Remote Interview Process: 3 Tips & Top Questions

For the live interviews, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom all offer similar functionality and the software that’s best for you will likely depend on your needs. Because no company wants to spend time in a live interview with a job seeker only to realize 2 minutes into the interview that the candidate isn’t suitable for the job. According to recent data, an initial phone interview typically takes 15 minutes. Multiply that by 100 candidates, and you’ll spend at least 25 hours (or 3 full workdays) talking to candidates and trying to determine if they’re qualified enough to move forward to the next round. The remote interview tips we review today will be applicable to both stages.

Keep initial small talk short and focus on your questions, the job description, and the candidate’s resume. When you wrap up the meeting, be clear on relaying the next steps so the applicant knows what to expect next. Not only are you asking more insightful questions, but you’re also digging deeper to gain insight into the candidate. Ultimately, you’re ensuring that you finalize the conversation with an in-depth understanding of the candidate and their fit for the role. One of the reasons that a connection may be lost could be as simple as a battery dying on a smartphone or computer.

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William Arruda is a keynote speaker, co-founder of CareerBlast.TV and creator of the 360Reach Personal Brand Survey that helps you get candid, meaningful feedback from people who know you. In order to keep on top of a major influx of candidates, establish basic guidelines to keep you focused and on track. These little things are often ignored but often turn out to be the deciding factor for landing the job.

So, now that we know what the interview process at a remote business should be like, the next question is how to get there. In other words, how to create a smooth, effective remote job interview process. While this distinction might seem trivial, the fact that interviewer and interviewee don’t actually meet face to face during a virtual job interview has a significant impact on engagement and body language. A candidate has a first-round phone screen with a recruiter and then moves on to the second interview with the hiring manager, typically over video or in person.

Do You Have Any Questions for Me?

Remote interviews can be an effective employee selection method if conducted right. But remember that you’ll need to pay extra attention to building connections with your candidates as you have to do it without actually meeting them face to face. When designing your remote interview meaning, consider the length of the interviews. As video chats require more concentration, they might become tiring faster than face to face conversations. Like any job interview, a remote interview is a two-way conversation.

• Those leading the interview should encourage candidates to identify solutions or support mechanisms that may help them succeed within your remote team.
• Have a centralized place to store interview feedback to keep the process consistent and avoid misrecording or losing information.
• Create a timeline or hiring schedule to ensure the hiring process runs smoothly and timely.