Hi-tech interview at TNAU
A candidate from Hong Kong being interviewed via video-conference by a panel for the post of Reader at Bharathiar University in Coimbatore on Monday.Interviews being conducted via tele-conference by companies in the United States and Information Technology (IT) companies in India to recruit human resources have become passé.Today an educational institution crossed a milestone by doing so. Bharathiar University conducted its first overseas recruitment interview via tele-conference here on Monday. The university is carrying out interviews to recruit for 80 positions (professors, readers and lecturers) in 21 departments. “Many candidates have applied from overseas. Some have requested for telephonic interviews, while some others for video conferencing. We felt that the latter would be ideal because it is almost like face-to-face. Now we have seven candidates who have been selected for such interviews,” says Registrar P. Thirumalvalavan.The first candidate from Hong Kong, V. Thiyagarajan, was interviewed by a nine-member panel, headed by Vice-Chancellor of the university G. Thiruvasagam.
The candidate appeared to them through a 42-inch plasma television sitting in the conference room of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He gave a brief introduction about himself, his qualification, work experience and the areas he was working on at the university.A native of Cuddalore, the 38-year-old Thiyagarajan is working in Hong Kong for the last seven years as a Post Doctoral Fellow in the university’s Biology Department. The position he sought for was as a Reader in the Department of Zoology.
The panel posed questions regarding his intention to move to India, his choice of university and his areas of interest in the chosen field. After a 15-minute session, the panel decided to call him back after an hour for the second session. Thus the first e-interview of Bharathiar University came to an end.The university has allotted different timings for interviewing other candidates. It initiates the call via Internet Protocol (IP) through the Polycom Video Conferencing Equipment, which comes with the total paraphernalia.“This initiative has been undertaken after seeing the response from overseas candidates. Why should good talent be wasted just because of geographical distances? It is essential to tap such potential,” Mr. Thiruvasagam explains.“We plan to use the equipment regularly for e-interviews and for conducting viva voce for doctoral candidates. The cost-effective facility however will be extended only to those staying abroad and those from the North-East,” concludes the Registrar.
