In the summer of 2020, I gave myself an ultimatum: if I didn’t find the next step in my career by July after searching for four straight months, I would move on, enroll in classes towards a new career and take a smaller job to provide health benefits for my family.
At the beginning of July that year, I applied for a marketing position with a company close by. Shortly thereafter, a recruiter from the company scheduled a video call with me to go over the position, my background and qualifications. About a week and a half later, the recruiter scheduled a second video session after presenting her top candidates to the hiring managers and gave me an assignment to showcase my skills. After completing and submitting the assignment, the recruiter then scheduled a video session between myself the company’s Chief Revenue Officer–one of the company’s top leaders across the globe.
With the ultimatum I had set for myself, I could not believe what luck I had suddenly struck.
Sadly, though, it fell through and, sure, it’s possible that a better candidate with better qualifications was selected, or that the CRO felt my completed assignment was lacking (although I very much doubt it).
But one thing I think contributed to the outcome was the quality of our video call. Everything on my end–from the connectivity of my internet connection to the angle and quality of my webcam and microphone–seemed fine.
The issues seemed to be on the other side, as the CRO never turned his webcam on, leaving me to talk to his LinkedIn headshot. He saw me, but refused to be seen himself.
Video conferences and interviews were already been integrated as a part of business operations for most corporations and organizations. But complications and restrictions from the pandemic have made it an absolute necessity in every organization, allowing personnel the opportunity to continue to work and keep business going while staying safe at home (and take advantage of to the casual dresscode).
There are also excellent benefits to video job recruiting and interviews from the employer perspective:
- Minimizing phone screening and streamlining high-volume positions
- Saving time on travel costs
- Reduced scheduling complications and time-to-hire
But as job seekers need to prepare for video interviews the same way they do in-person interviews, employers need to exercise the same practice and etiquette to avoid complacency with video interviews. Here are a few recommendations for employers to get the best out of their video interviews.
1. Turn on your damn camera…both of you!
Whenever I take part in the Catholic sacrament of confession, I prefer to allow the priest to be able to see my face when possible (some Catholic Churches don’t have that sort of confessional box with that option). For me, if I’m looking for guidance and trying to hold myself accountable in order to better myself, doing it anonymously limits my ability to do so, the same way not turning your camera on during a live video conversation limits the other party’s ability to make eye contact, read body language or see that you’re about to interject.
I look back on that group of video interviews in the summer of 2020, and can’t really wrap my head around the two very different experiences. The recruiter showed me the respect and courtesy of a proper online video introduction by showing her face, her smile, making direct eye contact and allowing me to do the same. The CRO, on the other hand, went a different way: disrespect.
Before the pandemic, would an employer schedule and coordinate an in-person interview in such a way that it would be like conducting an interview in a confessional?
Turning on your web camera for a video interview is on par with physically showing up for the interview; that you’re respectful and invested in hearing what that candidate can bring to your company.
If you leave your camera off, then you’re not really there and you’re just wasting both your time and the candidate’s time.
2. Be professional and personable…and dress the part
The person you are interviewing is making the effort to meet with you because they want to meet you. They are taking extra care to present their best selves because they want to present their best selves to you. They want this interview because they want to work with you. They are meeting with you because something you’ve done or are doing makes them want to establish a connection with you.
Whether it’s one applicant applying for several positions within a company or 500 applicants applying for a single position, employers should understand that there is a certain humility to applicants applying for your company. Of all the jobs they may have applied for, you selected them for an interview. In turn, they selected you by saying ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’. You are both on trial, and will both want to be professional and personable towards each other.
So, whether you’re conducting the interview alone in your office or at home, dress the part.
3. Prepare a professional space, even if it’s at home
Your home may be your sanctuary from the office but, if you’re conducting an interview or any sort of business via video from home, you’ll want to make sure it’s clean, professional and clear of distractions. If your home has the space, dedicate a separate room as a home office, and keep it tidy.
If this is not possible, be sure that the work station with your computer is clean, and that the area the camera faces is clear of any nonprofessional decor. No sport pennants or no boyband posters. If it’s something you wouldn’t put in your office at work, then it shouldn’t be on the wall of your home office where the camera can find it.
4. Perform a video run test, and then send directions
One principle of karma that I keep in mind for everything is: if it can happen, it probably will happen, especially if you don’t prepare ahead of time.
Do a test run of the video platform you will be using for the interview, and make sure you’re familiar with all basic aspects of the platform in case you have to troubleshoot anything. If you need to share your screen with the candidate, be sure to know how to do that as well.
Be sure you webcam projects a clear image of your face on the screen and that the microphone picks up your voice clearly. Plugging in an external microphone or utilizing a Bluetooth earpiece may be a better option. Additionally, position your computer chair and angle your camera in such a way that you get a well-balanced shot of your head and torso.
Also, send instructions on logging into the video interview to the candidate in advance. Not only will this be a precautiuon to help avoid any delays of the interview, but also a chance for the candidate to show preparedness and competency with current technology.
Your ready! No more excuses!
Today’s market calls everyone in the workforce to educate themselves and be well versed in the basics of all computer technology and platforms–including video–and hiring managers do not get a free pass. As we continue to adapt to the new normal of video conferencing, there is no reason for job seekers or employers to not be able to transfer proper interview etiquette and respect from the main office to the home office.
https://yello.co/blog/top-6-benefits-of-video-interviewing/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/video-interview-tips
https://www.synergisticit.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-video-interviews/
Eric Kambach 