Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly is being recruited by employers to assist with employee testing and promotion. This is an important technology recruitment step as job recruiting continues to climb with more job openings than qualified candidates to fill them. Evidence of this comes from the latest U.S. Labor Department job figures showing 224,000 new jobs created, thus setting another record of the 105th straight month of jobs creation
Wal-Mart Using VR Recruitment
An example of VR recruitment for testing and job promotion is seen at the mega retailer Wal-Mart, America’s largest private employer. Wal-Mart is utilizing virtual reality technology to determine skill levels of workers as it applies to their potential fit for promotion. The VR skills assessment is part of the company’s selection process to find new middle managers.
Wal-Mart uses virtual reality headsets to determine which of their employees has the aptitude to take on managerial roles. Store workers who apply for a higher-paying management role are fitted with a virtual reality headset to help assess if they are the right candidates for the job.
Wal-Mart’s Senior Vice President for Associate Experience is Drew Holler. He explained that with the VR skills assessment workers are tested to determine where they may fit best. Testing encompasses knowledge of store departments, decision-making skills, leadership capacities as well as soft skills.
The VR headsets place the company’s associates in real-life situations. They are asked to give virtual store tours and to calm angry shoppers. It also tests their knowledge and abilities.
“What we measure is how they engage with us,” Holler added. “There’s no right or wrong, but it gives an understanding for their level of maturity when it comes to leadership, as well as how they view customer service.”
VR Simulations First Used By Wal-Mart In 2017
California-based STRIVR designed the virtual reality training using $250 Oculus Go VR headsets. The VR headsets were first rolled out in 2017. They were used to train associates in 30 Wal-Mart Academies to handle situations they would encounter at work. These simulations ranged from managing the produce section to handling Black Friday madness.
Use of the VR headsets has since expanded to all Wal-Mart storefronts. As of his past February, 10,000 of the company’s 1.2 million employees have undergone the skill management assessment.
David Arias, a 32-year-old, is one of these employees. Arias has been working for Wal-Mart in Economy, PA for 12 years. He was promoted and entitled to a 10 percent pay raise after being tested using the VR technology.
One of Arias’ VR scenarios required him to act as a manager assisting a store employee and a customer searching for products in the store aisles. How he handled the virtual reality situations helped the hiring manager determine his leadership and teaching skills.
While the VR assessment is used as one of the data points in the hiring processes, Holler said that the hiring director still makes the final decision.
On Our Recruiting Team Can Help With VR Recruiting
Strategic Search Corporation can help when recruiting a virtual reality engineer, engineering manager, or director or Vice President of Engineering to assist with VR. We can help your staffing team uncover the best virtual reality candidates as well as make sure they are well prepared for your interviews. As a result, they will be able to more quickly share relevant job information best needed for your company’s success.
Call me today at 312-944-4000 to discuss how we can assist with your virtual reality recruiting and staffing needs. Or click here for my full contact information.
