Naukri.com, along with a TV news channel, on January 4th announced the launch of India’s first live TV job show. The show aims to capitalise on the popularity of reality TV shows like The Apprentice in the US and KBC and Indian Idol in India.

The show will have five rounds conducted by Sunil Alagh. Anybody applying for a job on Naukri.com is a potential participant. HR heads of participating companies will do the preliminary screening. Based on a slew of parameters, including communication skills, five candidates will be shortlisted for each episode. The TV channel and Naukri.com will also have a say in the final list.

Results will be declared at the end of each episode. So, within 30 minutes, candidates can walk away with their appointment letters.

Companies like Aviva Life Insurance, Flextronics, LG, Impetus Technologies, Yes Bank and Dentsu will be recruiting candidates through the live TV job-interview show.

The programme is planned as a 26-episode primetime show and will go on-air from February 2006. Candidates will be flown to Mumbai for live TV interviews after shortlisting.

The show aims to increase hits on Naukri.com and get more clients through innovative branding in the highly competitive recruiting market. Naukri COO Hitesh Oberoi said: “The live job show will create opportunities for millions of aspiring youngsters and will offer them a dream job and a chance to become a star in the corporate world.”

The TV show will telecast live recruiting of mainly freshers with 0-3 years experience. The number of mid-level executives applying will be low as the disclosure of application to a competitor may mean high-risk to their present job.

The response so far has been encouraging. In the past four days, Naukri.com registered 2,800 applications for six companies participating in the job show.

The show will differ from The Apprentice, hosted by US billionaire Donald Trump, in that it will offer jobs in many companies. The winner in The Apprentice is granted a hefty six-figure salary job only with The Trump Organization.

The recruiting market is facing intense competition with all major foreign players jumping into the fray.

( www.financialexpress.com)