Recruiting Talented Avatars in Second Life
How are companies reaching a tech savvy pool of talent? Real-world companies including IBM, Sohdexho, T-Mobile and Microsoft hold job fairs and offer information for job seekers in Second Life, a virtual world created by its residents.
Accenture has been recruiting in Second Life since 2006. Their island is designed with reception and meeting spaces that represent the company’s style and brand. Accenture uses the island as a place to meet and network with prospective employees and answer their questions. When prospective employees interact in Second Life, they demonstrate technical, personal, communication and social skills they could use to handle a real situation.
In addition to making a space that is appealing to prospective candidates, Accenture realized recruiters’ needs: an easy-to-access space and training about how to create and work through an avatar. They hold team meetings inworld to gain more experience within the virtual environment.
Visiting Accenture Island, I found eight different areas and my avatar was able to download brochures and view display boards with career information. IBM’s University Recruitment Island Teleport Board allows you to navigate to the area you want to visit. Avatars looking for temporary jobs can find Kelly Services in world.
Companies are finding that the costs of their presence and events in Second Life are less than travel and events needed for face-to-face recruitment. So job seekers—get your resume ready and let your avatar pound the virtual pavement.
When you visit Second Life, use the Search function to look in the “Business” area using terms like “careers.” Check out a TMP Virtual Career Fair. Just getting started? Find help here.
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 9:05 am and is filed under Current Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
