Internet-based method and apparatus for career and professional development via structured feedback loop

• US 10,346,803 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmock Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vmock Inc.
• Inventors: Pande, Salil
• Primary Examiner(s): Brockington, III, William S
• Application Number:
  US12/486,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,674 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating feedback, reviewing feedback, and conducting interviews by use of VMocks are provided. A VMock, or Virtual Mock, is a virtual profile of a candidate that includes resume, text, video and a document. VMock profiles may be created that have one or more VMocks. Contacts associated with the VMock profile may be managed. Feedback may be requested from the contacts concerning the one or more VMocks, who may then generate the requested feedback. The feedback may then be reviewed. This feedback process may be performed in the context of interviews for employment opportunities and in other similar situations.

Claims

1. A method for reviewing feedback to be performed, the method comprising:

creating, using a computing device, a VMock profile comprising a resume and a skill profile, the skill profile comprising audio and/or video representing a skill and text related to the skill, wherein the VMock profile is stored in a digital locker;

synchronizing the digital locker using an application download that allows a candidate to migrate from an online mode to an offline mode;

providing a self-evaluation process to the candidate using the computing device;

receiving, at the computing device, an indication that the self-evaluation process has been completed by the candidate with a baseline fundamental-soft-skill score for each of one or more of fundamental soft skills, wherein the one or more baseline fundamental-soft-skill scores comprises a baseline teamwork score, a baseline leadership score, a baseline communication score, a baseline commitment score, and a baseline attitude score;

generating a baseline soft-skill score related to the VMock profile based on the one or more baseline fundamental-soft-skill scores;

generating at least one story related to at least the resume of the VMock profile using the computing device;

storing the at least one story with the VMock profile using the computing device;

requesting feedback from a plurality of contacts about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile using the computing device;

receiving the requested feedback about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile using the computing device, wherein the received feedback comprises a report based on a plurality of scores related to the VMock profile, wherein the plurality of scores include one or more feedback-related fundamental-soft-skill scores for the one or more fundamental soft skills, and wherein the plurality of scores comprises first scores from a first contact of the plurality of contacts and second scores from a second contact of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the first contact differs from the second contact;

determining an adjusted soft-skill score by adjusting the baseline soft-skill score based on the one or more feedback-related fundamental-soft-skill scores and one or more weights using the computing device, the one or more weights based on a professional level and a career choice;

reviewing the received feedback about the resume, the adjusted soft-skill score, and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile using the computing device, whereby at least the adjusted soft-skill score enables at least the candidate to evaluate candidate performance on the one or more fundamental soft-skills; and

refining the VMock profile based on the received feedback using the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the text related to the skill of the skill profile comprises a summary answer to a question about the skill, and wherein the audio and/or video comprises a long answer to the question about the skill.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the VMock profile comprises:

transcribing video and/or audio data related to the VMock profile to a text; and

identifying a frequency of key words in the text based on a key word dictionary.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a Digital Resume, wherein the DigitalResume comprises the VMock profile and an answer to at least one question about an employment opportunity.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining one or more digital-resume keywords in the DigitalResume based on the career choice;

determining a plurality of critical keywords based on the career choice; and

determining a match value between the digital-resume keywords and the plurality of critical keywords.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the match value indicates a likelihood of the resume being found in a search for resumes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received feedback further comprises unstructured feedback, wherein the unstructured feedback comprises audio, video, imagery, and/or text.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more fundamental soft skills comprise a teamwork skill, a leadership skill, a communication skill, a commitment skill, and an attitude skill.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a contact of the plurality of contacts to a circle of trust.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the feedback comprises:

selecting the VMock profile from one or more VMock profiles;

selecting one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts to receive a request for feedback; and

requesting feedback about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile from the selected one or more contacts.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein requesting the feedback further comprises:

requesting confirmation from the selected one or more contacts; and

wherein requesting the feedback about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile from the selected one or more contacts comprises;

