Top 7 Virtual Job Interview Tips for Recruiters

As corporations around the world are striving to adjust to the current pandemic, recruiters and employers are embracing innovative technologies to hire new employees. One such innovative solution to recruiting is virtual interviews. Video interviews or virtual interviews are a great way to conduct interviews remotely, keeping in mind the present condition and maintaining the safety of the candidates. But what are virtual hiring and virtual recruitment meaning and definitions?

Virtual recruitment or virtual hiring is the process of conducting interviews and hiring candidates through video conferencing and video interviews. Video interviews are also called virtual interviews, wherein the candidate gives the interview remotely.

Despite the fact that they are convenient, virtual interviews come with their own set of challenges. So, let us check out the virtual interview tips that will help employers with better recruiting:

1. Interview process and proper communication

By looking at the current situation and the world, a virtual interview can become the new normal. So, recruiters and employers should create a comprehensive system to facilitate virtual interviews through video conferencing. This is the best and most efficient way to recruit new candidates.

When you plan to create this system of virtual hiring, it is essential to communicate your plan in detail with your recruitment team. After all, they are the ones who will be implementing it on the ground level. And any lack of communication will give rise to a lot of discrepancies in the recruitment process.

Not just that, employers should also inform their list of qualifying candidates about the change in the interview procedure. This will help them make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the interview happens smoothly without any technical problems from their end. Communication is a major challenge, when it comes to remote working. So, as an employer, you must ensure that all your employees have effective and transparent channels of communication between themselves with matters related to work.

2. Test your new technology

This is among the most important virtual interview tips for employers. The market today is flooded with different video conferencing tools. From Microsoft to Google, every major internet giant has come with fantastic video conferencing tools to ensure smooth remote work for its clients. So, you can take advantage of the reliable video conferencing options, such as Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts Meet, Bluejeans, Cisco Webex Meetings and more.

Many of these platforms are also available with a free trial run option for a few months. You should take advantage of these services and check the functionality of each platform before you can select the option that is best suited to the needs of your company. Testing the services provided by the platform is crucial before making it live at your company. Because once you make it live, many people will be using this application. If problems were to arise, then solving them is very difficult on a live platform.

On the other hand, during the testing phase, the platform will be exposed to only limited users. Hence, any problems in this stage can be solved easily. Plus, testing is necessary to provide a great candidate experience and to avoid any disturbance and hiccups during the recruitment process.

3. Share information with the candidates

Candidates are usually under high levels of stress and anxiety during the lead up to the interview, especially if it is a virtual one. There are a lot of technical factors that can disrupt the interview process and get in the way of making a good first impression. The absence of communication with the prospective employer gives rise to uncertainty and will further enhance their stress levels. You can try to reduce their anxiety by communicating the details of the interview.

Employers can contact their candidates and provide them with the necessary information on the interview process, including why the interview has to be done through video conferencing, the name of the interviewer and the selection process. Few tips that you can share with your candidates include:

• Techniques for accessing the video conferencing technology, including the need to install any particular software
  The expectation of the recruiting team from the candidate. For instance, will the recruiter ask for their work samples or give them a problem to solve there and then?
• A proper timeline of the interview process to help candidates plan for the same, along with names of the individuals who will conduct the interview

4. Choose a good place to conduct your interviews

Select a place that is clean and clutter-free and free of any distractions. This will ensure a smooth interview process and prevent any disturbance or distractions. Avoid too much lighting or external noises, as this may hinder the interview process.

You should also convey the same to the candidate. This will ensure that the candidate creates a clear and open setting to give the interview without any interruptions. Ask your candidates to find a place that is quiet and well lit, providing clear candidate visual and sound feed to the recruiter.

5. Make a compelling company pitch for the virtual interview

The major shortcomings of a virtual interview are that the employer will not be able to give the candidate a feel of the company and their work culture. Physical interviews are an excellent opportunity to give the candidates a tour through the office in an attempt to subconsciously attract them towards the company.

You can compensate for this limitation by preparing an engaging pitch on the company culture. During the interview, take some extra time to focus on the culture of the company and its environment. Your power-packed, impactful words can provide a virtual tour of the office and can help compensate for the lack of physical interaction.

A virtual interview is a great time to convey your positives to the candidate and to let them know how your company is distinctly different from the others. This can lay the foundation for a great engagement between you and the candidate. Try to create visual materials, such as walkthrough videos, employee video testimonials, company images and social media posts that you can share with the candidate during the interview process.

6. Be professional and be personal

For the recruiter, it is vital to convey to the applicant that the virtual interview, which they are about to be a part of, is just as crucial as a face-to-face meeting in the office. So, interviewers and recruiters should dress appropriately for the interview. Make sure your phone ringer is switched off, and all your email and social notifications are turned to silent.

Make it a point to smile at the start of the interview. Make eye contact with the candidate and sustain it for the period of the interview. Be clear with your speech while asking virtual interview questions, and nod in affirmation when the applicant speaks, to convey that you are keeping track of the conversation.

Also, take notes about the behaviour of the candidates, their response to your questions and about the overall process. This will help you identify the pros and cons of the process.

As you are thoroughly professional during the interview, it is fine to be personal and forgiving if any unwanted interruptions are caused from the candidate side during the interview. It is fine to be compassionate if you hear sounds of children in the surroundings or if the candidate’s dog comes knocking unwanted in the middle of the interview. Maintaining absolute professionalism and decorum during a virtual interview from home can be tough, so being considerate at these interferences is fine.

7. Follow up

If you are finished with the interview, don’t end things abruptly. Give a proper ending to your virtual interview sessions by sending a polite note of thanks as a follow-up to the candidate. Convey gratitude to your candidate for making this interview session a success and for spending their time with the company. This is a great way to give a fitting end to the interview.

Ask for feedback from the candidates to know how they feel about the virtual interview process. Their feedback will also help you improve your process for future endeavours. Further, provide them with proper information about the procedures post the interview. And keep them informed about the results.

These are some of the best virtual interview tips for employers, which can be successfully implemented in the hiring process. Virtual interviews will help you enhance your candidate pipeline and provide mobility to your recruitment process, irrespective of the current situation around the world and well after it.

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