The systems which we followed of remote interviewing for hiring are not that great, so now is a chance for us to improve how we hire overall. The advantage of remote hiring is access to volume. The number of people you can interview remotely is more than what you could do in person. In theory, this means you will have a greater chance to meet the perfect candidate.
Doing continuous interviews remotely is also going to allow us to digitize and coordinate questions between interviews more easily. It is a good opportunity to overhaul old analog hiring processes. Redundancies between interviews can be lessened and wait times eliminated. Inconsistencies between different interviewers can be removed. Remote gives us the opportunity to be more systematic and coordinated.
Remote interviewing and remote working was already on the rise, and technology has improved to aid recruiters and employers in better vetting individuals before making a job offer, the pandemic’s fast changeover was nevertheless a shock to the system. However, recruiting is a flexible business, and by utilizing existing technologies, the process was simplified.
The global shift towards online recruiting presents new challenges to overcome. However, there are plenty of upsides for both candidates and employers. For example, recruiting for remote work gives you the opportunity to reach diverse talent outside your traditional hiring area. That being said, if you are like a majority of recruiters, you probably interview more in person than online. So before you make the switch from offline to online, create a new plan of action for all phases of the recruiting process.
Below are tips, tricks & the growth of remote interviewing-
Plan the remote interview process
Depending upon the nature of the job and responsibilities involved, pre define how many people are involved in the decision making process. Some roles might need a single interaction, while some might need a longer, more team oriented hiring process.
Company working environment
It is no secret that the first few days of a new job feel like walking in a forest you have never known before. Think about its magnification during a remote job. As a hirer, make sure you have some time set aside for explaining the way your company does things.
It is important because the hires might not have the opportunity to see your office and meet your team. Or maybe you do not even have an office. An easy way to start this conversation is to tell them about your company culture, the values you hold, the vision you have for the company etc. Share stories, examples, and references to help them realize and internalize words into situations.
Minimize distractions
Switch off alerts and chats during the interview and put a note on your door saying you are not available. Avoid having remote interviews in high traffic areas of your home. In addition, try to reduce movement during an remote hiring. If you are constantly shifting or walking around, it can make it hard for the other person to focus on the conversation.
Key communication
Do not resist the impulse to say everything that is on your mind. Ask all of the questions that you believe are important, even if they appear little.
It is typical for a few things to get lost in translation via a video conference/ phone conversation, as opposed to an interview performed in a real environment. The easiest approach to deal with this is to just chat. Conversations about leave rules, establishing working hours, salaries and other topics.
Depth questions
Probably the most important aspect of conducting a remote interview. Even though over communicating is considered a good thing during a remote interview; make sure you are talking about the right things. Given you have never met this person before and given the demographic differences that come with remote hiring, you want to understand the interviewee’s context. Switch between being a talker and a listener. Try and do justice to both the roles.
End of conversation
When remote interviewing conclude, tell candidates what is going to happen next in the process and ask them if they have any questions. Be sure to thank them for their time as well. Ultimately, you are representing your company during an online interview. Knowing how to effectively conduct a video interview will help you leave candidates with a positive view of both you and your business.