Go G-Hog: Another Recruiting Video Goes Horribly Wrong

Posted on Thursday, November 8, 2007 by Frank Roche

Here’s my next business: Creating recruiting videos that don’t suck. Like this one from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recruiting people to healthcare careers that uses a dancing groundhog and the tagline “Go G-Hog, Go G-Hog.” Go throw up in my mouth is more like it.

This isn’t the worst recruiting video ever, but it’s close. Note to marketers and HR recruiters: It costs the same amount to make a great recruiting video as it does to make one that sucks. Call me. I’ll explain how.

User Comments

JT

Nov 8th, 2007

I am not so sure. I am pretty sure this is worse.
Philip

Nov 8th, 2007

But it appears to suck in a self-aware, ironic, jaded Gen. X way. Or maybe I just give them too much credit and am projecting my own values onto the video. Maybe they really thought they were being clever or hip.

It’s like, being cheesy and being aware you’re being cheesy can be comical, but being cheesy and not being aware of it is fatal.

Not that I liked it anyway, just saying….
Philip

Nov 8th, 2007

Yeah, OK, the Connected Ventures video you loved is a much better example of self-parody.

The PA video just sucked.
HR Wench

Nov 8th, 2007

That video is a crime against humanity. What were they thinking?
Wally Bock

Nov 8th, 2007

Ain’t technology grand? Thanks to easy video technology, any moron with a camera and a little brain damage can make something this bad. And, thanks to the magic of the web, millions of people who never heard of your organization now have an awful impression of it.
Frank Roche

Nov 9th, 2007

Wally, I should have written “It’s less expensive to make a good video instead of one that sucks.” The cost to a company’s reputation is in full video glory when stuff like this is released.

HR Wench and JT: This one makes me gasp. I cannot imagine what they were doing.

Phillip, that’s an interesting perspective. You get at the heart of irony and authenticity. If you’re going to be ironic, you’d better know it.
Michelle Malay Carter

Nov 9th, 2007

Frank,

You’ve struck giggle gold again! You have a knack for this!

Regards,

Michelle Malay Carter
Frank Roche

Nov 9th, 2007

Thanks, Michelle. I’ve had to watch this one several times because it’s so nuts. LOL. It’s G-Hog Day for me.
rob

Nov 10th, 2007

Oh me oh my.
Nick

Nov 12th, 2007

This video makes no sense, and is so inappropriate if you are trying to recruit healthcare workers. Hospitals are not a place to have fun.