Podcasts: A Different Take on Recruitment
Long, vague job postings that require too much time to read are out. Concise postings that are quick and easy to digest are in. So how can you pack as much information into a job posting without dragging it out in a bunch of text? If you’re the city government of Edmonton, Canada, you add a podcast.
Shahid Wazed, the leader of talent acquisition for The City of Edmonton, mentioned that 50% of the government’s applicants came through a mobile device. That percentage, coupled with the fact that candidates are spending less and less time scrolling through job posts, compelled Wazed to suggest “embed[ding] an informative, engaging podcast right into the job posting”.¹
A short podcast embedded at the beginning of a posting can give insight into company culture, especially if it’s hosted by management. It’ll give applicants a quick overview of what it would be like to work for a company, and allow them to decide if the position will be a good fit. It’s also less time-consuming for everyone involved. If a candidate listens to a podcast and determines the company culture is not a good fit, they won’t have to spend time reading through the rest of the job description. This way only the most qualified candidates will apply. It saves time for applicants and HR teams alike.
Podcasts are easy to make. Unlike videos, which you need expensive cameras to make, all you need to record a podcast is a microphone and editing software. There are many free editing programs available online, and all Apple computers come preloaded with the easy-to-use editing software Garageband. The podcast process also allows for a more comfortable experience for any hiring manager who may not enjoy being on camera. Hiring teams can simply develop a script that lays out all the important points about their company and then have the host read from it.²