While automated hiring technologies are still in their infancy, recruiters envision a world in which they can reduce the hiring cycle time by 90 percent, anticipate what skills will be in demand before they can be articulated, and call up information about a potential hire on their computer screens. Nike is on example of a company using computer-assisted interviewing. The company has used an Aspen Tree product to hire employees for Niketowns, retail stores that showcase Nike products. Nike used IVR technology to make the first cut. The rest had a computer-assisted interview at the store, followed by a personal interview.
Applicants are customers as well as potential hires.
The computer interview identified those candidates who had been in customer service environments, had a passion for sports and would make good Nike customer service representatives. Interviews were done in batches. As applicants completed the interview a printer in the next room printed their responses. Areas that needed to be probed further were flagged, as were areas that indicated particular strengths. While the applicant completed an application form online, the interviewer used the printout to prepare for the applicant's human interview.