Following on from the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are now having to conduct job interviews using video conferences, as opposed to meeting the candidate in person. Some recruiters are perfectly content with remote interviews, whilst others think they are wholly ineffectual. And so, today we are going to be breaking down the different advantages and disadvantages of both. Read on if you are hoping to recruit a new worker but don’t know whether you can effectively do so until the pandemic is over.
Internet Connection
Perhaps the main disadvantage of video interviewing is that it very much depends on the internet connection. If either person has poor signal, the entire interview could be ruined. Vital information might get lost in translation because of audio delays or the video might cut off, bringing the interview to a grinding halt. This can make the whole process frustrating and unproductive. What’s more, your company might inadvertently be excluding some potential candidates with online interviews. Remember, internet connection is a privilege that not everyone has access to.
Highly Convenient
Though the internet can be temperamental when it comes to video interviews, there is no denying that they are much more convenient than face-to-face meetings. This is because, overall, they take much less time to conduct and set up. There’s no need to print out the applicant’s CV – everything will be right in front of you on your computer. The candidate also doesn’t have to travel any distance for the interview. As video interviews are so easy and convenient, they don’t take as big a chunk out of your day.
Flowing Conversation
Conversation flows much better in face-to-face interviews, allowing employers to go down interesting paths with their candidate. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said when interviewing over video call. There is usually a feedback delay with video conferencing software. This makes it difficult to follow along with conversation and results in the participants inadvertently talking over one another.
Understanding Candidates
The best thing about face-to-face interviewing is that you can properly get a ‘feel’ for the candidate, understanding what motivates them and what their general disposition is like. It is completely different when conducting a video interview. You aren’t able to connect with the applicant in the same way. Though it’s important to focus on the individual’s qualifications, businesses do also need to consider the type of person they are hiring.
Camera Confidence
Some people are uncomfortable being in front of a camera, which might affect how well they are able to perform in the interview. They might be less present, becoming distracted by how they look in the video. Face-to-face interviews, on the other hand, can help the candidates to warm up and feel a little more comfortable as the meeting progresses. So, you’ll usually get the best results from applicants you interview in person.
Video interviews are a viable alternative for recruiters during the pandemic but, overall, we think that face-to-face interviews are the best option. If you need help hiring new workers in these difficult times, make sure to contact us at Recruiting Talent.