Whilst a face to face interview may not be an option over the coming few weeks, Connexus provide some practical considerations for employers in conducting Video Interviews:
Benefits:
- Maintains momentum in the recruitment/hiring process.
- Body language and facial cues can be read – unlike a phone interview.
- Record and replay – lots can be learnt from a second viewing as can sharing with a colleague to get their feedback.
It’s important to remember the same rules apply when preparing for a video interview as they would with a face to face interview; preparing questions in advance, agreeing time, date and interviewing format with the applicant in advance and so forth. There are other considerations however:
1. The physical location:
Make sure what the applicant sees looks good. Have a think about the environment and you may have to move items around a room; remember, you are an extension of your brand, now more than ever!
2. Choose the right Tech
We’d recommend one of the following providers for hosting the call; Zoom, Slack, Skype, Join Me, Hangouts, Remo. All provide free accounts which will suffice for a low number of calls and there are of course paid options available. One tip here would be to do a dummy run with a colleague beforehand, specifically to make sure the volume and speaker options work the way you want them to
3. Have a plan B
Make sure you have the candidates phone number; and they have yours! Sometimes things go wrong.
4. Dress as you would in the office
5. Use the tone and pace of your voice to calm nervous candidates
You don’t have the opportunity to use body language to help your candidates relax and create a positive impression, so you’ll need to rely on your voice and facial expressions. Speak slower than you would in a face-to-face interview, and, where you can, use a headset rather than surround sound as this will cut down on feedback and prevent you from interrupting each other.
6. During the interview, sit still
If the candidate sees you moving backwards and forwards and shifting your weight around, it’s going to be incredibly distracting. Figure out before the interview if you’re going to sit or stand. Equally, make sure you have everything you need. You may want to have their job description, your questions, and their CV on the table in front of you. If you do, try not to look down too much.
In summary, whilst making an offer to an applicant who has been video interviewed but not met face to face may be a step too far for many organisations, delaying or waiting for an external situation to change which is outside of all of our control may not be commercially viable for many businesses. Therefore, worst case scenario, a video interview will maintain momentum in a recruitment process. Best case, you may be ready to make an offer!!!
