Hiring new team members in a world that’s recovering from COVID-19 means that many interviews are still going to be conducted online. And while video chat and online assessments are incredibly helpful hiring tools during this time, it pays to have a good strategy for conducting interviews in a remote work setting. Here are a few tips to help you out.
Do an Equipment Check Before Getting Started
One of the most important things you can do before conducting any kind of online training or interviewing is make sure all of your equipment is working properly. There’s nothing worse than going into a virtual interview only to find out that your internet is down or that there’s a problem with your computer. Some key things to check include your speakers, microphone, internet connection, and note-taking software. If all of these things are in working order, you should be good to conduct your online interview. Just make sure you complete all of these checks at least 10-15 minutes before your interview is set to start. That way, you’re not scrambling to fix a problem seconds before you need to get started.
Maintain Your Professionalism
Just because you’re using virtual hiring tools and remote online training solutions doesn’t mean that your interactions with interviewees should stray from your typical professional manner. In fact, you need to pay extra attention to your level of professionalism while you’re conducting an interview virtually. We’re typically more comfortable in our own homes, which in turn can lead to a lack of professionalism in some cases. While you’re conducting an interview, make sure your sense of professionalism is completely intact.
Prepare Your Questions on Paper
There’s almost nothing more distracting than having to navigate between screens to take notes or access questions during an interview. If there’s not enough space on your monitor to split your screen, then it’s important to prepare your questions in advance on paper. This will ensure you don’t have to navigate between screens and tabs. In addition, it will make you look much more prepared for your interview.
Conducting a virtual interview can come with its fair share of challenges. As long as you keep these tips in mind, you should be good to conduct excellent online interviews.
