What does the metaverse mean for recruitment and the modern job search?

I’m sure everyone’s been reading up on the “metaverse” with Facebook’s recent rebrand. Even Disney’s on the bandsteamboat - the first cartoon to synchronise sound with image.

My take is that the metaverse links up the technologies available to create the most seamless experience, enabling our lives for the better.

And we’ve already seen this in the modern job search, since the start of the pandemic, with job seekers evolving from the traditional agency and job board approach to embracing LinkedIn, marketing, branding and other previously alien concepts.

Indeed, I’m an advocate of an integrated multichannel approach, in business and a job search, to use the most appropriate channels and means in support of our goals.

One might say it’s a metaversal job search, while one vomits into a bucket.

Watch out for the metaversal jobs market, coming soon!

While in Recruitment, we see increasing move towards automation, AI, video and other funky tech.

But here’s where it gets interesting for me.

What problems do these ideas, platforms and technology solve?

If we move towards tech for its own sake, this can become a distraction rather than an enabler.

Look at the flimflam that is Clubhouse and how trendy it was for six minutes, until we realised how irritating most of the rooms were.

YMMV.

Or look at video.

I’m often pitched to use video to improve conversion, representation and service – yet I have no problem in these areas, and indeed those who know me, know me for the quality of what I do, with no challenge of why don’t I use video platforms.

At the same time, there is the danger of new biases as employers move towards more attractive messaging over substance.

That said, video is an excellent enabler if you have your strategy and processes in order, and your messaging still isn’t delivering.

Which is why, especially as a lot of these technologies evolve, I return to the use of the word ‘appropriate’.

When looking at new opportunities in this metaverse, look at what appropriately enables us to improve our lot.

In the future, I expect this will involve VR, AI, automation and other technology which isn’t quite there yet, and in many ways are currently often an excuse for poor service.

For now, beware the incoming sales pitch that encourages you to jump onto the metaversal bandwagon.