Your Guide to Video Interviews: Unraveling the pros & cons
The “traditional” working world has been constantly changing and because of this, the “traditional” interview process has gone through quite a transformation. With the increasing amount of technology, a popular alternative to an in-person interview has been to meet virtually instead, which has offered a ton of convivence and flexibility to everyone's day-to-day lives. But, just like any form of technology, there are always going to be pros and cons. To better understand the impact that video interviews have on hiring processes, let's dive into the pros and cons of them.
Pros:
Convenient: Both candidates and potential employers have a lot going on in their daily lives. Eliminating the need to travel and just hopping on a laptop for an interview allows more time back into everyone's day. Not only does this enhance the candidates' experience, but also enables hiring managers to efficiently find top candidates at a faster pace.
Flexible: Scheduling interviews around people’s schedules can be difficult. Video interviews offer the flexibility to work around the candidates, and the potential employers, schedules to best fit an interview in. It allows interviews to happen during lunch breaks or outside of traditional working hours to streamline the hiring process.
Easy to include more people: A quick virtual interview allows employers to add who they need to at a moment's notice. Coordinating interviews can be challenging, but video interviews remove most barriers whether they are geographical, scheduling, or traveling. It allows hiring managers to include a broader range of team members and promote collaboration within the hiring team.
Less pressure: Let’s face it, interviews make people nervous! Many candidates are eliminated during an interview process because they were too nervous and didn't make a great impression. Video interviews give candidates a way to feel more relaxed as it allows them to be in a space where they feel more comfortable. And you only have to dress professionally from the waist up (who doesn't love that?!)
Move processes along: The worst part of interviewing is that processes can drag on for what seems like forever. The beauty of a virtual interview is that it eliminates the logistical pieces that come with traditional in-person interviews. This streamlined approach allows the process to move along more efficiently which will accelerate the overall hiring time.
Cons:
Technical Difficulties: With any technology comes technical difficulties. Poor internet connection, glitches, or audio/video lag can hinder an interview. A candidate may have the perfect background & skillset for a role, but technical difficulties could affect a potential candidate's chances to impress potential employers.
Impersonal: A face-to-face interaction always feels more genuine & personal than one that is conducted over a screen. This could present challenges to really establishing a connection or rapport with those you are interviewing with.
Distractions: Video interviews can offer a range of distractions and pose many challenges during an interview process. From background noise to interruptions from family to members to inappropriate backgrounds. It also exposes both parties to constant technical interruptions like emails and chat notifications.
At the end of the day, it is evident that video interviews offer a plethora of advantages that contribute to the hiring process and allow hiring managers the opportunity to really find that top talent. As technology continues to evolve & advance, it's time to fully embrace video interviews.
Meet the Author
Neve Bonelli
Director, Admin & Legal
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