Dive Brief:

• Recruiters can now create, edit and publish video job descriptions through Monster's recruiting video app, Monster Studios, the company has announced. Monster first launched the app in late 2018 and solicited U.S. and European customers to participate in a beta program earlier this year.
• According to Monster, video allows recruiters and hiring managers to showcase the benefits of a job opening, the company’s characteristics and the work environment. It also provides candidates with insight into the role and company culture, said Monster.
• "Video job descriptions bring the workplace culture to life," Scott Gutz, Monster’s CEO, said in a press statement. "We know that candidates, especially on their mobile phones, don’t want to consume information by reading the large blocks of text that make up a traditional job description. Video allows a company to create a more complete view into a job which drives better connections and fit throughout the process."

Dive Insight:

Video in the recruiting process isn't a new concept, but employers and vendors alike are finding new ways to use the tech to improve transparency and stand out to applicants during the job hunt. Static job descriptions may not give applicants complete picture of a job and a company; that's problematic because when new hires quit, it's often because the job didn't meet their expectations.

Video may indeed be having a moment. LinkedIn launched video for its LinkedIn pages in mid-2018, citing video's ability to start conversations and improve engagement; the company also offers video in its Learning Pro platform, which allows learning and development professionals to add videos to training content.

By offering transparency through video in the initial stage of recruiting, employers may be able to give applicants better insight into the job or company culture. Recruiters are increasingly finding that customization is key in attracting and engaging applicants and while some have turned to algorithms to better personalize the process, many have found success by combining a digital, modern experience with the human touch. Video — still in the midst of an evolution —​ may be able to both speed up the process and humanize it.