Tips for Conducting Online Interviews that Work
It’s no secret that many businesses have shifted their operations, including their interview processes, to the virtual realm. According to a survey, 74% of recruiters believe that video interviews have made it easier for them to interview and shortlist prospects.
While the use of online interviews has recently increased, the question is whether recruiters have been able to effectively recruit via virtual interviews.
If you’ve been having trouble interviewing candidates online, this article will teach you how to conduct efficient online interviews.
What is the definition of an online interview?
An online interview is just a conversation, video, or audio interview conducted remotely (from any location). Online interviews are sometimes referred to as ‘digital interviews.’
The technology and platform you select to conduct an online interview will have a big impact on the experience you create for yourself and the job candidate.
Various types of online interviews
You can utilize any of the forms of the interview while conducting an online interview, depending on your needs and the component of your recruiting that you want to undertake virtually.
For your online interview, you might use any of the following methods:
Streaming Video
One of the most prevalent types of online interviews is live video. The majority of online interviews take done over Zoom, Google Hangouts, or Skype. Interviewing candidates via a live video platform is similar to traditional face-to-face interviews, but it allows you to interview prospects in real time from any place.
Video that has been pre-recorded
The pre-recorded video interview is similar to the live video interview, with the exception that you will not be able to interact with the candidates in real time.
Most recruiters give candidates a few minutes to look over some interview questions before recording their responses for later viewing.
Most recruiters that use this format include a time restriction, which is used to add a specific number of re-recordings based on the company’s needs. This strategy is frequently utilized during the preliminary screening step.
Resumé of video
Many firms are now requesting that job hopefuls provide video resumes rather than traditional resumes. The majority of recruiters that utilize this format provide a set of guidelines for candidates to follow when making their films.
A video resume is more like a video version of an elevator pitch. Even if video resumes appear to provide well-rehearsed responses from job prospects, they nonetheless allow you to assess their communication skills, body language, and confidence.
Assessments of abilities
Another type of online interview is a skill assessment, which allows recruiters to analyze job candidates’ abilities in relation to the job role they are seeking for. This type of online interview is more akin to a job-related skills simulation.
Unlike a regular interview, this type of interview allows the recruiter to learn more about the candidate’s skill set. Skill evaluation is one of the most effective methods for evaluating candidates for skill-based roles such as coding, graphic design, and so on.
Chat in real time
As more Gen Z and millennials enter the workforce, live chat interviews are becoming more common. Chat platforms help these generations of workers communicate more effectively.
Many recruiters have begun to interview job candidates utilizing applications like as WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and others, particularly during the pre-screening and screening parts of the interview.
Bot for chatting
Recruiters can employ a chatbot to interview job seekers using various AI techniques, especially in the early stages of the interview. Job hopefuls are asked particular interview questions by the chatbot, which require them to upload a video or audio.
Conducting an online interview: Some pointers
Conducting an online interview has a number of obvious benefits. Even with the added benefit of online interviews, you must still consider the following issues when planning your online interview:
Find out when you should do an online interview during the employment process.
Many recruiters are unsure about when and how to employ an online interview. The point at which you should introduce the online interview is usually determined by the strategy you intend to use.
Some online interview techniques are better for the screening phases, while others are better for the final stages. For pre-screening and screening stages, online interview tools such as chatbots, video resumes, live chat, and skills assessments are appropriate. For the last face-to-face interview, video interviews and live videos are preferable.
Obtain the necessary equipment.
Getting the correct tools that job seekers can grasp is one of the recommendations for doing a productive online interview. When selecting an online tool, be sure it does not require any additional equipment, such as a webcam or microphone.
Always use a Wi-Fi interview tool that can be accessed from a variety of devices (mobile phones, tablets, or desktops). You should also keep in mind that your employer’s brand is vital when selecting a tool, so choose one that allows you to modify it.
Prepare your questions ahead of time for the interview.
When organizing your online interview, this is one of the most important elements to consider. If you do not precisely prepare for the questions you will ask the candidates, the interview process will be useless to you.
Your questions should provide important information about the job seekers, whether it’s a pre-screening interview or a final selection interview. Check out this list of 15 strategic questions to ask job candidates.
Always keep track of the time.
When conducting an online interview, one thing to keep in mind is that both you and the prospective prospects have a limited amount of time. If you’re interviewing job candidates from outside your country, be mindful of the time setting so that you and the candidate are on the same page.
A long interview might cause both you and the job seeker to get disengaged. If you don’t engage with the job candidate, getting the information you need from them may be tough.
Give applicants taking part in pre-recorded interviews plenty of time to think about the questions and respond thoughtfully.
Always remember to maintain a professional demeanor.
Maintaining the same level of professionalism in an online interview as in a face-to-face interview is critical. Because you can’t see the job candidate in person, it’s tempting to assume that the online interview is informal, but this isn’t the case. When conducting online interviews, you should always appear professional if you want to keep your company’s identity and image.
Apply the same professionalism to an online interview as you would to an in-person interview.
When it comes to selecting an online interview platform, there are a few things to consider.
Recruiters utilize a variety of online interview methods to pick candidates depending on their needs, as we previously described.
We’ve also discussed the various online interview formats. The online interview tool you’ll require will most likely be influenced by the online interview form you wish to use.
Always ask yourself these questions before deciding on which online interview tools to use:
What are your hiring objectives, and how can a platform assist you in achieving them?
How will you know if the tool is a success?
What abilities does the candidate need to be able to effectively use the tool?
What characteristics do you require in an online interview tool?
Is it possible to utilize the tool to recruit for any position?
Will you be able to customize the interview experience to fit your brand (e.g., logos, photos, brand videos, and custom emails)?
Will the tool save you time by allowing you to keep track of the performance of each candidate?
Will the technology allow you to tailor your inquiries to your specific requirements?
Is it possible to combine the tool with your existing recruitment software?
How much does the tool cost? (There are both commercial and free tools available).
Yes, holding job interviews over the internet has become routine, but how can you make the most of it? Whatever tools or online interview forms you use, make sure they make the recruitment process easier for your company.
Any program or tool you choose should make the recruitment process easy for both you and the job candidates you’ll be interviewing.
