How far would you go (virtually) to get a job?

Times have changed. Recruitment is not simply through a resume and a cover letter, especially for the creative jobs – communications, social media, ads development and many more. It’s not just about ‘talking’ anymore – companies would love to see how you can do it.

Just last summer, MasterCard Canada launched an intern search for the cashless society campaign. It asked student applicants to demonstrate what a cashless society means to them using social media. Students were asked to send in a resume, a cover letter and a creative digital submission of what a cashless society looks like to them. And the more ‘likes’ they receive for the video, the higher chance they stand in getting the internship. Also, updates of interview offers were conducted via twitter. Within 4 weeks, the applications rose to 350 applicants and 46% of MasterCard twitter conversations were about the intern program. In the past, they received 30 applications but with this campaign, they had a total of 532 qualified candidates and MasterCard hired an extra intern because of the quality of the candidates. Now, the social interview process is part of MasterCard’s global recruitment effort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3BLRJ0C_I

Just a couple of weeks ago, Ellen DeGeneres hired a Washington State University alumna, Erica Norris, a Bachelor of Communications student after she sent in huge box with a QR code pasted on it – with the code leading to a Youtube video of why Ellen should hire her. In the end, Erica was invited to her show and was offered the job on the spot. This was her second attempt to get Ellen’s attention through the video (her first was just a video online).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIA79GN3nWE

Look at the wonders of how the internet acts as a platform for the hiring process. Yes, indeed – without it, this type of hiring process would be made impossible. But what is important here is that companies are recognizing the need to hire people “who knows what they are doing” – what I mean is that if you claim to be applying for a social media role, you don’t have to be perfect, but are you at least engaged in it?

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