Sonru.com

Paddy Power

The introduction of Sonru has enabled Paddy Power to eliminate the phone interview from their recruitment process and the automation of a 30-minute paper-based technical test for technical applicants. More thorough initial screening afforded by Sonru has also resulted in a reduction in the number of subsequent face-to-face interviews.

Through the use of Sonru for the recruitment of certain roles our time to hire has been reduced and our own team’s diaries have been freed up as we have eliminated the requirement to schedule and administer tests.
Emer Kearns, Paddy Power

About Paddy Power

Paddy Power is one the world’s largest betting and gaming groups, with over 750 employed at the home of their online business in Dublin, and over 1,500 people employed in their shops in Ireland and the UK and at Sportsbet in Australia. Over the coming years they will be seeking to add substantially to the existing employee base, with a wide array of positions in areas such as e-commerce, technology, quantitative research, online marketing and risk management. “We operate on the cutting edge of technology but still find time to have some fun.”

Recruitment Context

Since August 2010, Paddy Power have used Sonru’s automated video interview solution as part of their recruitment process. With plans to recruit an additional 375 staff in their Headquarters in Dublin over the next 2-3 years, they believe that Sonru’s automated video interview solution will be a key element of their recruitment process. There are currently 63 positions open which are advertised on their own recruitment microsite (WorkWithPaddy.com), LinkedIn, IrishJobs.ie, as well as niche publications and communities/sites.

Types of Roles

Paddy Power have used the Sonru solution to recruit across a range of roles that vary considerably from Customer Service to a range of technical roles including Java Developers, Unix System Administrators, Web Developers and Agile Leader roles.

It was a fantastic mechanism to establish applicants’ English literacy. Language testing via telephone can be somewhat hit and miss but it was totally different with video screening.
Emer Kearns, Paddy Power

Paddy Power found Sonru’s automated video interview tool an excellent resource in the recruitment of customer service roles, particularly with respect to the volume of applications received and as an excellent means of assessing English literacy. However, it was within their recruitment of technical positions that the benefits of Sonru’s automated video interview tool really came to the fore.
Traditionally applicants to technical roles would have been invited to sit through a 30-minute paper-based technical test. This involved considerable scheduling both in terms of the recruitment team and relevant managers’ time.

Recruitment Process Transformed

Sonru has enabled us to prepare more thoroughly for the face-to-face interviews. It has meant that we and our managers get more from the face-to-face interviews having already establised the technical capabilites of the candidates.
Emer Kearns, Paddy Power

The introduction of Sonru has enabled Paddy Power to eliminate the phone interview from their recruitment process, and the more thorough initial screening afforded by Sonru has seen a reduction in the number of subsequent face-to-face interviews. Sonru has provided those involved in the recruitment process with greater visibility of applicants’ skills and experience than traditional phone screening would have allowed.

Better Decision Making

The Sonru tool allows us to call the most relevant candidates through to face-to-face interviews, this then allows us to make faster and more informed choices when it comes to the offer stage.
Emer Kearns, Paddy Power

Using Sonru’s automated video interview has enabled Paddy Power to improve their decision making when it comes to calling candidates for interview. Paddy Power also found that the ‘share’ functionality, enabling other members of staff to view the interviews, has helped in the selection of the best people to bring forward for interview. No longer is there a reliance on just one person’s decision that is based on telephone screening.

Unanimous Positive Feedback

The team here at Paddy Power love it. It has freed up their time, enabled them to get a better understanding of the candidates and helped them enormously in preparing for the face-to-face interviews.
Emer Kearns, Paddy Power

Paddy Power recorded extremely positive feedback following the introduction of Sonru, both internally among the recruitment and management team, and externally among the candidates themselves. The feedback from candidates has been excellent with about 95% happy to undertake the video interviews. “To work in Paddy Power, we expect applicants to embrace new technology and they did.”

Overview of Key Metrics

Conclusion

There is always a danger of losing good candidates if you don’t interview them quickly enough. The efficiencies Sonru brings minimises the risk of losing out on talent due to delays with the recruitment process.
Emer Kearns, Paddy Power

Using our Automated Video Interview solution works well for Paddy Power with time saving being cited as the number 1 benefit. Each Paddy Power member of staff has their preferred time to watch the video responses – lunch time, early evening from home, early in the morning before the working day begins. Being able to move quickly on good candidates and not risk losing them in a competitive recruitment environment was an added benefit.
 

"We’ve found an excellent fit with Sonru’s automated video interviewing solution.
We’re an online company, we and our employees are tech savvy so it’s an excellent
fit with our employer brand.”
 

Emer Kearns
Paddy Power

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