How To Conduct An Online Interview

Let The Other Person Finish Speaking

This is good life advice in general, but over video chat, jumping in with your response too soon can mute the other persons mic and cut them off entirelymaking you seem rude even if you didnt intend to be. Plus with internet lag, its not always immediately apparent whether someone is done speaking or just pausing. So once you think your interviewer is done, take a beat before you answer. If you have trouble with this, get in the habit of muting yourself while the other person is speakingthat way the action of turning the mic back on forces you to give them a little extra time to keep talking.

How To Prepare For Video Interviews

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Again, whether your team has experience with video interviews or not, its important to thoroughly prepare for the unique challenges and nuances of adapting to a digital interview process. An unpolished process can come across as unprofessional and even damage your employer brand.

However, putting in the work upfront to document and test procedures will go a long way in maintaining a positivecandidate experience. Remember, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Use the following tips to implement a strong video interview process.

Communicate The Details In Advance

One of the things that can make a job interview so stressful is the many unknowns. Candidates are often anxious about the questions theyll be receiving, the kind of person their interviewers will be, and the dress code, among many other factors.

Although this is expected, keep in mind that nervous candidates likely wont be able to perform their best. Studies have shown that when people are too stressed, their cognitive abilities are affected, leading to reduced performance.

If you want to assess your candidates accurately, you have to address their fears. An easy way to do this is to minimise the unknowns: tell them the interview details in advance, including the complete schedule, the topics to be discussed, and the interview goals.

The more your candidates know what to expect, the more their confidence grows. And the more confident they are, the more you can get to know their best self.

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Questions You Can Ask At The End Of An Interview

At the end of your actual interview youll likely be asked if you have any questions, so its a good idea to practice your response. Here are some questions you can prepare to ask during an online mock interview:

• Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?

• What does the career path for someone in this role look like?

• What do you like best about working here?

• What other functions or departments does this team work with most often?

• What are some challenges youve seen people in this role encounter?

• What are the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?

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How Natural Hr Can Help With Your Virtual Interview Processes

In the absence of face-to-face interviews and personal interaction, open communication channels have never been so important to foster a personal connection between you and your candidates.

Remember, this is likely the first interaction they will have with a representative from your company, so it is crucial to get off on the right foot and make a good impression.

Our recruitment and applicant tracking software can create a seamless process that improves the HR teams efficiency and makes a fantastic impression on candidates as youll demonstrate a highly organised environment.

The software allows you to minimise time to hire, automate candidate communication and effectively demonstrate your company culture. Why not book a demo or get in touch to discuss how we can help streamline your HR departments hiring process?

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Prepare Like You Would For An In

Just because your interview is happening over Skype , doesnt mean its not a real interview. Other than preparations to travel to the interview, you still need to prepare the same way you would if you were going into the office. That means researching the company and role, preparing to answer common interview questions, and coming up with questions to ask your interviewer in return. Your interviewer is still looking for someone they can see themselves working with and who is passionate and knowledgeable about the role theyre applying tobe ready to show them why thats you.

Properly Introduce Yourself & Your Co

Whether its in person or over a video call, start the interview by introducing everyone to each other. Put the candidate at ease by explaining who you are, what your role is, and a little about the company.

You should also lay out what the interview process will look like. Showing you have a plan will reflect positively on your organization and it will keep the interviewee relaxed.

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Use Your Face To Show Youre Engaged

Nonverbal communication is important in any conversation. But when it comes to a video interview, a lot of the avenues through which we usually give nonverbal cueseye contact, body language, and small murmurs of agreementare cut off. So we have to lean more heavily on what we have left, namely facial expressions.

If youre in the room with someone, you can usually tell if theyre listening to you intently even if their face is not moving much . But everybody can look like a statue over video interview, Turner says. You shouldnt be so static that your interviewer has to wonder if youre still connected.

Short vocalizations arent the way to solve this problem here since on many common video interview platforms, only one mic can be used at once, Eonnet says. So while two people can speak simultaneously in the same room or over the phone, on a video call, your yes, definitely! can mute the other persons microphone momentarily, breaking up the flow of conversation and possibly causing you to miss key information.

Instead of saying mm-hm or yeah, nod or smile when youd usually speak. That way your interviewer still gets the feedback they need without your mic accidentally overriding theirs.

