Tips on how to run brilliant video interviews

 19th Mar 2020

• Saves money 
• Reduces time-to-fill positions 
• Easy to conduct 

• Since you are fully dependant on your technology to interact with a candidate, you need to make sure all of your equipment works and functions properly - this includes a webcam, microphone, connection speed 
• The most common mistakes occur when the hiring manager is interviewing in a noisy environment, or, even worse, diverts their attention to a distraction - no multitasking
• Avoid conducting online interviews in a public setting. The background should be:  
  • Inviting and well-lit (daylight is preferable) 
  • Clean, positive and professional
• Communicate with the candidate 
  • What software/app will you be using 
  • Do they need to install anything before the interview 

• Sometimes the answer to a question can only be as good as the question itself. While open-ended questions can be revealing, they usually have little to do with the candidate's capability to perform on the job. 
  • Pay attention to how a candidate answers open-ended and/or hypothetical questions and what you value in your company. 
    • For example, if you value company culture and a candidate answers all of your technical questions correctly, but provides an awkward answer to an open-ended question, you may want to consider giving him or her a pass.
• There are 3 main questions hiring managers need to ask themselves about their candidates:
  • Do they have the ability to do the job?
  • Do they have an interest in doing the job?
  • Will they be manageable on the job?

• Ensure that you put your candidate at ease. It’s a bit more difficult to establish a personal connection over video and its important for hiring managers to remember that it may be a candidate’s first time doing an online interview and they may be very nervous. 
• A smile goes a long way - quickest way to communicate positivity and openness. 
• Eye contact - too much eye contact may be a sign of aggression and cause discomfort, too little shows disengagement. Follow the 50/70 rule - making eye contact for 50% of the time while speaking and 70% of the time while listening. 
• Use short and simple sentences - long sentences and complicated questions put candidates on the defensive. You will facilitate positive interaction with more simple sentences. 

• Changes in behaviour show nervousness
  • Verbal variation and tone will tell you when the candidate feels stressed or if the situation becomes complicated for them - if someone uses complicated sentences, switching to one-word answers is a red flag.
• Fast, sudden movements - our brains interpret sudden movements as potential threats, triggering a fight-or-flight response. 
• Furrowed brows/frowning - a sign of confusion, discomfort or disengagement 
• Lack of eye contact - shows dishonesty. 
• Self-touch and fidgeting - fidgeting and self-touches on the hands are used to overcome discomfort by distracting the speaker from what they are saying.
• Too much “me” and not enough “we”.