The Home Depot launches new self-scheduling interview tool
The Home Depot has launched a new self-scheduling tool to fill its ranks for the upcoming spring and summer busy season.
The Atlanta-based retailer also said it plans to hire as many as 80,000 new associates who will be able to self-schedule in-person interviews. Candidates who have completed an application can choose their own available appointment time for an interview. The Home Depot said that roughly 80% of the company’s job candidates have used the tool since a pilot was launched last November. The tool is available 24/7 on any device, The Home Depot said.
"Just as we're continuously evolving to meet the changing expectations of our customers, we're harnessing new technologies to do the same for job seekers," said Tim Hourigan, The Home Depot EVP of Human Resources. "This consumer-like experience helps us hire the best talent to serve our customers."
Candidate Self-Service is the latest in a series of enhancements The Home Depot has made to its application process. Last spring, the company saw a 50% increase in candidates after rolling out its 15-minute application, Mobile Apply and Text-to-Apply capabilities.
The company is also changing up its onboarding experience this spring with the introduction of PocketGuide. The program allows for associate training through a mobile application with product knowledge and learning activities delivered to the palm of an associate's hand. PocketGuide is expected to significantly reduce backroom training and will be rolled out to all garden associates for this spring season. The program then be expand to more store departments throughout 2018.
The Home Depot said that time that associates accrue during their seasonal assignments generally applies to eligibility for benefits, including profit-sharing bonuses and vacation, if they transition to a permanent position with the company.
Lowe’s, The Home Depot’s chief rival, announced a hiring push of its own last month and plans to hire as many as 53,000 new associates.