The Videoconference Interview

Increasingly, organizations are looking to use technology to reduce costs associated with in-person recruitment interviews, while at the same time, looking for the best candidates from across the country, or around the world.

Virtual interviews are particularly useful when scheduling conflicts don't allow the two sides to meet face-to-face. They are also used regularly for preliminary interviews to screen candidates prior to a possibly expensive in-person meeting being arranged.

Virtual interviews, using a variety of communications technologies, are becoming more commonplace today. There are essentially three methods used today for non-conventional interviews. They are:

E-mail Interviews: Generally, this type of interview is conducted using regular e-mail and is considered an initial step in a hiring process.

The difficulty for everyone involved, is the lack of any face-to-face meetings with one another. Communications also tend to be formal and rather impersonal, with lots of facts and professional information being shared.

As a first step though, it can be a good way to build some rapport with one another. Typically, any follow-up interviews are then conducted by telephone, videoconference or in-person.

Telephone Interviews: The telephone is used more and more these days as a way of carrying out the initial stage of a job interview. This is especially true when any sort of distance separates both locations.

The advantage is both sides can carry on a conversation, ask immediate questions of each other, and make notes. The down side is neither place can see each other; judge someone's appearance or presentation, behaviors, or body language. Usually, a face-to-face or videoconference meeting is arranged after this step of the interview process.

Videoconference Interviews: For both the job seeker and the company, it can be challenge to express and evaluate things like motivation, enthusiasm, focus and commitment without meeting in person. Videoconferencing can help overcome most of these issues.

Next to a face-to-face meeting, the videoconference interview is considered the next best way of getting together. The technology saves money, time, and allows several sites to connect at one time.

Many candidates and interviewers prefer this method to using the telephone for an interview because it allows everyone to see who they're talking with and respond more directly.

Large time zone differences between distant locations can sometimes be a challenge, but compared with traveling, this can be easily managed.

This type of interview is quickly gaining in popularity as it becomes better known and established.

As with any interview, preparation and practice remain the most important steps for success. With a videoconference, it's no different. Dressing appropriately, showing up on time, doing your homework on the organization and the job, are all still as important as if you were going to a face-to-face interview.

In just about every way, a job interview using videoconferencing is weighted the same as an in-person meeting. However, there are some subtle differences and disadvantages to be aware of when 'on camera'. Here are a few pointers:

• Be prepared if the far site has some synchronization problems. With a slow connection speed, facial expressions and the speaker's voice can occasionally be off by as much as a second.
  
• Don't read questions or answers off of cue cards. Notes are fine to look at briefly every once in a while, but natural conversation and eye contact with the camera are important.
  
• Don't talk for too long at any one time. It's not a good idea 'live', and can be worse later if on videotape when the remote control fast-forward is available.
  
• Speak up if you're having any problem with the audio or video picture. A technical glitch won't be held against you.
  
• Keep your hand or body movements down to a minimum. Rapid or repetitious movements can look quite jerky on a video monitor.
  
• Look at the camera full-on, head up. Talk to the camera as if someone were sitting right in front of you. Speak normally as you would in a conversation, maintain eye contact and don't forget to smile.
  
• Wear what you would usually wear in a face-to-face meeting, only using solid colors. Avoid wearing plaid and striped patterns, or a white shirt or jacket on camera. Some cameras can have focusing problems with very light clothing, and TV monitors tend to create fluctuating patterns when trying to broadcast checkered or striped patterns.
  
• Don't get wrapped up in all the technology and how everything works. Remember to focus on your presentation and goals during the interview.
  
• Know how long the interview will last. Be aware of the time and make sure you can cover your agenda in the allotted interview time.