When Job Descriptions Aren’t Enough: Recruit Top Candidates With Ongig

Heather Huhman Jun 16, 2012 Tweet

When it comes to the recruitment process, sometimes words on a page just don’t cut it. You want to ensure you’re getting the best candidates for the job, but how can you give job seekers a feel for the position and requirements when you’re limited to pen and paper?

Enter Ongig, a new job board site based in San Francisco. The startup allows HR managers and recruiters to share job listings in an untraditional way – via video, pictures, and opportunities for interactivity.

Ongig allows job seekers to see and hear hiring managers directly via short videos in which they describe the job opening, company culture, opportunities for advancement, and other aspects of the position. Employers can upload existing videos or record one directly on the website – in fact, Ongig even offers a professional production team that will come to your office and shoot a video for you.

Transparency is key for Ongig, and this idea reinvents the way candidates seek out and apply for new openings. Along with posting videos, recruiters can include photos of the office, events, or work parties; view comments; and answer questions from prospective employees. The site is highly social, and allows job seekers to share the post, send a note to the hiring company, and ask questions.

Along with visuals, Ongig allows employers to include a job description, benefits, required skills, and responses to a slew of questions ranging from “Why is this position open?” to “What challenges will this person face on a daily basis?” Ongig tracks the number of views of each open position.

The site is an excellent way for employers to be transparent in their job descriptions, but because of all its bells and whistles, Ongig isn’t free for employers. The startup charges $495 for the “starter” option, which permits you to post one job per month. You can view Ongig’s full price listings here.