8 tips for a seamless video interviewing process

5 mins, 21 secs read time

Are you ready to dive into the world of video interviews but aren’t sure how to make them work for you? Video interviews can improve everyone’s recruiting efficiency, but you have to trust in the process. Today, we’ll explore how you can make them seamless for both you and the candidate,

1. Work on changing company behavior toward video interviews

Video interviews can be incredibly useful for your recruiting strategy, but only if you create a process that helps them thrive. Is your company stuck on the misconception that the only way to get to know a candidate is by shaking their hand? Remove all your doubts about video interviews and see them for what they are: a cost-effective way to interview more candidates efficiently.

This alternative method helps us by extending our employee search reach. Instead of being pigeonholed to the local area, we can expand our search without paying to fly candidates halfway across the country or the world.

2. Allow candidates to book their interview slots

Booking an interview can be time-consuming for you and the person you are interviewing. Instead of going back and forth on potential time slots, use an interview scheduler to cut down on this timesuck.

We recently launched an integration with Calendly that lets Greenhouse users set their availability. From there, your candidates can pick the time that works best for them. You’ll both get notifications when a time slot is booked, which makes this ideal for remote interviews in different time zones.

3. Make sure everyone is familiar with your software of choice

There are so many platforms for hosting interviews. Your candidates need to know where the meeting will be held so they can download the software or go to the website before the interview.

Second, make sure everyone knows that video is an expected component of the interview. Many tools allow users to call in or turn off their cameras. If you’d like to see your candidates, let them know.

When it comes to technology, we encourage a tool like Zoom to host video meetings. It’s an excellent resource for companies of all sizes because your recruiters can start with a free account and then upgrade as you need more features. One-on-one meetings are free, which is perfect for interviews.

4. Automate pre-interview reminders

People lose track of time, especially if they aren’t going to a physical location. Video interviews save time, but only if everyone shows up. Reduce the amount of missed interviews and wasted time by automating pre-interview reminders.

Set reminders for 24 hours and one hour before the interview, at least. Some employers set reminders for ten minutes before the meeting but if someone truly lost track of time, ten minutes may not give them enough time to show up as their best selves on camera.

5. Test your technology

Testing your technology is simple and it makes the biggest difference. If you haven't used this type of interview platform before or haven't used it in a while, test it out before you hop on a call with your candidate. Check out your camera to make sure enough light is coming in and review your microphone/headphones to make sure everything is set up correctly.

If you are holding the interview from home, or in a new location, be sure to test your internet speed and capabilities. Interviews are a two-way street – both you and the candidate will be making judgments about each other – and you don’t want to make a bad impression because of something like a poor connection.

6. Host your interviews in the right place

Whether you are hosting the interview in the office or offsite, you’ll need to ensure the location is conducive to the conversation, and distraction-free. Your focus should be on getting to know the candidate and whether they'd be a fantastic addition for your company. You can’t do that if your mind is wandering or an espresso machine is buzzing in the background.

Before the interview begins, let your teammates know that you’ll be in an interview. Put a sign up on the door (if there is one!) to let people know that you don’t want to be disturbed. If you’ll be using a conference room, look for one with fewer windows so that you aren’t distracted as people walk by.

If you’ll be at home, do the same. We all remember the BBC interview seen around the world a few years ago. It’s essential to create as much focus as possible when conducting an interview.

Test out potential interview locations before you settle on the perfect one.

7. Prepare the right interview questions

Another key interview element is asking the right questions. Questions are the heart of every successful interview. But asking questions that matter is easier said than done. How do you make sure that your questions help you find the right employees and shed light on their strengths and weaknesses?

Your interview questions should be based on the competencies you want your employees to have. If you value honesty at work, some of your questions should help you uncover how your candidates feel about honesty. Work to determine what you value at your company and what the specific role calls for.

Another critical interview technique is to use the same questions for every candidate seeking the same role. If you want to compare candidates, you need your data to stay clean. Make sure you don't veer off course during the interview process.

8. Use a structured interview process

Last but not least, to create a seamless interview process, make it structured. Would the decision to hire a candidate vary dramatically depending on which recruiter they were interviewed by? While each recruiter has a different personality, your goal should be to standardize your recruitment process. You should make it as simple as possible for interviewers and candidates alike.

By using a tool like Greenhouse, you can help set up a fair and organized hiring process. For example, you can create a hiring scorecard that will help assess candidates effectively. Instead of going into an interview and making decisions based on gut feelings, interviewers can make decisions based on a predetermined set of values and skills.

Video interviews are a stellar way to increase recruiter and interviewer efficiency. When you pair effective tactics like video interviewing with structured hiring strategies, you can elevate your recruiting function to ensure it consistently brings in great hires year after year.

Ready to get started? Find out how to create a structured hiring process today.

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