Asked to submit a video with job application

[mrsfeatherbottom]

Is this a thing nowadays? Just emailed a cover letter and CV for a job and immediately got a response asking me to send a short video of my skills and experience! Have never come across this in my life and a quick google tells me that it could be to root out time wasters but lots of people horrified at the notion and saying that it could be discriminatory. Doing the CV and prepping for an interview is bad enough!!

BTW, this is for a part time job, remote working job, not some super well paid thing.

It’s likely because it’s a remote roll. They want to “meet” candidates.

Is that not what an interview is for?

I've seen it a couple times. Hate it. I refuse to participate in things like that because it's a waste of my time.

I have seen a few of these. I don't like them at all, and I do think they're potentially discriminatory. We've gone in the opposite direction at work by trying to take out any personal details prior to shortlisting so that we can reduce unconscious bias when assessing applications.

Having said that, it's possible that companies are doing this as a means of trying to deter AI generated applications and cover letters etc. It's very difficult these days to know what the fairest and most reliable approach is.

Urgh I would hate this! But as the pp says I guess it's to weed out all of the AI applications.

I'd do it, and hate it, for a job I really wanted though.

I do need a job so I will do a 60 second video today essentially repeating the info in my CV and cover letter. Hope it's not too awkward.

Although, I looked on Glassdoor and the company gets a poor rating! I hate job hunting.

Good luck, you can get through it.

Come and join us in the job seekers lounge thread! We're going through it too.

It's a great way for employers to get around not being able to ask about age or ethnicity on applications...

I haven’t come across this yet, but I would do it. It will improve your odds as loads of people won’t do it.

I would be worried they would use it to weed out older people.

I wouldn't even know how to do that!

Even if they aren't intentionally trying to weed people out, there will be lots of unconscious bias at play, based on how people look, how they speak etc. Of course, that happens at interviews too, but at least people have a bit longer to make an impression in an interview, and candidates will all be answering the same questions, which provides a degree of objective comparison. I would worry about short videos not giving people equal opportunities.

I didn't put my date of birth on my CV as it apparently isn't the done thing anymore but they can see that I went to University in the 90s so I think they'll be able to guess I'm not GenZ!

I guess if they would discriminate against me for my age, I wouldn't want to work for them anyway.

I'm just going to film it on my phone!

Well, yes, there is that!!

@mrsfeatherbottom I don't even know how to do that! I've never even taken a selfie as I've no idea how to do that either 😂

I would just highlight those bits of your career that cover the experience they are asking for - so tailor it. Don't just repeat your CV.

You haven't said what the job is which I think has a big impact on this.

My opinion would be very different if the role was a TV Presenter or working in Digital Marketing or something customer facing than if the role was in admin.

Ha ha! Not a TV presenter. Given I've already done about 12 takes and haven't even lasted a minute, I will not be changing careers to TV presenter anytime soon!!

It's essentially an admin role, not customer facing from the job description but will need decent computer skills!

So, I've just received another email from the company asking that I get my referees to submit an audio reference which involves them creating an account on the company's website ... surely that's just bonkers!

That's crazy. Most companies only provide minimal details like dates now anyway. And most companies are stretched for resources as it is without having to create audio references! I know we wouldn't do that if asked.
All this for an admin role! I'm stunned.

I wouldn’t be submitting an audio reference. Is this a UK company? It doesn’t take a lot for AI to copy people’s voices. See the recent BBC coverage of what happened at Pikesville High School.

An audio reference?! For an admin role? I wouldn't do that

Crikey that's a bit much

I saw this recently for a role at a high street jewellers. For them, I think they want to see if a person's face 'fits' their brand. However I really see no point in it for your position.

thats ridiculous.

I can’t see my most recent employer doing this.