Baird & Montage

Background

Robert W. Baird, an independent and employee-owned wealth management firm, is driven by its mission to provide the best financial advice and service to its clients, while also being the best place to work for its more than 3,000 associates. This commitment to its employees has resulted in many recognitions as a great place to work, most notably its 12-year run on FORTUNE’s Best 100 Companies to Work For®.

"That first year, we had 50% more adoption than we thought we would. Once our investment bankers discovered it would save them time and give them more access to the candidates, it was very effective.”
- Director of Human Capital Client Services at R. W. Baird

Business Concern

R. W. Baird needed to meet a number of critical issues with solutions:

• Increase productivity, efficiency and effectiveness
  
• Maintain high-touch candidate experience
  
• Ensure a superior application process
  

Three years ago, Baird established a program designed to increase the firm’s productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. Within human capital, this presented unique challenges. How could this team ensure an efficient and effective hiring process, while keeping its high-touch candidate experience? And, while Baird had already established itself as a great place to work, they wanted to answer a core question: are we a great place to apply for work?

Strategy

Having used Montage video interviewing at a previous employer, Baird's Director of Human Capital Client Services, knew the results it could yield.

"I’ve seen the power of video interviewing and how it can help with efficiency, but more importantly with effectiveness to make sure we are getting the right candidate in the right role at the right time."
- Director of Human Capital Client Services at R. W. Baird

After making the business case to Baird’s executive, legal and compliance teams, Baird launched Montage on-demand video interviewing with its investment banker group. The hiring managers immediately saw the time-saving benefits the technology offered. In addition, they appreciated the ability to connect with candidates and get a sense of their persona, especially important in a role where a candidate’s ability to connect with clients is vital to success.

By taking a critical eye to its own processes, the human capital team found another workflow to improve – its referral program. Each year, Baird associates refer about 700 possible candidates. Under the old process, each referral received a phone interview, regardless of qualifications, which was a tremendous strain on time and resources.

"We wanted to balance the branding opportunity we had with these 700 candidates with the pressures we had to be efficient. We did this by leveraging technology.”
- Director of Human Capital Client Services at R. W. Baird

Rather than interview each candidate, the recruiter asked them to complete an on-demand video interview. “They get an opportunity to answer some questions, reflect on potential transferable skills and talk about why they might be a fit for Baird,” said the Director.

Montage Results

Montage’s video interviewing solution has helped Baird generate strategic results:

• 50% increase in candidate adoption over expected results
  
• Hundreds of hours saved on employee referral interviews
  
• Positive feedback from hiring managers, recruiters and candidates
  

Baird’s initial pilot with its investment banker group yielded excellent results. “That first year, we had 50% more adoption than we thought we would,” said the Director. “Once our investment bankers discovered it would save them time and give them more access to the candidates, it was very effective.” And, replacing the referral candidate phone screen with an on-demand video interview saved the team hundreds of hours each year.

The Baird team has seen results with all three of its audiences – candidates, recruiters and hiring managers. Their candidates, who feel that video interviewing lets them positively represent themselves, have given positive feedback. Recruiters have seen a large increase in efficiency because on-demand video interviewing allows them to quickly screen pre-recorded interviews. “Recruiters can spend 5-7 minutes reviewing a candidate, versus a 25-minute or longer phone screen,” said Baird.

"Our hiring managers want to get better. The way they did it 10 years ago is different from how we need to do it today."
- Director of Human Capital Client Services at R. W. Baird

After seeing how Montage’s video interviewing technology helps them get the right hire more often, hiring managers have enthusiastically adopted the technology. “Our hiring managers want to get better. The way they did it 10 years ago is different from how we need to do it today. Not just because the candidates are different, but because the way we do business is different. They’re looking for opportunities, tricks and tools that help them be more effective managers. They are now connecting the reality: If I hire better, I’ll be more successful in my role.”