Human resources (HR) plays an essential role in organizations’ success. In recent years, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have emerged as revolutionary technologies that can transform businesses’ HR management. The use of AR and VR in HR processes is just beginning, but it has great potential in recruiting, onboarding, training and virtual workspaces.
The Emergence of VR in Recruitment
Statista projects that in 2023, the AR and VR market will generate revenue of $32.1 billion. The largest market segment within the AR and VR market is AR software, which is expected to reach a market volume of $11.9 billion this year.
The AR and VR market has seen significant global growth, and countries like the US and China are paving the way in the innovation and adoption of these new technologies.
Nowadays, VR technology has been leveraged in recruitment processes to enhance candidate experiences, improve training methodologies and streamline hiring procedures. Below are some cases of organizations successfully adopting VR in the HR process.
PwC collaborated with Talespin, a VR content development platform, to conduct a soft skills study. The findings revealed that employees could train four times faster than in a traditional classroom setting. Additionally, they exhibited 2.75 times more confidence in applying new skills and 3.75 times greater emotional connection to the content compared to classroom learners.
In 2017, Toyota collaborated with InstaVR to craft modern office tours compatible with advanced VR equipment. InstaVR specializes in creating tools for capturing, editing, publishing and analyzing 3D experiences. After quickly and easily publishing their Virtual Office Tour using InstaVR, the company’s recruiters were able to generate massive interest among college students at job fairs.
How VR Can Assist the Human Resource process
The incorporation of VR into HR introduces numerous applications that are transforming the landscape of human resource management within organizations.
Immersive job previews. Companies have utilized VR to provide candidates with immersive job previews. This allows potential hires to experience a virtual tour of the workplace, gain insights into the company culture and better understand their potential roles, like the Toyota case.
“You can present your company in much better ways through AR and VR than you can through the traditional YouTube video,” Mueller said. Moreover, using VR to create office tours is evaluated as more practical and less costly than traditional ways.
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Enhanced training programs. PwC study case illustrates that VR helps businesses enhance their training programs. “A key benefit of VR training is learners are immersed in the experience and not distracted,” said Dan Eckert, managing director of PwC’s applied research lab for AI and emerging technology.
Obviously, VR has been integrated into training programs to provide realistic, hands-on experiences. This is particularly beneficial in industries such as healthcare, aviation and manufacturing where practical skills and simulations are essential.
Simulated job assessments. VR is being used for simulating real-world job scenarios, especially in industries where practical skills are crucial. This allows recruiters to assess candidates’ abilities in a controlled virtual environment.
“Imagine you’re hunting for people to do what Lucy and Ethel did on the assembly line; you could probably model that behavior and assess those skills with a virtual reality tool, and it might be better than the tools they currently use,” said by John Sumser, founder of HRExaminer.
The transformative impact of VR on the recruitment experience is unmistakable. As we’ve explored the various dimensions of VR adoption in hiring processes, it’s evident that this technology is reshaping the way organizations attract, assess and engage with talent. From immersive job previews and simulated assessments to enhanced training programs, VR has opened up new frontiers in the recruitment landscape. Organizations that embrace these innovations often aim to stay ahead in the competitive talent acquisition landscape while offering a modern and engaging experience for candidates.
