Case Study - The Kirdonn Group Applying Internet Video Technology in the Recruiting Business

The Kirdonn Group is a permanent placement search and recruiting firm specializing in placing candidates in sales, marketing, and management positions. Kirdonn, who maintains offices in Kansas City and Saint Louis, began using SoftVu's video technology, ResuVu, in March 2000 as a pilot customer.

Chuck Padilla is a Sales Recruiter with Kirdonn. He's been in the HR and recruiting business for more than 25 years. He made eight placements in the first full month Kirdonn used the ResuVu system. Says Chuck, "I have never really considered myself a computer person. I used the PC for the basics but didn't really get into the Internet. ResuVu has opened a lot of doors with new customers. I'm working with clients I never would have linked up with before."

Said Padilla, "Where ResuVu has made the most impact for me is with client presentations. Recently, I had a meeting with a high growth "dot com" company. Knowing they needed to hire sales executives, I set up a ResuVu account and put video resumes for two candidates into their folder before the meeting. I started the meeting by having the client log into our website and view the resumes. They loved it! We walked away with the order."

Building relationships with new client companies is one of the main reasons Kirdonn elected to explore this new technology. "Video resumes delivered via the Internet are a leading edge technology service" said Jim Panus, President of Kirdonn. "Not everyone is doing this. It's a chance to stand out from the pack. Most importantly, it is a way to add value to the business relationship with our customers. The video resumes save time with initial screenings."

Kirdonn has also had positive feedback from the candidates they work with. All candidates are asked to come in for an initial meeting and video resume recording session. The video resume is optional, but few candidates have refused.

"I encourage candidates to think of the video as an opportunity to talk with a hiring manager and sell themselves," said Padilla. "We have yet to have a hiring manager who has been given a video resume not call the candidate in for an interview. If anything, the videos have gotten candidates more interviews. One company saw a video and created a job for the candidate based on the presentation skills demonstrated in the video resume."

Kirdonn has also found that video resumes have helped to speed up the hiring process. According to Padilla, "I have client companies who have several managers involved in the hiring process. With ResuVu, they can watch the resumes on their own schedules. Instead of coordinating calendars for multiple managers and candidates, all I have to do is e-mail their username and password, and they can view the candidates from their home or office according to their individual schedules. This has really worked well for everyone: our clients, candidates, and Kirdonn."

The Kirdonn website is directly linked to SoftVu's servers. Client companies of Kirdonn access the system from a password protected area of the Kirdonn website. The clients then have visibility with potential applicants for open positions with their company. In addition, hiring managers can view the video resumes of candidates the Kirdonn recruiters are recommending to fill their positions. The Kirdonn site also serves as an electronic application center for candidates. With their user name and password, candidates can log in to apply for positions, update resume information, and schedule video sessions.

Panus said "ResuVu is helping streamline our client management activities and is making our website a key part of our business. From the web, we can review and forward candidate videos to clients. All our clients need in order to view the videos is a computer, browser and Internet connection. While we're only three months into using this technology, we are already seeing a tremendous difference in our business."