Why Conduct An Online Interview With Candidates

Technology advances have made it easier for companies to interview candidates online by using simple tools

Online interviews with candidates help hiring managers:

• Save time when interviewers and candidates are in different locations
• Identify deal-breakers during initial hiring stages
• Evaluate communication skills, particularly for roles where speaking abilities are key
• Clarify resume details and get to know candidates
• Provide instructions for skills assessments as part of the interview process

Interested in conducting one-way video interviews with candidates?

Learn how Workable Video Interviews, our new remote screening tool, can help you keep your hiring on track.

Here are some sample interview questions to ask candidates during a video interview:

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Follow Up With A Thank

After you crush your video interview with your remote candidate, youre not quite finished. Follow up with a thank-you note to them for giving up their valuable time to speak with your team.

Also, use your post-interview note to tell your candidate about any next steps. Let them know if theyre no longer in consideration or to let them know theyre a finalist and may still need an additional interview, assessment, or background check.

Use Engaged Body Language

Similar to the power poses, using engaged body language during the interview is going to help you answer with confidence and energy. Even if the call is just over the phone, the right posture will help you sound more friendly, open and sure of yourself.

On the flip side, slouching can cause you to feel tired and want to be done. Crossing your arms or your legs will look like you arent fully engaged and can actually cause a kind of mental block that makes it hard to really take in the information.

Pro Tip: Make sure you are sitting up straight with your shoulders back and head up. This is something you will want to practice when you are getting your spot picked out. Make sure that your computer or camera is positioned at eye level, so you dont have to lean over or duck down to get in the frame. You may need to place it on a box or stand to get it to the perfect height.

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Prepare Specific Questions For The Role In Advance

Its easy to get caught up in conversation during an interview. Having interview questions prepared in advance ensures you cover all the bases you wanted to cover.

Most companies have a base set of questions they ask every candidate and then specific questions for each role. Giving the same base questions to every candidate allows you to compare candidates more directly to each other.

To make sure you elicit answers that help drive your decision-making, use a mix of question types. Use a variety of close-ended questions, open-ended questions, hypothetical questions, and behavioral questions.

For example, asking a behavioral question like tell me about a time you dealt with a challenging manager is more likely to dig into how the candidate deals with conflict as opposed to asking them directly how they deal with conflict.

And while its good to be prepared, leave room for organic questions that come up naturally. If theres something in particular that stands out , dont be afraid to ask follow-up questions.

How To Schedule A Job Interview

Scheduling remotely can be a difficult task. Its hard enough under normal circumstances to find a time when all involved parties are available. More likely than not, this will be compounded by current affairs.

The right software can streamline the scheduling process. Modern applicant tracking systems allow for mass self scheduling which takes much of the time, effort, and headaches out of scheduling for both the candidate and hiring team.

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Video Interviews: The Pros And Cons

One of the advantages of video interviewing is that it lets you see applicants anywhere in the world, which gives you a huge pool of talent to draw from.

Video interviews can make recruitment faster and more flexible. No travel is required, which cuts costs and is kinder to the environment. You also create a level playing field for people with disabilities who might otherwise find it difficult to visit you.

More of your people can get involved in the interview process. And tools such as Artificial Intelligence , and the ability to rewatch prerecorded videos, can further improve the decision-making process.

But technology has its downsides, too. Technical problems, or a poor data connection, can turn the most promising video interview into a frustrating and dispiriting experience for both parties.

And video interviewing can impair the performance of some applicants and interviewers. You’ll need to find new ways to build rapport , as well as to use and read Body Language

Conducting Effective Online Interviews Tips For Employers

Posted: 14 May 2020

As more employers conduct interviews online due to Covid-19 social distancing requirements, attention to detail is vital, says Eolas Recruitment.

Social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing more employers to conduct interviews online. Demand for skilled IT workers in areas like data, web, user experience and project management is strong, with employers looking to specialist recruiters like Eolas Recruitment to help them fill key roles.

Asked how Covid-19 has affected Eolas Recruitments business, Managing Director Vincent Flynn says the current lockdown is disrupting work practices and employers are having to be more flexible in how they manage their hiring process.

More companies have been reaching out to us for assistance over the last few weeks because they are finding it difficult to source candidates due to the disruption that Covid-19 is causing. Some companies are finding that the number of applications for advertised IT roles is down with candidates reluctant to change jobs due to the current uncertainty. Thats where Eolas Recruitment can help. As a specialist in the IT sector for more than 20 years, we have a great network of contacts so we can often introduce employers to highly qualified, skilled candidates who may not be actively job hunting. We can also screen applicants, assist with interviews, and provide support throughout the recruitment process all of which are valuable services for clients during the current crisis.

