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Three things to remember when video interviewing (A guide for interviewers)
In these ever-changing times, schools and colleges are looking for ways to reduce their contact with people outside of their institutes. Many, are carrying out interviews through digital mediums such as Skype and Zoom. These platforms are great, but they do effect how an interview is conducted. So here are just a few things to consider when preparing to interview candidates online.
September 29, 2020
Give as much notice as possible of the interview and how it will occur
It is important to give your candidates plenty of notice of the interview and how it will occur. This will give the interviewees enough time to ensure they have the right technology and software downloaded in time for the interview.
Remember that the dynamics will be different
Talking to someone via a video link is unlikely to feel natural. As good as technology is these days, there are likely to be moments where one of you freezes or there is a delay on the line. To help deal with these moments, allow for more pauses in conversation than you would in person. Also, try to refrain from unnecessary comments as this can interrupt the other person flow.
To help things flow better, it may also be worth allowing for a bit more small-talk at the beginning of the interview than usual. This will help to 1) get to know the candidate and 2) get any technical hiccups out of the way before you get onto the important stuff.
Have a backup plan
If the technology gods are not on your side and the interview is just not working, consider having a backup plan. A phone interview is not ideal, but it could offer enough of an insight as to whether it would be worth progressing with the candidate.
