WHEN VR TRAINING MAKES THE JOB LOOK BETTER THAN IT IS
Jason Jerald, co-founder of VR consultants NextGen Interactions, says virtual reality’s immersive experiences could especially help in recruiting millennials, who reportedly are less interested in routine workthan previous generations. “By utilizing VR, what many perceive as a low-level boring job can now be viewed as working for a cutting-edge technology company,” Jerald says.
Some companies say incorporating VR into training is reducing turnover.
Walmart, the US’s largest private employer, is equipping all 200 of its Walmart Academies with a VR training program that immerses mostly mid-level employees in rare scenarios that would be costly to recreate, such as holiday rushes, spills and other disruptions. Senior Director of Central Operations Brock McKeel says employee engagement increased as a result of the training, even among employees who merely watched co-workers participate in the simulation.
When the military adopts similar practices, though, it can raise questions. In May, USA Today reported that the US Navy had begun using VR as part of its recruitment efforts, contributing to a 126% increase in leads. The British Army recently reported a similar effect. The carefully curated VR scenarios may give recruits an unrealistic view of their future jobs. As USA Today put it, the training allows the military to "downplay the very real dangers and risks that members of the armed forces face." A Navy spokesperson did not comment.
To be sure, all recruiting and training materials, including traditional video, tend to accentuate the positive. But the immersive nature of VR means that it can make a stronger, more lasting impression on recruits and employees.
See the full story here: https://www.wired.com/story/when-vr-training-makes-the-job-look-better-than-it-is/