A new process is starting to take place- job interviews by Skype- but how do make the best use of the technology?
As more online interviews starts to take the place of the face-to-face interview, is it easier or harder now to use SKype?
Today the trick to making a good impression at interviews may be less about what you are doing and more about how you come across on camera.
Looking in the wrong place is just one of the common pitfalls of video interviews.
It’s tempting to watch yourself in that little box to make sure your hair isn’t in your face or that you’re not making weird facial expressions.
But the truth is that it is very distracting to the other party and can come across as shy and even insincere – two qualities both employers and new hires want to avoid.
It’s OK to watch the speaker on the screen, but respond by looking into the camera to create the illusion of direct eye-contact, always.
In the US more than six out of 10 HR managers now use video to interview job applicants, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
“Video interviewing is becoming an attractive option as organisations branch out overseas,” says McCartney.
How to use a video interview:
- Set the stage: Make the room you’re in a reflection of your work -polished
- A plain backdrop can be less distracting
- Test the lighting: Even if your camera isn’t the highest quality, make sure it flatters your features and the interviewer can see you clearly
- Dress the part- be as conservative as the organisation – wear smart bottoms in case you have to get up during the interview
- Work the camera: Minimise the video image of you so you’re not tempted to watch yourself
- An employer expects eye contact and anything else will distract him or her
- Do a test run- call a friend or colleague to make sure speakers and microphone are working and they can hear you clearly.
As well as live interviewing on services like Skype, some firms are giving video “questionnaires” for candidates to record.
The UK company, Webrecruit, reports a steady increase in the use of automated video interviewing over the past few years. Employers can view recorded responses from candidates in their own time.
“Clients will input their questions, then the candidate receives an automated email inviting them to sit the interview,” explains Webrecruit’s Leona Matson. “The interviewee can then sit the interview within an allocated time frame, the answers are recorded, and then the client can view it at a time that suits them.”
As hiring becomes more global for candidates and employers, video interviews can be much more cost effective.
In 2012 employers in the UK spent an average of 10 working days interviewing, 16% of the working week travelling to meet candidates and £3,286 reimbursing candidates’ travel expenses, according to a survey carried out by Cammio – a Dutch company specialising in online video services.
“The significant drain on time and resources companies face when scheduling and carrying out interviews means for many, it can be an expensive and time-consuming task,” says Matson.
For large firms with international graduate schemes, the savings can be significant. Sellafield’s graduate scheme cited cost savings of £14,000 using video technology to screen interview candidates.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) also report cutting recruitment costs by 20% using automated video assessments for first-round interviews.
You can definitely gain a better first impression of candidates using a combination of video and CV rather than their CV only- it’s much more visual and allows you to get a broader assessment of the candidate.