5 Important Things Talent Acquisition Specialists Should NOT Do in a Video Interview

Video interviewing significantly came to rescue since the Covid19 outbreak.

So why are video interviews such a hot topic today? Mainly, they have helped talent acquisition specialists save a substantial amount of their time by hiring the right candidates much faster.

Today, talent acquisition teams are able to stay safe and conduct interviews from the comfort of their own homes. It might’ve been hard to adjust to at first, but everyone is getting the hang of video interviewing by now.

However (even hundreds of video interviews later), many talent acquisition specialists and candidates are now flying blind into video interviews, with minimum to no preparation.

In this article, we are going to share with you 5 things talent acquisition specialists should NOT do before a video interview!

Arriving late to the interview

Arriving late to class used to be considered cool in high school. Not in recruitment though! It may seem only natural for talent acquisition specialists to make it on time for interviews, but you’ll be surprised to know that almost 39% of them don’t!

When talent acquisition teams slide into this habit, candidates tend to question the company’s liability and professionalism. Candidates like to feel that their time is respected, even when they’re not conducting their interviews in person. Therefore, we suggest you get ready for the interview at least 10 minutes before it starts!

Getting distracted with home-invasions

We’ve all watched one to many video interview bloopers since last March. What your candidates see or hear from behind you on screen, may not build the greatest image of you as a recruiter. Frequent interruptions, home invasions, and distractions can appear highly unprofessional in the eyes of the candidate.

For that reason, we highly recommend you find a quiet and serene space to conduct the video interview. This way, candidates will know that you’re treating the video interview like it’s your top priority. So clear out your desk, set the right lighting, and ensure your background looks neat and tidy!

Not testing the technology and equipment in advance

If you’re using video interviewing software to conduct your video interviews, then it would be a great idea to familiarize yourself with it beforehand. We know that one of the biggest pet peeves for talent acquisition specialists (and candidates) are the technical difficulties that occur in the middle of a video interview.

As a result, we advise you to test out the technology with your teammates prior to interviewing your candidate. Test the microphone, check the audio, and acquaint yourself well with the technology’s various functionalities. Make sure you don’t leave this to the last half hour before your video interview takes place!

Asking the wrong interview questions

Asking ineffective interview questions will not help you ensure the overall success of the interview. Nor will they help you evaluate or assess your candidates correctly. On the other hand, asking the right interview questions can easily help you spot your next best hire! So don’t try to wing it by showing up to the video interview without preparing the right questions.

Try to allocate some time before the interview to ask your candidates some cut-to-the-chase questions. These questions will help you dig deeper and learn more about your candidates. Also, don’t forget to ask behavioral interview questions as well, as these questions can help you unravel your candidate’s soft, intangible and behavioral skills.

Looking bored and having low energy

If you had a rough day, or if you’re fighting a bad headache, looking bored or excessively tired during a video interview will negatively affect the candidate’s performance. Candidates will either feel like you are disinterested or bored, which will tempt them to either rush through their responses, or try extraneously hard to impress you.

Either way, a good rule of thumb is to look straight into the camera, and avoid staring into space! Your energy will reflect back on the candidate’s. That’s why we recommend you engage in small talk, keep the conversation flowing on a high note, and keep the positivity alive. If you’re feeling too tired to carry out the video interview, or your energy has taken a deep plunge, then kindly ask the candidate if they wouldn’t mind postponing the interview for another time.

Final thoughts

There are various tips and tricks that can help talent acquisition specialists get the most out of their video interviews. Stumbling into a video interview unprepared will not help you get off on a good start, nor will candidates feel comfortable enough to do their best. To make sure your video interviews get carried out successfully, make sure you arrive on time, get rid of distractions, test out the technology, ask the right questions and keep the engagement and energy alive.

Author