through the application of web conferencing. Let’s imagine being able to schedule and interview multiple applicants without drastically affecting your work flow thereby creating face time in an environment that allows you to share documents, images, and more. Internet conferencing allows human resources and hiring managers to break the old-style candidate screening cycle and usher in a new era of interviewing with all the bells and whistles of modern life by using web conferencng.

Web conferencing’s effect in hiring not only relies on its ability to increase efficiencies, but to also help to broaden the talent pool by removing geographical restraints. With 9.1 million visitors at Careerbuilder.com alone in December 2008, it becomes clear that talent is out there and it’s not just in your backyard. So through the technologies of web conferencing, hiring managers and HR professionals can meet with high caliber individuals from one ocean to the other without skipping a beat.

As with all new uses of current technology, there are always obstacles to overcome and web conferencing as a hiring tool is not impenetrable. Web cams have come down in price but are still not a “must-have” item and unemployed individuals might be reluctant to fork out the cash on a chance. Furthermore, individuals might feel uncomfortable interacting through a camera and speakers and may not present their best effort.

With the mainstream adoption of broadband Internet and the acceptance of web-based communication as a valid medium, it only seems natural that hiring will find a purpose within web conferencing. Not only are companies hiring able to find efficiencies and broaden the talent pool, but they are also able begin the process of aclimating new employees in the ever-changing terrain of business communication.