The Benefits of Video Interviews for Candidates
We know that participating in a video interview can be nerve-wracking, especially when you haven’t done this before and you aren’t exactly sure what to expect. One thing to remember is that organisations are using video interviewing in their recruitment process simply because it works – they aren’t trying to scare you off.
Interviews, in general, are a stressful experience for many candidates no matter what form they come in. We’re so used to the standard face-to-face interview that even though it’s stressful, we just get on with it as normal. Video interviewing is still a relatively new concept in recruitment compared to other aspects of the hiring process, and because we aren’t as used to these, the contemporary methods can be a big source of any stress that comes with the experience.
There’s plenty of articles out there outlining how video interviewing benefits the organisation using it. But we know that sometimes candidates may need a little bit of reassurance when it comes to taking part in this process. So, keep on reading to find out how video interviewing benefits you as a candidate, hopefully easing any nerves even just a little bit:
It fits better with your schedule
When you complete a one-way video interview, you can do this at a time and place that is suited to you. You won’t be required to take time off work to be able to showcase yourself. You can simply record your interview in the comfort of your own home, from a variety of devices, outside of work hours if needed.
When a recruitment process has multiple different stages, there can also be the concern with how much annual leave you’ll have to take from your current role – with the added pressure of that becoming a waste when unsuccessful. It even eliminates the initial need to travel if you’re applying for jobs that require re-location – so you know that if you do travel or take time off for a face-to-face interview after a video interview, you’re already in with a pretty good chance of landing the job.
It’s your chance to shine
Often when a recruiter uses video interviewing, more candidates are given the chance to showcase themselves during the screening process. When they’re using telephone interviews instead, they’re much more likely to speak to a lesser number of candidates than they would invite to video interviews, meaning that you’ve got a better chance of getting in front of the recruiter and proving your suitability for the role.
Basically, video interviewing means that the recruiter gets to virtually meet more candidates than they were previously able to. Think of it this way – a recruiter can screen 10 video interviews in the time it takes to complete 1 telephone interview, so they’re using it as a way to access a larger talent pool. So not only does the recruiter get better access to talent, you (as the candidate) have more opportunity to get in front of hiring teams at a very early stage in the recruitment process. Use this opportunity to sell yourself!
Faster response times
One of the many reasons why organisations choose to implement video interviewing is because it reduces time to hire by speeding up the screening process. For you, as the candidate, you can likely expect faster response times and avoid the added stress of long waiting times for results.
We’ve all been in situations where we wait in angst to hear from recruiters and hiring managers, which can make job hunts even more grueling than they need to be. But the hiring process runs more efficiently with video interviews involved so this is less likely to occur!
This is particularly useful when you’re applying for an organisation that has very high volume in terms of applications. In traditional recruitment processes (e.g. application, telephone interview, face-to-face interview) it can feel very drawn out and disengaging because the hiring teams are dealing with so much. This is one of the many reason’s recruiters are turning to video interviews, providing benefits to their organisation as well as their candidates. In many cases here at Shine, we’ve seen time-to-hire reduce by over 70% after an organisation implements video interviewing.
It creates a fairer process for every candidate
As the questions are pre-set and presented on screen, every candidate partaking in the video interview is asked the same questions in the same way. As the recruiter is not present to ask the questions, there are no follow-ups to lead the interview in a different direction. This creates a fairer process for every candidate as the process is standardised and won’t favour one person over another – helping to eliminate various types of unconscious biases that can occur in interviews.
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It's worth noting that a major concern for recruiters has long been candidate experience, so video interviewing would not be so widely used if it had any negative impacts on that candidate experience. While it might seem odd conducting your interview with your phone rather than a person, it’s key to remember that it’s simply another person who’ll be watching your video interview. It’s highly unlikely the recruiter will expect you to be a Hollywood ready actor (unless that’s the role you’re applying for – you never know!), so try to relax. Video interviewing, overall, gives you a chance to really showcase your knowledge and personality at a very early stage in the recruitment process, something which you can use to your advantage. And remember, your video interview will never replace the need to actually meet recruiters - after all, recruitment will always be about valuable interactions between hiring teams and candidates.
If you’re about to embark on a video interview, make sure you check out our various other candidate blogs here to ensure you’re well prepared!