When you’re the interviewer and not the interviewee for an open position, you’re likely to be the more relaxed person in the virtual interview exchange. Since it’s not your future on the line, you may not take the process as seriously as the candidate does.
But just as prospective hires should prepare for interviews, so too should those representing a company. Conducting a virtual interview by phone or video conference makes it more likely that mistakes on your part could lead to a missed opportunity to hire an excellent candidate and even possibly a besmirched reputation for your business among future job seekers.
To avoid a negative outcome, be aware of the most common mistakes interviewers make.
Here are a few potential virtual interview mistakes and some ideas to help you overcome them:
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Not preparing an interview plan and questions in advance.
If you’re not really ready for an interview, it will be painfully obvious to the job candidate, even if she isn’t in the same room. Take time before the process starts to make a plan for conducting interviews and prepare meaningful and powerful questions.
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Forgetting to provide instructions regarding the technology you will use.
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Anyone who has participated in a video meeting knows that tech issues always seem to pop up at the worst possible time. Do all you can to help your interviewee test your video system in advance. As Ere Media mentions in an article on the topic, “If your video interviewing provider offers tech support, be sure your candidates know where they can turn if they have questions or concerns about connecting. It’s a well-invested and small amount of time since you want candidates to be able to show you their best.”
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Not cleaning up the interview environment—or yourself.
When you’re conducting an interview via video conference, you may think you don’t need to worry about your appearance or the cleanliness of the office behind you. But you’re wrong. An article from Virtual Vocations says, “On the days you participate in virtual interviewing, make sure to put your best self forward. Ensure your clothes aren’t wrinkled or stained and dress in a professional manner befitting your line of work. You can’t expect more from the candidate than you do of yourself.”
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Forgetting to read the candidate’s resume.
This is a complaint of many job seekers, whether their interview is virtual or face-to-face. As noted in an article from Workopolis, “This sends the message that the manager is disengaged and over-stressed—and not someone you want to work with full-time.”
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Showing up late.
There’s nothing worse than calling in to a video interview, only to sit and wait until five or 10 minutes after your appointment was supposed to start with no one on the other end of the line. You start to think you’ve called the wrong number or that the system isn’t working. Don’t put your interviewees through that. Be online or on the phone early, so you can greet them as soon as they call. That’s the way to make a good first impression.
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Skipping the introductions and initial small talk.
Yes, you’re busy. Everyone is. But even if you’re “only” talking to someone on the phone, don’t breeze through introductions. In fact, when your candidate isn’t in the same room with you, take even more time to make sure she knows who is on the other end of the camera or the phone line. Spend a few minutes chatting about something unrelated to the serious business at hand. That will put everyone at ease and allow you to get comfortable with whatever technology you’re using for the meeting.
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Dominating the discussion.
Especially with a phone interview, it may be tempting for you to fill “dead air” with a long stream of chatter. This is a natural reaction when you can’t see visual cues to indicate the job candidate is thinking. Be conscious of this possibility, and allow for some pregnant pauses during the conversation. Give the candidate time to think and respond. The purpose of the meeting isn’t to hear yourself talk.
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Acting disinterested or multitasking.
You should be as engaged in the interview as is the job candidate, and you must look the part. Don’t sneak a peek at your phone in the middle of a video interview, thinking the interviewee won’t notice. Chances are that she will! Also, be especially careful not to fall into the trap of multitasking during a phone interview. It only takes a minute of checking email to lose the thread of a conversation, and that could lead to awkwardness when you ask a follow-up question that the candidate just answered.
Virtual interviews via video or phone will never be as personal as face-to-face meetings. However, if you avoid these common problems, you should be able to stay engaged in your interviews, make a good impression on your job candidates, and gather the information you need to make the right hiring decision. As expensive and time-consuming as the recruiting process can be, you owe it to yourself and your interviewees to do things right.
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