Technology Gimmick for a Job: Frivolous or Fact Finding?

We’ve all heard about crazy things companies try to make potential job candidates do to get jobs. You don’t have to look any further than television’s The Apprentice series for an extreme example.

In the UK, a mobile marketing company, Teimlo, is only accepting job applicants via text message using 160 characters or less—which is the maximum used in social messaging services like Twitter. While on first look it might seem like a silly gimmick, in actuality it makes perfect sense.

Here are the details from a Reuters story:

““We’re hiring by text,” says an announcement on the website of the Wales-based company which wants to find candidates who can work well by mobile.”If you are qualified, sassy, good with words, dynamite at events, Adobe compatible, having working knowledge of mobile and social mobile, and are a determined multi-tasker and networker we want to hear from you.”“

If you pass muster with Teimlo, you will be asked to then forward your CV and resume to the company and could be asked to meet for an in-person interview.

The company is essentially saying: “You need to show us the kind of skills we will want for this job in practice. We will screen you based on your ability to talk to our audience by talking about yourself.”

Expect more and more Internet-centric companies to use these technologies to screen candidates.