What Advice Would You Give for Conducting Virtual Interviews?

What Advice Would You Give for Conducting Virtual Interviews?

In the digital age, virtual interviews have become a cornerstone of the recruitment process. We've gathered six pieces of advice from top HR professionals, including Directors of Human Resources and Senior Talent Acquisition Specialists. Their tips range from being human and genuine to providing clear instructions and expectations, ensuring candidates have the best possible experience.

• Be Human and Genuine
• Familiarize Candidates Pre-Interview
• Communicate Clearly and Consistently
• Optimize the Virtual Interview Setup
• Send Personalized Follow-Up Emails
• Provide Clear Instructions and Expectations

Be Human and Genuine

My advice to employers is similar to that of candidates. It's important to be human and genuine during a virtual interview. Don't forget to make eye contact, smile, and emote just as you would in person. Candidates are assessing the role, but also the vibe of the personal connection. You can be both professional and showcase your personality at the same time. That connection is likely to set you apart from the rest.

Familiarize Candidates Pre-Interview

There are several factors to fostering a strong candidate experience during a virtual interview process:

1. Make sure that the candidate is familiarized with not only the role but also the mission, vision, and values of the organization prior to the interview taking place. It's also important to paint a picture of the company culture, type of work, and any locations the candidate may have to go to for training or work. The candidate can be informed of these different components through the company website, recruitment material, and/or through the pre-screening process.

2. Test out the technology beforehand. Sometimes interviews can go astray because a conference room laptop's password was changed, a personal Zoom account link was utilized instead of a professional Zoom account link causing there to be a time limit and leading to the interview ending abruptly, or there was an unstable internet connection at a certain work location which affected the video/audio quality.

3. Everyone should have their cameras on and be fully focused. It's very easy to get distracted and start answering instant messages or emails (or even go off-screen for a bit to take a phone call), but these are all things that we should do our best to resist doing. They are easily noticeable and often times make the candidate feel deprioritized and can even negatively impact their interview performance if they incorrectly make the assumption that the interview is not going well and that is why some or all of the interviewers are not entirely invested. Regardless of how the interview is going, it's vital to give full attention and energy to the prospective candidate because it may not only impact that candidate's perception about the company but can also lead to negative word-of-mouth about the company/recruitment process.

Communicate Clearly and Consistently

One piece of advice for conducting virtual interviews that foster a strong candidate experience is to ensure clear and consistent communication throughout the process. For instance, at Alpas Wellness, we make it a point to send detailed instructions and an agenda before the interview, explaining what candidates can expect. During the interview, we allocate time for candidates to ask questions and provide feedback. This approach not only reduces anxiety but also makes candidates feel valued and respected, resulting in a more positive and engaging interview experience. This method has helped us attract top talent by showcasing our commitment to transparency and candidate care.

Optimize the Virtual Interview Setup

As a remote-first business, Payara's talent acquisition team is well-versed in conducting effective virtual interviews. HR teams that are about to have an online job interview should consider some key elements to optimize their own as well as their candidates' experience.

First, dress appropriately to reflect your company's culture. If you're a casual workplace, it's okay to dress down, while avoiding anything offensive. For more corporate environments, smart attire is best suited to set the right tone.

Test your background beforehand to make sure it is presentable; a simple blue or neutral virtual background can be very effective. Test your sound and video beforehand, and if possible, use a noise-canceling headset to minimize distractions. It's crucial to be free from noise and interruptions, allowing you to give your full attention to the candidate.

As oral communication is vital in virtual interviews, speak clearly and slowly, especially since candidates can't rely on lip-reading. Be ready to rephrase questions if the candidate doesn't understand initially.

Take the time to discuss and explain life at your company. Without an office visit, candidates miss out on experiencing the culture firsthand. Elaborate on your core values and direct them to your social media or website for employee testimonials and more insights.

Finally, always inform candidates of the next steps in the hiring process and provide a timeline for feedback. This ensures a positive candidate experience, reducing uncertainty and keeping them engaged.

Send Personalized Follow-Up Emails

After the interview, send a personalized follow-up email within 24 hours, summarizing key points discussed, reiterating the role's expectations, and expressing gratitude for their time. This quick and friendly message helps the candidate feel good about the interview and keeps them interested in the job.

Provide Clear Instructions and Expectations

Being communicative and transparent throughout the interview process will provide a stronger and more impactful candidate experience. By giving clear instructions on the information and program needed to join the virtual interview, the interviewee can test the software ahead of time to have a seamless experience and bring their A-game to impress hiring authorities. Before wrapping up the virtual interview, HR professionals should also relay the next steps of the process so candidates know what to expect moving forward.