3 Reasons Recruiters Need to Embrace Video Interview

For decades, recruiters have relied on the tried and tested method of phone and face-to-face interviews when it comes to candidate selection and assessment. However, the growth of technology, the internet and social networking means that the ways in which candidates want to be approached and processed are changing rapidly. Video technology is being increasingly deployed by recruiters, both at a preliminary screening stage and replacing the traditional first interview, and it’s easy to see why when examining the advantages:

Attracting younger and passive talent

When approaching passive candidates, where they are unlikely to have the luxury of taking time off for a formalised process, and a younger, mobile workforce that demands instant gratification, it’s vital that recruiters and hiring managers keep up-to-date with the latest communication methods. This is particularly true when it comes to the interview process, where video services such as Skype are being used to ensure top talent is engaged with quickly and to drive a cost-effective recruitment process.

Streamlining the recruitment process

Due to an unprecedentedly high volume of people applying to roles as soon as they become available, recruiters are quickly realising that it makes sense to filter the process by turning to phone and video conferencing calls to aid the pre-screening process. Here they can quickly assess whether a person is right for the role by asking a few quick questions, ruling out those that just don’t quite cut the mustard in one fell swoop.

Candidate experience

When and where appropriate, firms are using video conferencing and Skype to complete first stage interviews. This is particularly prevalent when dealing with international or geographically distant candidates, or when companies are looking to get the process underway at short notice and a face-to-face meeting just isn’t practical. While the human touch is an important factor, this actually enhances the overall candidate experience at the early stages, as the employer is demonstrating flexibility according to the prospective employee’s needs.

Whatever the method employed, it’s vital that employers don’t lose sight of what’s really important; selecting the best candidate for the job. Uncovering progressive and cost-effective new ways in which to seek out a variety of applicants from all sorts of walks of life is all well and good, but mustn’t be to the detriment of the actual interview process.