Recruit from home? How to conduct a successful online job interview

Don't let any virus stop you from hiring the best candidates!

On March 16, President Rodrigo Duterte issued an ‘enhanced’ community quarantine for the entire Luzon to prevent the spreading of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Without a doubt, the outbreak of the COVID-19 has brought about a huge change in the Philippines. However, this situation has also highlighted several areas for improvement. In the corporate world, companies are now being pushed to become more innovative.

Fortunately, technology has made work for most occupations possible from home. Rolling with this trend, it is about time for you to learn how to move forward with managing your company. And, the first step to digitalizing the workplace is learning all about digital recruitment.

How To Conduct A Successful Job Interview Online

1. Learn about the software

Online interviews can be conducted through different software. It is important that you familiarize yourself with these so that you can decide which software best suits your taste. Do you want a video software that allows multi-party chatrooms? Do you need a video software that allows you to share files and images? There are numerous video software out there that will be most suitable for your demands.

Ideally, you should choose a popular video software that will not intimidate job applicants. In the Philippines, some of the most common software are Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Facetime.

2. Invest in good quality hardware No wise warrior would go into battle without his or her weapons. Online job interviews require more preparation than a simple video call with your mother. Why? Because applicants expect professionalism and expertise. A video interview with bad quality will portray an outdated company.

This is not to say that you need to purchase the latest gadgets. However, you must make sure that you have the basics covered: a reliable computer, a stable internet connection, and a great set of earphones, a microphone, and a clear webcam.

3. Familiarize yourself with your equipment

Even if a warrior were armed, s/he would have to know how to use each weapon that s/he has. With that, it is non-negotiable that you familiarize yourself with your equipment before the interview. Exhibit yourself as an employer who is confident with technology.

Do a test run of your job interview. Try to video call a friend and ask for his or her feedback regarding the quality of your interview. Explore your video software until you are confident enough.

4. Schedule the job interview

You must treat the online job interview as you would a face-to-face interview. With that, schedule the job interview with an applicant ahead of time, on a decent hour. This said, if you are hiring someone from another country, keep the difference in timezones in mind.

Once you have properly scheduled the job interview, make sure to block this out of the calendar. Set your alarm to at least an hour before the interview so that you have ample time to prepare.

5. Dress the part

Again, job applicants expect professionalism from you. Dress as you would in a face-to-face interview. A polished appearance encourages applicants to stay professional whenever they interact with you, regardless of where they are.

Aside from dressing yourself, also “dress” your surroundings. Make sure your backdrop exudes a professional space. To be safe, go for a white wall. Be sure to set-up your computer somewhere quiet, too.

Before the interview, assess how you look on-screen. Frame yourself in a way that shows your head and shoulders. Have good and gentle lighting as well.

6. Focus

While it is tempting to multitask while you are conducting a job interview, it is important for you to give the interviewee your full attention. No matter how subtle you try to play it, the person on the other end will notice if you are distracted. Besides, the job interview is a crucial part of recruitment. You will need all ears for it.

Before the interview begins, close every other program on your computer. This way, you avoid embarrassing situations (i.e. a website suddenly blasts a tune). You will also prevent lagging when only one software is open.

Nowadays, learning how to conduct a successful online job interview is necessary. After the COVID-19 outbreak dies down, applicants will continue to seek forward-looking companies. As Generation Z candidates emerge in the workforce, employers must keep themselves up-to-date.

Being fluent in technology is a huge factor in hiring Generation Z employees; however, this is only one factor out of the many. Learn more about recruiting Generation Z employees through JobStreet’s Law of Attraction Data Lab. Here, employers will learn about the specific factors that attract Generation Z employees.

There is no better way to improve your recruitment game than by gaining insights from comprehensive studies that are specifically catered to the Filipino employer. JobStreet’s Law of Attraction bases their studies from their interviews with 18,000 Filipino candidates across 25 industries. Whether you’re hiring from Generation Z or not, this platform is the tool you need to remain competitive in the market.