Due to the ongoing pandemic, most companies are now conducting video interviews to fulfil their recruitment needs. With this in mind, nijobfinder is sharing some tips to help businesses and managers when it comes to holding successful video interviews.
8 tips to conduct successful video interviews
Prepare interview questions
You need to have specific questions when conducting any interview. The interview questions you ask will help you determine which candidate is the best fit for your company. You can prepare basic questions that help you get to know the candidate and you can also ask in-depth questions such as how they acted in specific situations and about their skills and work experience. Plan ahead and create a list of questions that you can use in the video interview to keep you on track and to ensure you learn everything you need to know about the candidate. You may want to start with an icebreaker question to put the interviewee at ease.
Pick a quiet location
Even though you might not be in a traditional office setting, it is still vital to set an appropriate scene for the video interview. Pick a professional well-lit space and try to avoid distracting background noises. You want the interviewee to know you are taking this seriously, so make sure you find a place that is clean and free of distractions. Pick a quiet location to allow you and the candidate to communicate clearly and without interruption. You may want to inform those in your household when the interview is going to take place so they can be mindful of the interview.
Choose and test the software
Whether you choose to use Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams or another video conferencing platform bear in mind that the candidate may not be familiar with it. Make sure you provide step-by-step instructions for using the software so the candidate has no issues connecting to the interview. Once you have selected the software, you need to test it. It may reflect poorly on you and your company if you are unable to connect or if you have difficulty using the platform. Check your audio is working, your webcam and ensure that your internet connection is stable. It may be beneficial to do a test run with a colleague to ensure you are familiar with the setup, the process and to test the video quality. Things can go wrong, so make sure you have the candidate’s number to call them if you need to.
Dress appropriately and be professional
Even though you are no longer in the office, you still need to dress professionally. Attending the video interview in t-shirt and sweatpants may signal to the candidate that the interview is not that important. Unless this is your typical office attire, it is best to avoid. Dressing as you would if you were in the office gives the candidate a sense of your culture and makes a video interview feel more in line with a face to face interview. The candidate might not be able to see all of you, but you should still dress as though the interview is face to face.
Use positive body language and remember to smile
The way you present yourself is extremely important, even during a video interview. Treat a video interview like you would a face to face one. Make eye contact – it may be tempting to check yourself out on the screen but remember to look at the camera instead, so it appears you are talking directly to the individual. Speak loudly and clearly into the microphone, sit up straight and nod to show you are following along with what the candidate is saying. Remember to smile! This will help put the candidate at ease.
Take notes
During the video interview take notes on what the candidate says, how engaged they seem and their general behaviour during the interview. You should let the interviewee know that you are taking notes to reference later and let them know you are still giving them your full attention. Make sure to write down notes on things that stand out to you during the interview
Record the interview
It may be helpful to record the live video interview and replay it later. You may learn new things the second time around. It is quite common to record the interview so the interviewer or hiring team can review it later and reassess the candidate.
Review the interview
At the end of the call, let the candidate know the next steps. After the interview is finished, take some time to go over it. Review any notes you may have and if you recorded the interview, take another look at it. There might be something you missed the first time, or you might come up with new questions you would like to ask the candidate in the future.
More advice for businesses on the nijobfinder blog.
Keep up to date with the latest news and views on the NI job market and more by following nijobfinder on LinkedIn.