Many of the changes the pandemic brought to the corporate world seem to stick around for a while. Remote work or work from home and virtual recruiting are among those changes that are prevailing in most companies. We Novoindus Consultancy Services use remote interviews so many times.

Whether you’re interviewing for years or it is the first time, a video interview doesn’t have to be a stressor. All you need to do is understand a few things and get your hands on a few tips to find the best talent right through a virtual interview.

While video interviews aren’t a new concept, some hiring managers aren’t familiar with the latest technology and conducting interviews remotely. There may be technical difficulties and most importantly behavioral cues can be harder to understand in a video interview.

Useful Video Interview Tips for Employers

Below are some video interview tips to ensure a seamless hiring process even when you’re not conducting a face-to-face interview…

1. Perform a Video Interview Test Run: The first thing that you should do for an uninterrupted video interview is by familiarising yourself with the technology in advance. There’s no point in struggling to use the video conferencing platform while an interview. It will poorly reflect your company and capabilities. Check everything in advance such as the platform you will be using, audio, webcam, internet connection, etc.

2. Provide Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Platform: Whatever platform you’re using, make sure you provide detailed instructions to the candidate. Keep in mind that the candidates may not be familiar with the platform you are using. They may need instructions to seamlessly connect to the interview. It is best to test the interview software from the interviewee’s point of view and this means providing them with dial-in information, passwords, links, etc.

3. Set Up a Professional Space for Conducting the Video Interview: It is important to set an appropriate space to conduct the interview even if you’re doing it remotely. This means that the space should have enough light, be professional, and be free from background distractions. You can take a picture of the setting or make a short video to know what the other person would see. Make sure you have an appropriate background such as awards, achievements, etc.

4. Prepare Your Questions Ahead of Time: One of the best things you can do to streamline the hiring process is by preparing the questions in advance. Have those questions in front of you to stay on track and make sure that all-important questions are answered. During the video interview, start with some icebreaker questions to help put the interviewee at ease. You may start with asking some general questions before heading to the technical ones.

5. Keep the Space Free From Background Noise: You must control background noise and choose a quiet location for your interview. If you’re conducting the video interview from your home, it is best practice to find a good spot that is free from any interruptions. It will be a great idea to give someone the responsibility to prevent kids or anyone else from interrupting. If it is not possible to control the background noise, establish that there might be noise to ensure that the interviewee doesn’t feel awkward.

6. Professionally Present Yourself: You are conducting a video interview doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t appear professional or dress up appropriately. From what you wear to how you behave, there shouldn’t be any difference as you would in person. During the interview, sit up straight to show that you’re engaged in the conversation. Furthermore, eye contact is key in a video interview and you should look directly into the webcam, not on the screen.

7. Highlight Your Company’s Culture: As you would do in a face-to-face interview, highlight your company’s throughout the conversation. In a video interview, a candidate won’t be able to experience the culture of your company but you can emphasize your core values and share stories, or talk about the company’s mission. This will help you point a clear picture of your organization and know more about the candidate as to how he or she can contribute.

8. Review Past Interviews to Take Important Notes: The best way for a successful interview is to learn from any past mistakes. Review your previous conversation to understand the loopholes and make sure that the next one is as good as possible. Takes notes on what the candidate says during every interview and most platforms generate transcripts of meetings. You can use these transcripts for reviewing and jot down notes on things that seem important.

9. Be Considerate, Confident, and Compassionate: Even if it is a video interview, your candidate deserves respect. Before you start with the process, take a moment to acknowledge the qualification, experience, and achievements of the candidate during the past job. Also, ask them for their patience for any distractions during the interview. Moreover, don’t fault candidates if any interruptions happen from their end such as background noises or distractions.

10. Be a Well-Prepared Early Bird: Don’t let your candidate wait around wondering if they’ve joined the right meeting. Log on early and be prepared with everything you are going to need during the interview. Also, make sure you don’t have any filters on that might make you look like something else. When the interview time approaches, keep the job description and candidate’s resume handy. You may not want to read directly from them but to have an idea.

Here’s the Round-Up…

Once you’re done with the interview, end it with appreciation just as you would with any interview. A follow-up note would be great asking the candidate why you’d be a great match for the role. This will also help you take things to the next round and know what to expect from the candidate.

A video interview is just like a face-to-face interview, all you have to do is take care of certain things. You need to control the interruptions and distractions as much as possible and pick software that is easy to use.