The opportunities of using virtual reality (VR) in recruitment are indefinite.

The virtual reality space is going through a phase of exciting growth, with forecasts suggesting that this trend will continue in the coming years. By 2022, the augmented and virtual reality market could have a total value of more than US$209 billion, up from US$27 billion in 2018.

This could lead to some exciting opportunities for employers that are committed to driving innovation in HR and workforce management.

VR and AR, a game changer in recruiting

So how exactly is VR impacting recruitment, and how can you use it to your advantage?

1. setting challenges

VR and related technologies could provide an entirely new and exciting way for employers to test the skills and ingenuity of job candidates.

In the past few years, major tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple have been investing in VR and augmented reality (AR) to help with candidate assessment. For example, HR technology firm, Cappfinity, uses AR to assess candidates by scoring them on more than 20 different strengths such as persistence, detail and risk. There are also 14 different environments which can be customised to analyse, or develop particular characteristics and abilities.

VR has also been trialed in recruitment and talent acquisition. When recruiting senior executives at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the company turned to VR to position themselves as a progressive and technology-savvy employer. PwC's talent identification leader, Carly Williams, said the company began deploying VR headsets at campus career fairs to give students virtual tours of the company’s office. This provides a “show” rather than “tell” experience, enabling students to get a feel of the office environment and culture.

New technologies can be used to not only assess candidates, but also give applicants an unique experience that they will remember, boosting brand profile and recognition for the employer.

2. enhancing candidate experience with virtual tours

If certain key roles within your organisation require people to be based in different locations and environments, VR can be a highly effective way to show candidates where they could be working and living.

This immersive technology lets people take a first-person look at their possible future workplace and city, whether it's an office or somewhere altogether more unusual. The British Army's recent deployment of VR gave participants the experience of tank driving at Salisbury Plain and parachuting at RAF Brize Norton before they were actually required to do it.

By giving candidates a clear and compelling insight into their working and living environments, you have helped them manage their expectations and improve their understanding of what the job entails. This helps you to ensure that the people you are interviewing really want to work for you.

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