The rise of job interviews via webcams

A RECENT graduate of UCLA, Jake Rosen was applying to be a page at NBC when he learned he wouldn't be going to an office to talk to someone about his skills. Instead, he was interviewed by webcam, on a laptop. He recorded his answers and sent them back to a hiring manager at NBC for review at the company's convenience.

It's the robo-interview, and it goes something like this. In the more humane experience, a hiring manager, who also isn't all that practised in the art of digital video, delivers taped questions.

Or, if it's truly Mr Roboto, a question pops up on the screen. You have a limited amount of time to answer. You talk to your computer, record the responses, and send them back to the company. Sometimes there's a practice question to get prospective employees used to talking to a camera. Often, at the end, you have the chance to re-record your answers.