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Tips On How To Conduct An Effective Interview

8 Tips on How to Conduct an Effective Interview

The goal of interviews is to hire the right talent the best candidates for a specific job. However, conducting an interview can be challenging, but hiring the ideal candidate makes the process worthwhile. Coming up with the right strategies, structure, and preparation on how to conduct an interview makes all the difference in your companys hiring process. However, the majority of recruiters assume they know how to conduct an interview and hence fail to plan effectively.

Conducting interviews is just one step in the hiring and recruitment process where preparation and structure are paramount to make the process successful. Establishing and implementing a specific system that acts as the basis of your hiring decisions will ensure your company overcomes interviewing pitfalls, identifies and hires the right people for the job.

If your main aim is to hire the best candidate, then its vital that your interviews are thorough and well planned for in advance. Knowing how to conduct an interview also includes knowing how to prepare for the meeting. Consider using the checklist below as you prepare to interview candidates.

Make Sure The Virtual Interview Is Distraction

Whether you are conducting an interview from home or in the office, ensure the room you choose is free of distractions, be it people or pets milling around in the background or loud noises from elsewhere on the property.

While many of us continue to work from home, you wont be able to obliterate every distraction. For example, you really cannot help the construction noise from your neighbours extension, dogs barking outside, or a siren blaring past but do what you can to minimise anything that will distract you or your candidate during the virtual interview.

Try to keep your background as neutral as possible a blank wall works well and steady your laptop and webcam on a flat surface.

Turn off your notifications, silence your phone and close your email for the duration of the interview to avoid any unwanted distractions.

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On The Day Of The Interview

1. Punctuality

Create a good impression by being early. This way you have ample time to log in or to fix any connection issues that may arise beforehand.

2. Test all equipment

Conduct a trial run at least an hour before the interview. Practice your sitting posture and angle via the webcam before the interview to ensure everything is working. Repeat the same routine about 30 minutes before the interview.

3. Appearance and attire

Dress appropriately for the job you are seeking. Generally, business casual is the preferred choice. Although you may be seated, it is advisable to wear proper shoes, especially when you are required to stand and greet your interviewer online.

The right attire creates a good first impression. Dont forget to test how you appear on the webcam beforehand!

4.Avoid distractions

Be sure to switch off all apps or programs that could disrupt the interview. Put your phone on silent mode and switch off alarms and any other devices. Keep your pets away, too!

5. Body languageMaintain eye contact with the interviewer and smile when necessary. Look into the camera when you are speaking and not at the interviewers face on the screen and lean in occasionally. This will show the interviewer that you are engaged and not distracted by anything around you. Good posture is important to convey a positive image and keep your hands on your lap.

6. Speaking, Listening and Taking Notes

Tools For Online Interviews

There are plenty of tools out there to aid you in conducting an effective online interview. Each of these platforms offers a set of features designed to support you in the hiring process. Its about finding the perfect fit for your requirements.

1. Vervoe

Vervoe transforms the way youre able to screen candidates. The platform automatically grades and ranks all your candidates based on a range of assessments you can curate. There is a selection of customisable content, including an automated skills test builder and a library of expert content by industry experts. There are multiple testing and grading formats available so you can create assessments that are reflective of the role youre hiring for. AI-powered hiring automation allows you to hire at scale, efficiently managing increased volumes of applicants. API integration capabilities makes it easy to use Vervoe in conjunction with your other HR platforms.

2. VidCruiter

Designed to help streamline your hiring process, VidCruiter was one of the first video interview platforms. It offers an array of features, including one-way video interviewing and live video interviews. You can conduct one-on-one conversations or panel interviews on the platform, recording the conversation so you can refer back to it. The platform can be used on any device, making it accessible for all candidates.

3. Spark Hire

4. interviewstream

5. OutMatch

6. AllyO

7. Mya

8. CodeSignal

9. CoderPad

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How To Prepare For A Virtual Interview

Your applicants are hopefully spending a lot of time planning for their interview with your business. You should devote considerable time to planning as well.

Thorough preparation is one of the best ways to maximize your chances of a successful search. By the time an interview starts, you should already have a clear sense of what youre looking for, with whom youre speaking, what youre going to ask them, and how you will allocate the time.

Here are tips to help you prepare for an interview: