Morrisons and other household names to offer thousands of jobs in "virtual hiring"

Jobseekers will be able to interview for 2,000 jobs from the safety of their home next Tuesday and Wednesday when the UK’s largest job site, Indeed, launches its first virtual National Hiring Days on November 10 and 11.

The job site said the National Hiring Days remove technical hurdles and speed up the interviewing timeline by delegating the administrative tasks to Indeed. The firm said it will reduce the time to hire from an average of six weeks to a matter of days.

Indeed said the initiative will be a welcome boost following the news that around 7,200 workers are set to lose their jobs after Sainsbury’s, Lloyds, John Lewis and Clarks announced job cuts.

Indeed’s new virtual interview technology means people can book interview slots for roles in retail, logistics and care. More than a dozen companies are taking part in the free event.

Between them, Bradford-based Morrisons and Lidl will offer 300 jobs in retail. Insurer Direct Line Group will offer 100 jobs and in logistics, DHL, Yodel, UPS will offer over 460 jobs.

Over 1,000 jobs will be offered in the care sector by major names such as Bupa Care Homes, HC-One, Four Seasons Healthcare, Voyage Care Group, Care UK, Priory Group, Elysium Healthcare, The Orders of St Johns Care Trust, Maria Mallaband, Affinity Trust and Sunrise Senior Living.

Indeed said the hiring drive comes as unemployment has risen to its highest level in three years and hundreds of thousands of people have been made redundant after Covid-19 turned the jobs market on its head.

The online setting means that people living under newly imposed Covid-19 measures will be able to connect to potential employers.

Job Seekers can book an interview at: https://events.indeed.com/virtual_hiring_day/44/

Bill Richards, managing director at Indeed, said: “We know these are anxious times and with millions of people facing unemployment many will be left wondering what to do next. Indeed is here to help and our virtual National Hiring Days easily connect job seekers to employers so they can quickly find work or make new hires. Our research shows finding a job is one of the top priorities for people in the UK and our technology makes it easier for people from all backgrounds to interview for and even be offered roles.”

John Hardman, chief people officer at Yodel, said: “As we prepare for the run-up to Christmas we have a number of vacancies across the business and we’re excited to be working with Indeed to help those looking for their next role.

“As part of this, we have introduced our virtual interview process, ensuring convenience and safety for all. At Yodel we pride ourselves on our people, and our colleagues all enjoy the team spirit and opportunity to play a part in important community initiatives such as delivering food to NHS hospitals.”

Jeremy Richardson, chief executive of Four Seasons Health Care, said: “Whilst care homes continue to face enormous challenges, Four Seasons Health Care remains committed to looking after the overall wellbeing of our residents and maintaining the very highest standards in safety and care by investing in its teams.

“We’re currently recruiting more than 1,000 roles and virtual interviews have been a really safe and effective way of finding the right people for our homes during the pandemic. Real-time face to face conversations and more flexible interview times to fit around the individual provide a great candidate experience and have speeded up the whole hiring process to help us get the right people into the right roles quickly and efficiently.”

Indeed's top five tips for a video interview:

Research the company

Within the description of a hiring event, employers will leave important clues about what to expect. They may also include job requirements, such as necessary certifications, requirements of the job or other details that will help you determine whether it’s the right fit for you.

Check your internet connection

Try to find a quiet location with a good internet connection and a computer or laptop with a webcam. It’s also a good idea to check that your webcam and audio are working and to close any windows, tabs or applications on your computer that you’re not using. As a backup ask the interviewer for a phone number where you can reach them if you experience technical difficulties.

Dress appropriately

Virtual interviews might be a different experience than usual but some things remain the same. You should aim to dress professionally and if in doubt stick to what you would wear for an in-person interview.

Remember body language

Eye contact is very important during an in-person interview so try to avoid the instinct to look directly at your interviewer on the screen while you’re answering a question. Instead, when you speak, direct your gaze towards the camera lens.

Don’t fret about interruptions

Accidents and mistakes happen so the best thing to do if something unexpected happens is to try to remain relaxed. Interviewers are getting used to interruptions like your video or audio stopping working, noise interruptions and people entering the room unexpectedly.