responsive to the confirmation, requesting the feedback about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile from the confirmed one or more contacts.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein reviewing the received feedback comprises comparing the received feedback.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein comparing the received feedback comprises comparing received feedback generated by a plurality of feedback providers.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein reviewing the received feedback comprises generating a second report based on the reviewed feedback.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second report comprises at least one area of improvement.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the report comprises a feedback trend.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein reviewing the requested feedback comprises:

generating a second report comparing feedback from the first contact of the plurality of contacts with feedback from the second contact of the plurality of contacts.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises feedback about a plurality of mandatory categories and at least one custom category.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the VMock profile is associated with an answer to at least one interview question, the answer comprising one or more of audio, video, or text.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the answer to the at least one interview question; and

storing the answer to the at least one interview question with the VMock profile.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein requesting the feedback from the plurality of contacts comprises requesting feedback from at least one contact of the plurality of contacts about at least the answer to the at least one interview question.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein reviewing the received feedback comprises reviewing the feedback from the at least one contact of the plurality of contacts about the answer to the at least one interview question.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the VMock profile comprises creating the VMock profile for a virtual interview related to an opportunity, wherein the virtual interview comprises a question about the opportunity, and wherein the resume and skill profile are related to the opportunity.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the virtual interview is configured to be assessed based on selection criteria.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein requesting feedback comprises:

requesting feedback on the VMock profile for the virtual interview, wherein the VMock profile for the virtual interview comprises an answer to the question about the opportunity; and

wherein receiving the requested feedback comprises;

in response to the answer to the question about the opportunity meeting the selection criteria, receiving the requested feedback.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the adjusted soft-skill score comprises determining a weight related to a fundamental soft-skill, and wherein the weight is based on the professional level and/or the career choice.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a processing unit;

a network-communication interface;

a memory configured to store a VMock profile, at least one VMock, and a digital locker; and

computer-executable instructions stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processing unit to perform functions, the functions comprising;

creating the VMock profile comprising a resume and a skill profile, the skill profile comprising audio and/or video representing a skill and text related to the skill, wherein the VMock profile is stored in the digital locker;

synchronizing the digital locker using an application download that allows a candidate to migrate from an online mode to an offline mode;

providing a self-evaluation process to the candidate;

receiving an indication that the self-evaluation process has been completed by the candidate with a baseline fundamental-soft-skill score for each of one or more of fundamental soft skills, wherein the one or more baseline fundamental-soft-skill scores comprises a baseline teamwork score, a baseline leadership score, a baseline communication score, a baseline commitment score, and a baseline attitude score;

generating a baseline soft-skill score related to the VMock profile based on the one or more baseline fundamental-soft-skill scores;

generating at least one story related to at least the resume of the VMock profile, storing the at least one story with the VMock profile;

generating a feedback request for the VMock profile, wherein the feedback request comprises a request for feedback about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile, sending the feedback request to the at least one contact via the network-communication interface;

receiving the requested feedback about the resume and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile, wherein the received feedback comprises a report based on a plurality of scores related to the VMock profile, wherein the plurality of scores include one or more feedback-related fundamental-soft-skill scores for the one or more fundamental soft skills, and wherein the plurality of scores comprises first scores from a first contact of the plurality of contacts and second scores from a second contact of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the first contact differs from the second contact;

determining an adjusted soft-skill score by adjusting the baseline soft-skill score based on the one or more feedback-related fundamental-soft-skill scores and one or more weights, the one or more weights based on a professional level and a career choice;

reviewing the requested feedback about the resume, the adjusted soft-skill score, and/or the skill profile of the VMock profile, whereby at least the adjusted soft-skill score enables at least the candidate to evaluate candidate performance on the one or more fundamental soft-skills; and

refining the VMock profile based on the received feedback.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the memory is configured to store a DigitalResume, the DigitalResume comprising at least one VMock profile and an answer to at least one question about an employment opportunity, and wherein the functions further comprise storing the DigitalResume.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more fundamental soft skills comprise a teamwork skill, a leadership skill, a communication skill, a commitment skill, and an attitude skill.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein determining the adjusted soft-skill score comprises determining a weight related to a fundamental soft-skill, and wherein the weight is based on the professional level and/or the career choice.