How can video interviews revolutionise your recruitment processes? It's no secret that the current job market is becoming increasingly competitive - not only for candidates, but also for employers. Just as job seekers compete against one another to land their dream jobs at reputable, prosperous organisations, recruiters, hiring managers and all involved in a company's recruitment process are battling to secure job interviews with top candidates. Given that this competition shows no signs of stopping, employers must find ways to improve their interview processes to discover new recruits who are not only qualified, but who align with their business objectives and company culture. Updating existing, possibly outdated recruitment strategies will help organisations to prioritise candidate experience throughout the entire process of recruitment. An organisation can improve screening processes by offering easy-to-use video interviews, during which potential hires will submit recordings of themselves talking into a camera, providing answers to questions to pre-selected questions. Video interviews are not new, but since COVID-19 forced communication by video to become a largely unavailable aspect of our lives, screening candidates for job interviews increased dramatically, and was used by 89% of organisations in October 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Video interviews allow for meaningful interaction between recruiters and potential hires whilst freeing up time, resources, and budget allocation. But that's not all - here are our 8 top benefits of using video interviews, and why all kinds of organisations advocate their use:
1. No need to schedule times or align calendars
One of the most challenging, time-consuming aspects of interviewing comes very early in the process - getting both the hiring manager and candidate in the same place at the same time! The series of emails sent back and forth to try to arrange a time which fits in the calendars of both parties can lead the process to drag out for days, even weeks. By using one-way video interviews, you can easily avoid booking stress, as candidates answer interview questions at a time that is most convenient for them. Potential hires will not need to use annual leave to travel to your offices, they can pre-record their answers to your interview questions from the comfort of their own home, outside of work hours. Video interviews greatly reduce an organisation's time-to-hire, as hiring teams can perform screening on a larger number of candidates in less time, allowing them to dedicate more time to candidates further along in the recruitment process.
2. Reduce costs
Conducting first-stage interviews using video does not only win against on-premise, face-to-face interviews on grounds of convenience, but on cost-effectiveness also. When hiring, many organisations choose to cover expenses of a candidates' travel to and from the office. This may not seem a significant expense when candidates are based in the same city (or even the same country), but when interviewing potential recruits from overseas, flights and accommodation can result in a significant cost to the business - a cost that companies can avoid by using video interviews.
3. Improve the candidate experience
Even though interviewers are not present in real-time during one-way video interviews, any type of interview remains a two-way street. Just as a candidate is hoping to showcase their ability to carry out the role, organisations are positioning themselves as leaders in their respective fields. Employers can impress top talent easily and guarantee positive candidate experiences by showing that the organisation is one that embraces technology. If a candidate sees that an employer is innovative during recruitment, they will expect the same innovation in all areas of the business. As such modernisation is attractive to potential employees, using video interviews will allow you to shine above your competitors that rely solely on conventional methods of hiring. The best interviews go beyond providing positive candidate experiences - they are experiences in themselves. When asking potential hires to conduct a video interview you are setting a task: you are testing their capacity to quickly familiarise themselves with new technology. A well-recorded interview will showcase an applicant’s insight, attention to detail, and aptitude for taking on new challenges.
4. Allow for team collaboration
After submission, each pre-recorded interview can be assessed on-demand by each team member involved in hiring. Having centralised access to these answers inspires collaboration amongst the team, as input on interview performance can be offered by more than one employee. Additionally, meetings will not have to take place to have these discussions; each employee involved in recruitment will have a chance to assess candidates at a time (and a place) that suits them. Due to this, they will be more able to dedicate their full attention to candidates' responses and provide more insightful input. Much more effective than simply exchanging notes, this method can massively improve your quality of hire. Not only does the process become more efficient, collaboratively comparing answers removes any individual responsibility and lessens the chances of making misjudgements that can be costly.
5. Strengthen your brand
The way an organisation recruits for roles, in many ways, is no different to how it markets its business, as first impressions mean a lot to prospective employees. If they are hoping to attract the best talent, companies need to communicate their organisational values from the very beginning of the interviewing process. Custom-built questions delivered by video interviews can incorporate your branding and truly express the way you position yourself as a company. When created effectively, they are highly likely to strengthen the candidate's belief in your organisation at the early stages. Should they make it to the next step of the interviewing process, attendees will be more likely to attend an in-person interview, being assured that they are joining something larger than themselves - a progressive company that fosters growth.
6. Maintain consistency throughout interview
Each interview you are hosting should use the same questions. Preserving this consistency whilst interviewing will offer the same chance to each candidate to provide the answers that you are looking for. However, any interviewer will know that sessions often do not go according to plan, resulting in varied interview experiences for candidates. As this can often lead to a lack of solid foundation to use as a comparison, it can be difficult to determine the best fit for the role. Video interviews pre-record answers to questions. As each candidate will have exactly the same experience, it will be easier for you as an employer to make a decision based on what matters most to you as an organisation.
7. Expand the talent pool
To many, remote work has rapidly become the norm. What was once seen as a benefit that only the most progressive, forward-thinking businesses offered to employees has simply become part of the world of work of today. Considering that 74% of professionals expect remote work to become standard, we can be sure that the remote workforce is here to stay. This poses a unique opportunity to employers; if your organisation welcomes these rising 'work from anywhere' principles, when hiring, your pool of candidates expands much further, meaning that you will no longer solely rely on local talent. Using video interviews in your hiring process will allow you to expand your reach beyond the stretches of your city or country. As interviews through video can be conducted remotely, your listing can be accessed by applicants in all parts of the world. Individuals who never would have been able to interview otherwise can become prospects, and your chances of finding a candidate who is perfect for the role will be increased as a result.
8. Observe body language
One-way video interviews may not have an in-person interviewer present, but they still present an opportunity to get a real-life look at each candidate. When answering questions during their pre-recorded video interview, employers can see candidates’ body language, facial expressions, eye contact with the camera, and most other cues that would be apparent during an in-person interview. Additionally, as many of the stressors of a conventional interview situation will have been removed, a candidate is more likely to put across their best self. Candidates will have the chance to re-record responses to questions, meaning that if nerves have led them to deliver an inadequate response, they will have another opportunity. As video interviews pose numerous benefits to both candidates and employers they should certainly come into consideration when updating your recruitment processes. Candidates are more than just a CV and a cover letter - video interviews offer candidates a unique opportunity to express themselves whilst giving employers more control over the recruitment process and empowering them to make better hiring decisions. To see how video interviews can bolster your existing recruitment strategy, get in touch with one of our consultants today. Contact our experienced team by calling 0203 693 2201 to find out how much easier recruitment can become when using video interviews. Alternatively, you can send an email to info@skillsarena.com for further information.
