Videoconferencing is a great way to conduct interviews without requiring the interviewee to travel. However, some challenges can arise as well as benefits for both the interviewer and the interviewee. This article will cover those issues and provide you with information on using videoconferencing to help you screen candidates effectively.
Advantages of Interviews via Videoconferencing
The online job market has made it easy for candidates to apply online to jobs posted online. Still, sometimes it can be challenging to schedule an interview with these candidates. Videoconferencing allows you the opportunity to interview these online applicants without requiring them to travel to your office for a face-to-face interview. This can be particularly helpful if you are recruiting online and only have the opportunity to conduct interviews on an online platform.
Another benefit of online videoconferencing is that it provides you with a chance to screen candidates. They may not be able to attend your in-person interviews because of varying reasons. Conducting online videoconferencing allows you to continue the interview process with qualified candidates you would have been unable to meet with otherwise.
The online videoconferencing format also enables you to interview candidates who are working or otherwise not free during your organization’s typical interview hours. This allows more flexibility when scheduling interviews with candidates who may have difficulty taking off work for an in-person interview.
Conversely, this can be a huge benefit to the candidate as well. Candidates with busy schedules who are working, taking care of their families, or traveling will be able to schedule an interview on their own time without having to request a day off. This is much more convenient for some people than the potential inconvenience that may arise from needing to take time out of their schedules for an in-person appointment.
Disadvantages of Interviews via Videoconferencing
One major downside of online videoconferencing is the lack of physicality in online interviews, which can be a problem for some applicants. Many applicants are used to online pre-employment skills testing, including online assessments or written tests that they can complete at their convenience. However, an online videoconferencing interview requires the applicant to be available at a specific time and date that you have scheduled with them. This situation gives them less control over what they already do online.
Another downside of online videoconferencing is that a poor connection can cause a significant delay in the interview process. This can cause frustrations for both you and the applicant.
How You Can Make Videoconferencing Work for You
There are some measures you can take to help ensure an online videoconferencing interview goes as well as possible. For example, before your online videoconferencing interview begins, test the connection and ensure that it is good. Also, make sure that you have a backup plan in case of a poor signal. If the online candidate has scheduled the online video conference for a certain time instead of being available on demand, let them know that you will be testing the online connection beforehand.
This will let them know that sometimes you have to perform a test before an interview starts.
Because of the limited physical interaction during online videoconferencing interviews, it is essential to integrate technology into your interview process to maintain your connection with the candidate. For example, using Skype’s annotation feature, you can use annotations to highlight specific areas of a resume or take notes during the interview process.
One-way Interviews
You can also use videoconferencing technology to your advantage if you need only one person in an online interview. You can make it a one-way interview where both parties cannot see each other. You could save this technique when you are screening candidates and only need to know the result of a particular test or assessment.
By using online videoconferencing resources, you can continue the interview process with online applicants. You can also reduce the number of in-person interviews that you have to conduct to accommodate your scheduling needs. By integrating technology into your interview techniques, you will be able to make the most out of your online meetings.
Videoconferencing is an excellent way for busy professionals to conduct interviews without taking time off work. It also gives the applicant more control over scheduling their interview, which can be convenient if you have other things going on in your life.
But video conferences are not perfect. You must test your connection before planning with potential backup plans if there is an issue during the conference. This will make sure both parties feel like they’re at ease during the conversation and help ensure the success of the meeting overall. Videoconferencing technology has evolved quite a bit since its inception. Explore all of your options when considering how best to integrate this into your hiring process.