Conducting Interviews Remotely
At 24 Seven, we've been helping world-class brands find the best and brightest creative talent for more than 20 years, and in that time, we've learned a lot about how to conduct interviews. In light of the current climate, with social distancing and shelter-in-place orders in effect in many parts of the country, companies are turning to interviewing talent remotely. Trust us, though - remote interviews can be as effective as in-person if done right. We believe that developing best practices for remote interviewing will help not only in the short term, but in the future, as more companies shift their workforce to be more flexible. As such, we’re offering a few tips on how to effectively interview job candidates remotely to ensure you make a talent match.
Best Practices for Interviewing Job Candidates Remotely
You need a position filled, but with quarantines in effect in many parts of the country, an in-person interview is off the table. As we plan for what's next, many teams may be split between remote and in-office employees with some teams going completely remote so our guess is that virtual interviews are here to stay.
Plan Ahead: Remote interviews are often intimidating for the interviewer, but may be even more nerve-wracking for the candidate! With this in mind, it's important to plan ahead and explain the interview process and plan thoroughly ahead of time. Make sure to communicate what software you'll be using, whether it's a phone or video interview, and any other relevant information. Ensuring the candidate knows what to expect helps set them up to perform at their best and will lead to a more smooth interview for all parties.
Practice: Typically we think of the candidate practicing ahead of the interview, but if you're new to the world of virtual meetings it's best to prep ahead of time. Take some time to practice delivering your interview questions, and if you can, try to set up a mock remote interview with someone else at the company. This will let you test your video software setup as well as practice assessing someone view virtual interview questions.
Clean Up Your Act: In a remote interview, it's important to be mindful of what's captured in your webcam frame. Clutter or bad lighting can reflect poorly on your company brand, so make sure you have a neat, clean space to do the interview where you aren't backlit.
Adjust Your Questions: When interviewing a candidate in-person assessing things like culture fit and soft skills may be a bit easier than with the added barrier of an online format. You may want to incorporate some new interview questions into your arsenal to determine whether the candidate will be a good fit for your team and company.
Find The Perfect Remote Employee For Your Team
Conducting remote interviews can seem like a challenging task, but with the right preparation and approach, you can still find the perfect candidate for your open role. For more insights on assessing talent for the future of work click here. If you'd like to supercharge your search, the best way is to partner with a reputable recruitment agency, which is where we come in. We've helped countless companies find world-class talent in a wide range of creative fields. Take the first step to finding your next star employee by