7 unique benefits of virtual interviews
From saving time to broadening the pool of applicants, here are eightbenefitsyou can look forward to with video interviewing.As always, make sure that you’re following virtual interview best practices such as testing your connection and setting up an appropriate background.
1. Attract more candidates with added flexibility
Many of today’s professionals are struggling to balance their careers with personal and family needs. With so much to take care of, interested applicants may decline an interview offer simply because they don’t have any time to spare.
Video interviews offer candidates much more flexibility, which is something many people desire. They eliminate the need to commute to a location, so they’re much easier to fit into even the busiest schedule. Plus, easy scheduling means you and the candidate will spend less time swapping calls and emails to set an agreeable date to meet.
This flexibility also extends to you, as the employer. In-person interviews often require preparation of your office before the meeting begins, which takes further time out of your workday. The more applicants you interview, the more this time adds up. By going virtual, you eliminate this wasted time, making it much easier to fit interviews into your busy schedule.
2. Expand your job posting’s reach
Virtual interviews expand the physical reach of your job posting. Whether they’re planning an upcoming move to your area or left temporarily for personal reasons, some candidates may not be in your area at the time of the interview phase. These candidates may even refrain from applying for the position, knowing they won’t be available for an in-person meeting.
By opting for virtual interviews, you can remove the physical barriers that may come between you and a quality applicant. This is especially useful if your company offers remote positions that would be exclusively virtual from the point of hire.
3. Enhance your interview with virtual technology
Video interviewing allows you to get creative with the process. Instead of swapping basic questions and answers, you can enhance the experience using virtual multimedia to facilitate a deeper discussion with each applicant.
Virtual technology offers several ways to enrich your interview. You can pull up work samples, a presentation or even a candidate’s online profile to discuss during the meeting. The addition of multimedia to the interview process means you can better understand each applicant beyond standard interview questions. With a deeper discussion, you’ll have a clearer picture of the role they might play in your company.
4. See how each candidate handles technology
Technology greatly influences the way many companies carry out their day-to-day processes. Regardless of your industry, technology likely plays a part in any role, so candidates should feel comfortable using it as a tool. During an interview, simply asking whether a candidate is good with technology may not give you a true sense of their capabilities. One of the advantages of video interviews is that they allow applicants to demonstrate their proficiency in real time.
Since many jobs require employees to communicate with others online via email or video calls, virtual interviews can serve as a sort of trial run for candidates. If they successfully navigate the online program and display proper etiquette during the interview, they’re likely to do the same once they land the job.
Technology continues to evolve every year, so it’s essential to find candidates who know how to adapt to such changes. Using the latest software and multimedia enhancements during the interview is a good way to gauge an applicant’s technological comfort level.
5. Show off your company’s modernity and inclusivity
Employers who invest in the latest software and working practices are often more desirable to candidates who value innovation and forward-thinking. For this reason, listing virtual interviews on your job posting demonstrates your commitment to staying modern.
Virtual interviews also show candidates that your company is dedicated to creating an inclusive workspace for all employees from the application process and beyond. Whether they’re unable to attend in-person meetings due to an existing job or personal situation, the flexibility offered by video interviews shows that you can accommodate and empathize with all lifestyles.
6. Find out which candidates are ready for an in-person meeting
While virtual interviews have enough benefits to replace face-to-face meetings altogether, they’re also extremely useful as a first step in the interview process.
Interviewing dozens of applicants for a position is tiring and time-consuming. Unfortunately, you may realize right away that some candidates aren’t the best fit for your team for a variety of reasons. One advantage of virtual interviews is that they allow you to be selective of which candidates you invest your time in.
A short video interview can give you all the information you need to determine which candidates should be brought in for a face-to-face meeting. This way, you can invest more time in candidates who share your company’s core values and less in those who don’t.
7. Bring out the best in each candidate
One of the greatest benefits of video interviewing is that it helps you see each candidate authentically. It’s natural for interviewees to feel nervous before an interview, but too many nerves can negatively skew your perceptions. A candidate may speak out of turn or act unusually due to pressure, even if they’re unlikely to do so upon being hired.
Virtual interviews largely eliminate these mishaps. Candidates are likely to feel much more comfortable meeting virtually from a familiar space, like their home, than in an unknown office, and fewer distractions mean they’ll be more focused on the discussion at hand.
With the pressure of commuting and meeting in an unfamiliar location removed, you’ll likely get a more authentic view of each candidate and ultimately have a more productive discussion. By allowing you to see each candidate as they really are, virtual interviews make it easy to determine which person is right for your team.
