Man in suit sitting at desk in front of tablet.
© Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub

Video assessments in personnel recruiting

In the general world of business, video conferencing is commonplace. But until recently, security regulations prevented the Bundeswehr from using such modern tools. The video assessment software for personnel recruiting purposes changes that.

 

Ongoing recruiting is essential for ensuring that the Bundeswehr has enough personnel to be prepared for any eventuality. Due to the limitations on personal contact imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, however, recruiters struggled to carry out sufficient numbers of application interviews. In other parts of the armed forces, consultation and counselling sessions failed to materialise.

Video conferencing offers a solution to this problem. But the use of Zoom, MS Teams and other video conferencing tools, which have long since become commonplace in non-military environments, is somewhat more complex in the Bundeswehr. We have very security restrictions governing the exchange and confidentiality of personal data. Many commercially available systems fail to meet military requirements.

But there is one system with outstanding security standards available on the open market: an online video appointment software issued by a certified German supplier. The Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub successfully tested the system at the Berlin Bundeswehr hospital last year.

A trial run for various use cases

Now, the Cyber Innovation Hub is trialling the system in partnership with the Bundeswehr career centres and the Federal Office of Personnel Management in the Bundeswehr, all of which need to be in direct contact with applicants for their recruitment procedures. The Social Services and Psychological Services departments also require an audiovisual connection with their clients. They are currently testing the system for their consultations and counselling sessions. The need for psychological guidance has risen considerably as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Simple, secure communication

The data connection between the two interlocutors of a conversation is established end-to-end, without any intermediary servers or interim data storage. Combined with an encryption system, this makes it possible to exchange personal data without compromising confidentiality.

If video conferencing were to be established as a permanent option, the relevant departments of the Bundeswehr would become able to respond quickly and in a legally watertight way to crises such as the coronavirus pandemic. Through video calls, personal contacts can be reduced to a minimum.

And there are additional advantages for recruiters beyond health protection: video conferences make the recruitment process much more flexible, and they save time and money normally spent on travel. It becomes easier to keep appointments. The same benefits apply to consultation and counselling in the social and medical departments.

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