Online Video revolutionizing how Companies Recruit

New Yorkers braved yesterday’s heat to take advantage of the opportunity to record free online video resumes, when the world’s first career TV-website, CareerTV.com, launched big in Times Square.

“It felt a bit weird doing it. But, being in the advertising industry, I believe online video resumes can really help me when applying for a job,” said Nina Ribbenklint, who completed her resume in just a few takes, despite many curious onlookers.

Best-selling author and career/workplace expert, Stephen Viscusi, states that we can expect to see more of online video resumes in the future. The technology is inexpensive and easy to use, and the online video resume has several advantages over traditional written resumes. “I call them ‘resumes on steroids’,” says Stephen Viscusi. “Employers receive such a large number of applications that one needs to grab the attention of the potential employer quickly, and that is exactly what online video resumes do.”

Another plus according to Viscusi, is that the applicant’s persona comes through in an online video resume. “In recruiting, personality and chemistry are very important. If candidates presents well in an online video resume, the employer will be more likely to offer an interview even if they, for example, lack the preferred work experience. A written resume rarely provides that opportunity,” says Viscusi, who estimates that an online video resume will score an applicant 20 percent more job interviews.

Just as job hunters are starting to post video profiles on the internet, prominent companies are now making use of the web’s latest format to promote themselves to potential applicants. “The recruiting world is always evolving and videos help candidates understand our company culture and what separates us from the competition, so they can tell if we would be a good fit for them,” says Larry Nash, Recruiting Director of Branding & Communications, Ernst & Young.

Ernst & Young, Google, JP Morgan, Walt Disney, L’Oreal, FBI, Apple, and BMW are just a few of the many top organizations that are using video clips to offer an inside perspective on their businesses via CareerTV.com.

According to Dr. John Sullivan, Professor of Management in the College of Business at San Francisco State University, online videos are an effective tool for companies wanting to market themselves towards professionals, “Videos have that ‘wow’ factor that regular ads don’t have, and unlike print ads, online viewer-ship can be tracked.”

Lars-Henrik Molin is the CEO and founder of CareerTV.com. “Online videos enable candidates and employers to interact in an effective way that wasn’t possible before, and more and more people will discover the many benefits. Online video is the future in recruiting.”

About CareerTV: CareerTV.com is the first and only global interactive TV and video website designed to help college students and young professionals develop long- lasting, successful careers within the world’s top companies. In 2008, the company is planning to launch a CareerTV Cable Station. CareerTV.com is a sister company to Universum – the global employer branding leader. Universum’s independent research is cited by CNN, Fortune, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and many others.

Greenies invade Second Life; Avatars Shrink to Size of Mice!

Rezzable Productions Ltd. announces that small green aliens have invaded the Second Life virtual world! It’s all kooky, good fun at the grand opening of the Greenies Home in Second Life(SL). This stunning new region is already considered to be one of the most fascinating places on the grid, allowing people to explore, discover and have fun in a 3D, immersive environment.

Avatars arriving at Greenies Home are transformed into mouse-sized scale as they enter the space inhabited by the alien Greenies. Mundane household items, such as a toaster, desk and birdcage take on surreal beauty as visitors fly around them admiring the attention to detail. Beware the seemingly giant cat-who looks hungry for both Greenie and avatar alike! The Greenies Home features a spectacular new sculpture art piece using the latest SL building tool, the sculptie prim.

“This sculptie prim piece is the greatest thing ever rezzed,” comments Jonathan Himoff, Rezzable CEO. “It is an example of the level of creative excellence that can be acheived in Second Life. The Greenies Home is an amazing build – full of surprises, but also an entertaining place to hang-out and make friends.”

SL residents can also become a Greenie themselves. Avatar sets are on sale in the Spaceship allowing customers to directly partake in the action.

The Greenies Home has already gained massive positive support from SL residents and SL Bloggers. Its popularity proves that engaging content and activities can capture strong interest and solid traffic-both in SL and across the web.

“The virtual world is becoming a major thing for many people.” adds Himoff, “We are working to prove that it is possible to generate self-sustaining, long-term revenues. We are operating at a relatively large-scale now and will open the largest continuous public area in SL shortly. Rezzable will preview further areas this month to continue to meet the demand for enjoyable things to do. Greenie is a great start!”

About Rezzable: Rezzable Productions Ltd, is a UK-based company that creates and manages entertainment areas in Second Life. Rezzable is developing what will be the largest public area in SL and will deliver the highest-quality visitor experiences in the metaverse. For more information www.rezzable.com

Allrecipes.com’s Community feature connects Home Cooks

Allrecipes.com, the world’s largest social networking site for food enthusiasts, has unveiled an innovative new Community feature that allows users to easily explore member profiles, find home-town recipes and read the latest reviews from more than 2 million home cooks behind the site’s long-trusted user generated content. This new feature brings the world of food enthusiasts closer together to share their passion for cooking, whether across the globe or right in their own backyard.

“Allrecipes.com is very much a social networking medium for members to share a glimpse into their own kitchens and we’re excited to provide them with more options to showcase their passion for creating and sharing great food,” said Lisa Sharples, president of Allrecipes.com. “We were proud to be the first to introduce the idea of community to the online food space and are thrilled that after 10 years we’re still driving the industry ahead with tools and functionality that are unique to our community.”

Allrecipes.com’s new Community feature makes it easy for people to share the authentic dishes of their region, their family’s generation-tested recipes and personal kitchen secrets with home cooks the world over. Users can search the latest reviews, user-generated photos, recipes, menu ideas and more by geography or by member profile. A geographical search can be done by selecting regions on an interactive map or by typing in a city or town name. Users can then browse member profiles unique to that area to find recipes and meal ideas that define the tastes and traditions of the region, be it all-American comfort food or foreign-inspired traditional fare. Truly a global community of home cooks, Allrecipes.com invites anyone to share ideas, successes, tips and personal experiences.

To celebrate the new Community, and the personalities that create it, Allrecipes.com would like to invite food enthusiasts world wide to check out what’s cooking this summer in its hometown of Seattle at: http://allrecipes.com/Cooks/USA/Western-USA/Pacific- West/Washington/Seattle/Main.aspx.

About Allrecipes.com: Allrecipes.com, America’s largest food networking site, is an online cooking community where everyday cooks from around the world come to share, rate and download the site’s more than 40,000 recipes and meal ideas. For site members, Allrecipes.com is more than a cooking resource, it’s a social medium to share recipes, advice and experiences with friends, family and other enthusiastic home cooks. Allrecipes.com has more than 23 million loyal users and a membership base more than two million strong. For the past 10 years Allrecipes.com has been an indispensable resource for home cooks who are looking for trusted recipes, everyday and holiday meal ideas, practical cooking tips and food advice. For additional information regarding the site please visit www.allrecipes.com.

Purchased in 2006 by The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., Allrecipes.com is now part of the Reader’s Digest Food and Entertaining Affinity group along with Everyday with Rachael Ray and Taste of Home.