Best Practices for Conducting a Virtual Job Interview - A Guide for Hiring Managers

In today's digital age, virtual job interviews have established their place in the recruitment process, offering convenience and flexibility for both employers and candidates. However, conducting a successful virtual interview requires careful planning and execution to ensure a professional and effective interaction.

Once the initial stages of selection have been conducted by your dedicated VWA Consultant, it’s time for you to conduct interviews with the pre-vetted candidates. Prior to interview, your Consultant will provide you with an in-depth CV alongside their profile which details their competencies, skills and aspirations.

To ensure a successful and productive interview experience, we’ve put together our guide to best practices to follow during a virtual interview (some points here are also relevant to in-person interviews!):

1. Test Your Technology: Before the interview, ensure that the video conferencing platform you plan to use is reliable and that you are familiar with its features. Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection to avoid technical issues during the interview.

2. Choose a Quiet and Professional Setting: Select a quiet and well-lit location for the interview, free from distractions and background noise. Ensure that the background is tidy and professional to create a positive impression.

3. Dress Professionally: Dress as you would for an in-person interview. Choose professional attire that reflects the culture of your organisation and conveys a sense of respect for the interview process.

4. Prepare Interview Questions in Advance: Develop a list of structured interview questions that are relevant to the role and will help you assess the candidate's skills and suitability; this should include competency-based questioning which will lead to more thorough and insightful answers, allowing better assessment of the candidate’s skills. This will also ensure consistency and fairness across all interviews.

5. Establish Rapport: Begin the interview by introducing yourself and setting a friendly tone. Take a few minutes to build rapport with the candidate and make them feel comfortable before diving into the formal interview questions.

6. Use Active Listening: Pay close attention to the candidate's responses and use active listening techniques. Show genuine interest in their experiences and ask follow-up questions to delve deeper into their qualifications.

7. Be Mindful of Non-verbal Cues: Virtual interviews may make it challenging to pick up on non-verbal cues, but they are still important. Maintain eye contact, smile, and use affirmative gestures to convey engagement and interest.

8. Allow Time for Questions: At the end of the interview, provide the candidate with an opportunity to ask questions about the role, team, or company. This demonstrates that you value their interest and engagement.

9. Provide Clear Next Steps: As the interview draws to a close, make sure you inform the candidate that their VWA Consultant will be in touch shortly afterwards to give them detailed feedback and an update on the next steps.

10. Follow Up Promptly: After the interview, be sure to send feedback to your Consultant as soon as you can, whilst it is still fresh. This will enable us to keep the process moving at a good pace, maintaining candidate engagement and minimising the risk of losing your dream hire.

In Summary

Virtual job interviews offer a convenient and efficient way to connect with candidates. By following these best practices, you can conduct successful virtual interviews that allow for a thorough assessment of candidates while providing a positive and professional experience for all parties involved. Effective communication, preparation, and attention to detail are key to maximising the benefits of virtual interviews and ultimately making informed hiring decisions.

Why Work With VWA?

Our expert Consultants and Research Team use sound judgement, honed over years of experience, and anchored in our strong interviewing and assessment skills, to find, identify and attract top talent for our clients. You can feel confident knowing that we have already selected the very best pre-vetted candidates for you to meet. What’s more, we are always on hand throughout the recruitment process to answer any questions you may have.

If you’d like to hear more about our services or anything covered in this article, or would like to make an enquiry, please reach out to recruit@vwa.com.