Member Article

Liverpool firm introduces Avatar interview technique for recruiters

A Liverpool start-up has created an online interviewing system, using 3-D avatars, to simplify the recruitment process for companies and candidates.

Interviewpeopleonline.com, has been set up by David Harries and David Arthur to addresse the problem of costly and time-consuming first-round selection of candidates for final interview.

Adopting ‘best of breed’ software from a variety of sources, they have created an online platform, using the ‘Avatars’ to give recruiters a way to interview a broad range of candidates quickly and accuracy, while cutting costs compared with traditional face-to-face methods.

Mr Arthur said: “Like many business managers, we found it hard to get the balance right between conducting first round sifting interviews and giving time and opportunity to every candidate to show themselves to best advantage, while making sure the business was getting the proper attention.”

He said online interviewing, using a set of pre-determined questions, gives each candidate the same opportunity to shine.

“We have also adopted a wonderful innovation from the US, which is to introduce a personality to the interview with 3-D avatars; this really helps candidates to relax and give the best possible account of themselves.”

Mr Harries said: “Surprisingly, people engage with avatars quite readily and find that the absence of an actual person can lead to a less combative, confrontational experience and, as a result, candidates give more honest responses.

“Of course, the new generation coming in to the workforce is very comfortable with avatars and life-like animation from years of playing computer games.”

The two founders say that online interviewing saves time on scheduling, travelling, and conducting interviews, with industry savings estimated as high as 81%.

The interview can be conducted at a time convenient to the candidate and reviewed at a time convenient to the hirer.

Candidates use their own PC to access the interview and record their answers.

Mr Harries explained that, sometimes, a candidate is quickly seen not to be right for a particular post and when this happens, in a face-to-face interview, out of respect for the candidate and to protect the hirer’s brand, the interview will be allowed to run on, whereas a video interview can be ended and the time saved.

He added: “By interviewing people online, employers can take back control of their diaries, offer a modern interview solution, save considerable sums and keep their focus on the business.

“Candidates get a modern, innovative engagement with the hirer and the hirer’s brand.”

Interviewpeopleonline.com is based in the St Paul’s Square corporate banking facility of Santander after the founders were selected as tenants as part of a recent competition offering incubator space.

Mr Harries said: “We have a city centre address and a friendly landlord with massive kudos and a very high profile. Besides the wonderful accommodation, the prize from Santander also gives us access to practical help and business expertise as we grow.”

Santander picked interviewpeopleonline.com from a range of applicants having seen the potential for a rapid-growth enterprise.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .