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I am the founder and CEO of Cheeky scientista platform that helps people with PhDs transition to meaningful, high-paying careers in industry
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Employers are using interviews — specifically virtual interviews — to do more screening for each of their open positions than they did before the pandemic. In fact, some of my clients had to go through five rounds of virtual interviews to secure a job offer! Virtual interviews now seem to provide much of the screening function previously performed by resumes.
Why do employers do this?
There are currently more jobs than unemployed. Many employers are making the most of this situation by assessing candidates more rigorously to ensure a good fit, and virtual interviews have enabled this assessment. They cost companies much less than in-person interviews. Additionally, the rise of platforms like Zoom and the overall decentralization of the workforce caused by the pandemic have made video conferencing an easy and familiar process for many professionals.
Taken together, these factors explain why there are so many virtual interviews and why they are likely here to stay. According to a recent survey by Indeed, 82% of employers surveyed use virtual interviews, and 93% of employers plan to continue using them. Thus, multiple rounds of virtual interviews are likely to be part of your experience if you are currently looking for a job.
Here’s what you need to know to be prepared for one of the top hiring trends of 2022:
1. Virtual interviews benefit both employers and candidates
I’ve spoken to both employers and candidates who are generally happy with the move to virtual interviewing.
Virtual interviews offer employers numerous benefits beyond those mentioned above. For example, they allow employers to screen more job applicants for skills that can’t necessarily be assessed based on resumes alone. They can also be scheduled closer together, reducing hiring time and streamlining the overall hiring process. In addition, virtual interviews remove geographic restrictions and expand access to candidates, an ideal feature for employers looking for remote workers.
For candidates, virtual interviews can offer a better experience. Most job applicants don’t fail to come up with transportation to a potentially unfamiliar location. They also enjoy more control over where they interview. Several of my clients have even indicated that this control helps them perform at their best because they feel more comfortable and confident while interviewing in their chosen location.
2. There are two types of virtual interviews
I have seen my clients encounter two different types of virtual interviews.
The first type is the live video interview. Most people are familiar with this type of interview because it is essentially an in-person interview conducted in a remote environment.
Fewer people are familiar with the second type: one-way video interviews. This type of virtual interview serves as a screen at the beginning of the hiring process and seems to be becoming more common as more employers implement chatbots into their recruitment process. In this type of interview, the candidates’ answers to the questions are recorded and sent to the employer for review, which can include both the AI and anyone involved in the hiring decision process. It enhances hiring collaboration and can help employers achieve better hiring results. It can also be fairer to applicants because everyone answers the same questions and is reviewed by the same parties.
3. The virtual interview requires preparation
I’ve noticed that some candidates approach the virtual interview more casually than an in-person interview.
I advise the opposite.
Virtual interviews are more competitive than in-person because employers offer them to more applicants. If you are asked to interview virtually, you should prepare at least as much, if not more, than if you were interviewing in person.
Your preparation should start with your setup. Update your computer software if you haven’t done so recently. Familiarize yourself with the video conferencing platform you’ll be using for your interview, whether it’s Zoom, Google Meet, or another program. Plan ahead where you will take your virtual interview to ensure proper lighting and no background distractions. Finally, do a test run at your chosen location to check your equipment.
Proceed with your preparation as you would for an in-person interview. Consider in advance how you might answer general competency, behavioral and situational questions for your target role. But don’t memorize your answers (or worse, think you can get away with reading them during the interview)! Instead, focus on being authentic and making eye contact with your interviewer (or reviewer in the case of a one-way virtual interview) by looking at your computer camera, not the screen.
In the past, getting an interview invitation meant that you were one of the few best candidates for the job and that your chances of getting an offer were high. This assumption does not hold in the age of virtual interviews. However, by developing a deep understanding of virtual interviewing, you can cultivate a mindset that will help you stand out from your competition.
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