Video Interview

Organizations can access much information about candidates by reviewing their resumes during the job application process. Thanks to this, it may be possible to understand whether the candidates in question can meet the requirements of the job. However, more than resumes are needed in terms of noticing intangible skills or points where candidates try to present themselves as more qualified than they are.

In this respect, companies also benefit from video interviews, usually live interviews through conferencing software such as Skype or Zoom, or recording the answers to pre-recorded interview questions and uploaded online.

Due to location independence, affordability, and speed, video interviews have become more attractive than others, such as face-to-face interviews, for the hiring teams looking to hire the best candidates.

What Is a Video Interview?

Video interviews are a method to review candidates remotely via the Internet. Recruiters and hiring managers can prefer interviewing applicants virtually rather than speaking on the phone or meeting in person through video interview software such as VidCruiter and Spark Hire or communication tools like Zoom and Google Hangouts.

Organizations generally use video interviews in the early stages of the hiring process. It is used to quickly and effectively evaluate and then eliminate a large number of candidates. Organizations can prefer that when interviewers and candidates cannot meet face to face since they are not in the same location. Connecting with talents, like remote candidates or employees who want flexible work scheduling, is also a good idea.

What Are the Types of Video Interviews?

There are two primary categories of video interviews, which are two-way video interview and one-way video interview. There is also a subcategory called video application since even though it technically cannot be considered an interview, it is a video assessment type. They are explained in more detail below:

1. Two-way video interview

A two-way video interview is the most widely used type of video interview, also known as synchronous video interview or live video interview. In this type of interview, interviewers and interviewees participate in the same video call and have their interview in real-time, no matter where they are. Two-way video interviews are highly beneficial, especially when:

• Hiring managers and candidates want to save time and money during the interview by conducting it remotely because they are in different places.
• Interviewers are not in the same office; they all need to connect with interviewees via a video conference interview to avoid wasting time and money.
• There is no physical office to invite candidates for an in-person interview since the team is dispersed.
• Interviewers target to screen many candidates during the early hiring stages without the requirement for additional efforts such as hosting candidates in the office or arranging the meeting rooms.

When companies invite candidates to a video interview, it is important to provide clear and concise information on how they will participate in the video call. For this, they can send them instructions in an email.

2. One-way video interview

A one-way video interview is also known as an on-demand video interview or pre-recorded interview. Because, unlike the two-way video interview, it does not occur in real time, it can also be called an asynchronous interview. In these interviews, interviewers request that all applicants answer questions and then record and send their answers via the video interview platform.

One-way video interviews offer some advantages to HR professionals in the hiring process. Learning these will be useful when deciding whether to include this type of interview in the recruitment strategies. On-demand video interviews are quite beneficial, particularly in the following aspects:

• Recruiters are provided the flexibility to assess candidates' submissions at their convenience. Thus, it decreases scheduling conflicts and prevents wasting time.
• Organizations can screen and gauge candidates regardless of location. It eliminates the geographical limitations of face-to-face interviews or the need to participate in interviews with candidates like in two-way video interviews. Also, thanks to this video interview, organizations can expand their candidate pool and discover talents that cannot be accessed in traditional interview formats.
• These interviews offer a standardized format for gauging applicants. Recruiters can compare answers and evaluate applicants equally by asking previously determined questions. That ensures a fair and transparent evaluation. In this respect, digital technologies can assist in ensuring that biasing is eliminated for many larger organizations that prioritize inclusion and diversity.
• They give opportunities to multiple professionals, such as team members and hiring managers, to evaluate applications and offer input. This collaboration streamlines the decision-making process and enables candidates to be assessed in detail.

If you are conducting one-way video interviews for your organization or looking for the best one-way video interview software, you can visit Hirex, the choice of many companies!

3. Video Application

In video applications, a brief introduction must be delivered for screening purposes. Similar to one-way video interviews, organizations ask candidates to answer a particular question or present their skills in a video that generally lasts one or two minutes.

What Are the Advantages of Video Interviews?

Conducting video interviews is highly important for many organizations to make their job hiring processes easier and more effective in certain aspects. Here are some benefits of video interviews for companies:

Expediting the Hiring Process

Video interviews save valuable time, whether recorded or live, by eliminating steps such as transportation, greetings, tea and coffee breaks, and post-interview formalities. Especially for large-scale recruitment efforts, doing many interviews at one’s desk expedites hiring.

Video interviews are a great alternative to face-to-face meetings in extraordinary situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenging process worldwide.

Saving Money While Hiring

With faster hiring processes, the time a position is empty in the organization reduces, which leads to cost savings. Screening the candidates via video interviews helps move them to the next hiring stages more quickly. This situation helps to save money in the long run.

Making Candidate Screening Easier

Video interview software supports automated screening, which is especially important for open positions with more than one or hiring tasks that are secondary. This automation also makes it easier to allocate resources more efficiently to critical stages of the hiring process.

Minimizing Bias

Video interviews, especially one-way ones, support reducing biases by standardized questions and focusing on the answers of candidates rather than irrelevant small talk. In this way, biases are minimized as much as possible.

Enhancing Teamwork

With recorded video interviews, all employees on the hiring team can access and evaluate candidate performance, helping to make more conscious hiring decisions in the workplace.

Finding Talents Around the World

By accommodating candidates who live far away or relocate, as well as different time zones, video interviews transcend geographic boundaries and increase the pool of potential candidates.

How to Prepare for a Technical Interview?

Preparing for a video interview is crucial for the interviewers, like for the candidates. Here are the things interviewers can do while preparing for video interviewing:

1. Explore and Test the Features of the Video Conferencing Tool

Even if a video conferencing tool planned to be used during the video interview has been used before, it is important to get to know and test that software for a video interview as unproblematic as possible.

2. Have a Proper Setting

Finding a well-lit and silent location for conducting the video interviews is important. Background noise and appearing blurry on camera will have a negative impact on both the candidates and the interviewers. Therefore, a well-functioning microphone and camera are necessary.

3. Check the Functionality of the Equipment

Interviewers must check their webcam, microphone, and internet connection before each video interview. Positioning the camera at eye level is also essential to make better eye contact with the applicants.

4. Have Alternative Plans

It can be good for interviewers to have alternative plans ready in case of technical problems, such as phone calls or rescheduling.

5. Choose a Proper Outfit

Interviewers should take the same care as candidates and dress appropriately for the interview. It is important to choose a video interview outfit that will not be the same color as the background of the video.

6. Help Candidates to Prepare

It is expected that candidates will not feel comfortable in video interviews or have experience in this type of interview. Because of this concern, they should not give up participating in the video interview. To avoid this problem, interviewers must help candidates to prepare.

Interviewers can send an informative email to help candidates feel comfortable and prepared. This email should include information such as what software will be used in the video interview, what they need to test it with beforehand, and approximately how long the interview will take.

What Are the Key Points during a Video Interview?

When it is time to start the meeting, the following tips for video interviews will make the process easier:

Use Body Language Correctly

That is one of the most essential video interview tips because displaying body language in video interviews, just like in face-to-face interviews, will positively impact the interview. For this reason, tone of voice, facial expressions, sitting upright, and eye contact are some points to pay attention to.

Share Information about the Company Culture

Interviewers need to share with candidates about the company’s values, mission, and team dynamics during the video interview since these applicants cannot physically experience it.

Avoid Distractions

Interviewers should silence their phones and turn off notifications to respect interviewees’ time and avoid interruptions during the interview.

Show an Understanding and Empathic Approach

It is crucial to understand potential problems that may occur on both ends (e.g., internet connection loss) and try to prevent distractions.

Continue to Ask Consistent Questions

To be fair and make the evaluation easier, interviewers should ask all interviewees the same questions as much as possible.

Take Notes of the Important Information

Taking notes about important information about candidates during the video interview is important for the subsequent evaluation process. That is especially useful in cases where the interviews are not recorded.

Join the Interview Early

It is a good idea for interviewers to join the meeting a few minutes before the schedule to share meeting details with candidates and to be on time.

Conclusion

In this content, you have discovered many important topics, such as video interview meaning, video interview types, and tips for conducting video interviews. As an HR professional wanting to increase their knowledge on video interviews in recruitment or just someone interested in human resources, you can consider this content as a comprehensive guide.

Even though video interviews have a significant place among HR topics, there are many subjects you need to learn to improve yourself in the business world. You can visit Hirex to contribute to yourself and your company by learning new topics!