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Ask HN - rate my startup idea

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Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#11

Post by recurser »

hugh3 wrote: post #7

Well, from a candidate's point of view, I think it might be slightly annoying to be told "Hi, we're interested in your CV, but not quite interested enough to actually talk to you. Why don't you take the time to record a video of yourself, and then maybe we'll watch some of it!" From an employer's point of view, it's hard to see what I'm going to get out of this that I can't get more quickly by picking up the phone an…

One advantage I can see is that you'd have a video you could show to the rest of your team at their leisure, without everyone having to sit in on the phone call. Maybe you send the team a link to the list of applicants, where they can rate each one 1-5, and at the end of the day you have a consensus who you should talk to.

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#12

Post by Maciek416 »

marakas wrote: post #2

I am still working on the back-end to the system but in the meantime I really want to get some feedback from you guys. I have been building the system in my spare time and have now got to the point where I need some extra motivation to see it through to completion. Honest comments appreciated!

The automated video interview idea is really cool. This would have been useful to us earlier this year when we were filtering through many candidates for a junior role, where you don't necessarily want to disqualify people with a lack of experience, but want to get a good feel for their personality and their ability to talk about what they're interested in.

I think the biggest comment I'd have with your project is that the name of the product doesn't communicate to me what it does nor does it hint at the video idea -- I had to dig in and find it myself.

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#13

Post by kondro »

The only feedback I can give you is that if an employer wanted me to complete this process I would look for a different employer.

Being treated like a machine even before you are hired by a company would be a gigantic flashing warning sign for me.

However, you might have some luck with companies & governments that I would never consider working for because they treat their staff like shit.

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#15

Post by Jabbles »

hugh3 wrote: post #7

Well, from a candidate's point of view, I think it might be slightly annoying to be told "Hi, we're interested in your CV, but not quite interested enough to actually talk to you. Why don't you take the time to record a video of yourself, and then maybe we'll watch some of it!" From an employer's point of view, it's hard to see what I'm going to get out of this that I can't get more quickly by picking up the phone an…

A lot of companies ask you to fill in mindless forms about how you show "client-focused abilities" or "initiative awareness". I challenge you to apply to IBM without being irritated by it.

I think a lot of people would prefer short video questions and answers over form-filling, even if the questions were the same.

In fact, I think this could even reduce the pressure on candidates. Instead of worrying about how you phrase your answers on paper, you get one shot (do you?) at a video response. This may be better for the employer as well. Who cares how well you can answer a question after a couple of hours of research? (I realise the answer "I don't know but I can find out" is actually quite a good one to many questions.)

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#16

Post by perlgeek »

Application data is rather sensitive information, and I'd hesitate to give it to a website of a company unknown to me.

Worth yet, the privacy aspect isn't even mentioned on the start page or the FAQs.

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#17

Post by owkaye »

smikolay wrote: post #10

might be worth chatting with a lawyer on this - I know that pictures on CVs in the US are frowned upon due the the discrimination they may cause (age, gender, race, etc); how do you ensure you mitigate this risk when passing a video of someone around the office?

Interviews are not illegal and they are typically a very important part of the hiring process, so I don't see this as a problem.

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#18

Post by jules »

recurser wrote: post #11
hugh3 wrote: post #7

Well, from a candidate's point of view, I think it might be slightly annoying to be told "Hi, we're interested in your CV, but not quite interested enough to actually talk to you. Why don't you take the time to record a video of yourself, and then maybe we'll watch some of it!" From an employer's point of view, it's hard to see what I'm going to get out of this that I can't get more quickly by picking up the phone an…

One advantage I can see is that you'd have a video you could show to the rest of your team at their leisure, without everyone having to sit in on the phone call. Maybe you send the team a link to the list of applicants, where they can rate each one 1-5, and at the end of the day you have a consensus who you should talk to.

A great way to hire good looking people!

Re: Ask HN - rate my startup idea

#20

Post by gawker »

kondro wrote: post #13

The only feedback I can give you is that if an employer wanted me to complete this process I would look for a different employer. Being treated like a machine even before you are hired by a company would be a gigantic flashing warning sign for me. However, you might have some luck with companies & governments that I would never consider working for because they treat their staff like shit.

Agree with you there.
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