Accenture, one of the world’s largest recruitment agencies, has opened up a careers island in Second Life, according to ThinkBalm’s Erica Driver.
Again, this use of Second Life is about streamlining cost and setting up as many in-world recruitment meetings as possible (Accenture is in 49 countries). The advantage is that more people can meet with recruiters online, and the company has simplified the process within SL to make it much easier for internal recruiters to use. The Accenture island looks pretty much like a traditional office, which means it is using SL as a brand extender. And Accenture, by default, tests potential hires’ technical skills simply by their presence in Second Life.
Now this one seems an obvious fit because of the volume of Second Life users. But one question that comes up is, how can an employer judge a potential hire based on an avatar? If I were to show up for a job interview with wings and the head of a raven (after all, isn’t this the point of Second Life?), will I be prejudged? Of course, I’m sure that most normal-minded people will create a professional-looking avatar, but for once, I’d like to show up at a job interview as a Angelina Jolie-lookalike. Hey, can’t we all have our recruitment fantasies?
Funny, but true. Corporeality prejudices do indeed occur throughout virtuality. I tend to prefer the whimsical furry avatars, but after many comments during some professional events in Second Life, I decided to have at ready a human avatar…just in case.
I assume having a bizzare or creative avatar would be a bonus if interviewing in-world for a creative type position.
Really this is no different from real life. At job interviews people are expected to put forward a professional demeanor. Nobody dresses during their off-hours the way they would for a job interview, whether they like puttering around in a garden or wearing leather hoods and getting strapped to a whipping post. Part of what the interviewers are looking for in a candidate is the ability to put aside their own entertainment in order to represent the company hiring them. So yes, if you show up with a bird’s head and wings you may find the recruiter is less than anxious to place you. But the same thing would happen in real life if you showed up in gardening clothes or fetish gear.