Apple Vision Pro: An asset for recruiting?

Was taugt die Apple Vision im Recruiting?

Apple has released the Vision Pro. Can the mixed reality glasses also revolutionize recruiting?

Apple has released its first mixed reality glasses in the USA - the Apple Vision Pro. CEO Tim Cook calls them a "revolutionary product". We ask ourselves: Can the Apple glasses also revolutionize recruiting?

Apple glasses to combat skills shortage?

At the beginning of June 2023, the Apple Vision Pro was presented to the public: a headset that can create an infinite workspace for apps and is designed to connect digital content with the physical world - without isolating the user from the environment.

Almost at the same time, the media reported on the Competence Center for Skilled Labor (Kofa) of the employer-oriented German Economic Institute (IW) that the shortage of skilled workers in IT professions has reached a record level in Germany, with almost 68,000 vacancies.

How are these two pieces of news connected? At first glance, not at all. But since Apple's data glasses are set to revolutionize various areas of life, the question may be asked whether they might also bring progress to recruiting and possibly open up new solutions to the problem of the skilled labor shortage.

How the Apple Vision Pro could revolutionize recruiting

For some time now, the hiring of Career changers as a solution to the IT skills shortage discussed. However, in many companies, decision-makers have large Concerns about career changers. Concerns are often expressed about the costly and laborious training process.

This is exactly where Apple glasses could come into play: With the help of the latest technologies, they could support career changers in learning and (further) developing their skills. E-learning could take place on a new level, with work scenarios and problems being realistically simulated using AR elements. Once such virtual training situations have been created, they can be run through by any number of candidates and can be continuously developed, adapted or individualized.

Fachkräfte mit Apple-Brille rekrutieren
Will the Apple Vision Pro be suitable for recruiting? (Note: Image does not show the Vision Pro. Photo: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/young-girl-wearing-vr-glasses-taking-notes_26403804.htm by Racool_studio)

The Vision Pro could also be an asset in the selection process, especially for career changers. For this target group, personnel diagnostics are a particular focus. If the candidate is given tasks in the virtual assessment room, HR staff not only receive the result of the test at the end, but can also observe the problem-solving process. So-called "trace data" show, for example, how often the participant made corrections or looked at the instructions. Depending on the task, conclusions can be drawn from this about work behavior, decision-making style, creative thinking and ability to learn - if the test is carried out with several candidates, statements can also be made about the ability to work in a team. Soft skills and the candidate’s “thinking” can be analyzed in this way.

The glasses' passthrough technology allows you to temporarily leave the VR experience to see a real-time view of the real environment. This means it is no problem to have real people accompany the virtual training scenario from "outside".

In general - and not just with a view to career changers - the Apple Vision Pro could open up new possibilities in various recruiting processes. For example, when applying for a job, candidates can use data glasses to present their skills in a dynamic and immersive way that a classic cover letter with a CV could never convey. Interviews via mixed reality glasses are also conceivable. While in classic video connections with Zoom and Co. the body language of the candidates is difficult or impossible to interpret, this could work better with the Apple Vision Pro: According to Apple, users can scan their face as a 3D model in virtual live sessions, with facial and hand movements being transmitted.

Don’t set expectations too high

At first, everything sounds promising. However, it should be mentioned that mixed reality glasses are still a long way from being mainstream. It is doubtful that Apple's glasses will reach the mainstream (quickly), because their price of around $3,500 is not suitable for the general public. If HR managers therefore gear their recruiting processes towards the Vision Pro, a large number of candidates will not have the necessary hardware or will not be familiar with it. With regard to the shortage of IT specialists, it can be said that VR and AR glasses are relatively established, at least in the gaming scene and among tech freaks, and the Vision Pro could therefore spread more quickly here. This niche target group should not be completely uninteresting for filling IT positions.

Recruiters, and above all Apple itself, would have to first communicate the great benefits of the Vision Pro for many candidates. After all, virtual training and application processes already exist - for example with VR glasses and live video apps. It remains to be seen to what extent Apple can take these to a new level.

The Vision Pro was released in the US on February 2, 2024 for a price of $3,499 (€3,214). It is currently unclear when it will come to Europe or Germany.

Also read: Metaverse: How Metaverse is changing recruiting!

(Cover photo source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/businesswoman-using-virtual-reality-headset_11184507.htm by wavebreakmedia-micro)