Early virtual reality began in the 1950s by Morton Heilig, and since has evolved into a massive and increasingly growing market, being utilized for more wide-range purposes outside of just video games — like education, shopping, healthcare, and even space. That’s right, SPACE (Read more about it here).
Most HR industry professionals are becoming more up-to-date with new technologies and methods outside of their usual hiring practices. They’re always seeking new ways to streamline the hiring process. VR offers that potential for talent acquisition managers, starting with recruitment and hiring. VR can save time in the initial candidate screening process. Also, companies are creating unique experiences and challenges to source the best candidates by accelerating their recruitment (jobseekers don’t appreciate a long process!) – this can be applied pre- or post-interview depending on employer preference!
Another effective VR recruitment shortcut is used during onboarding. The process of bringing in a new employee is crucial because that step often determines their engagement level with their team. VR can simulate those real-life work experiences at your organization.
Your company can enhance employee training using VR, which increases accessibility for employees working remotely. It can increase employee engagement from those outside the physical office and boost connectivity and camaraderie. VR removes time barriers and inconvenience by improving flexibility so employees can access training on their own schedules and still remain engaged through a new and innovative experience.
VR isn’t merely a fad. How quickly will your company implement these new technological advancements in its HR practices? It depends on your organization’s capacity and willingness to experiment, (companies have already started!) innovate, and optimize. While these top companies become trendsetters in the VR-HR movement, that leaves us patiently awaiting on what’s next!