A new job site aims to help professionalise standards of video CVs and profiling in the recruitment sector.

Emmanuel Ogol, director of JobPlant.co.uk and a former in-house corporate recruiter, said that while he wouldn’t de-list candidates who submit videos from a mobile phone or lower quality webcam, he would ask them to remove the video element of their profile.

“I want to be able to guarantee the quality of the video for the recruiters who use the site,” said Ogol, who launched the service at the
beginning of the year. “Candidates have to do better at getting themselves noticed and I hope the site will help to rectify this.”

JobPlant has partnered with video production company VideoTile which will produce videos for free for candidates. JobPlant is also
issuing guidelines for individuals on how to create videos of themselves to preserve the quality of what appears on the site.

To use the site, recruiters pay an annual fee and receive access to three kinds of CV databases (graduates, executive and general), advert
placement for up to 28 days, which can include video, and free psychometric testing.

Debate continues about the use of video in the recruitment process with fears that it encourages discrimination. Ogol acknowledges
that candidates may well raise issues in this area but added: “Recruitment is moving in this direction whether we like it or not and
we need to help move it on.”

Mike Gawthorne, managing director of technical recruiter Advanced Resource Managers (ARM), agreed. He told Recruiter that as a global recruiter, using video to ‘meet’ candidates can also help overcome geographical boundaries and save time and money.

www.jobplant.co.uk
www.videotile.co.uk