Conducting Video Interviews

Technology has made recruiting employees much easier, as applicants no longer have to miss out on interviews because of where they live. When you were taught how to conduct an interview, there's a good chance you practiced by conducting several mock interviews in your office. Now that video-conferencing equipment is so inexpensive, you can use those same skills to interview people hundreds or thousands of miles away. Use these interviewing tips when learning how to conduct an interview via video.

If you are an experienced interviewer, you may be familiar with the STAR method. This method helps you elicit more information from interviewees than you would get with other types of questions. Learning how to conduct an interview via video involves creating and rehearsing your questions ahead of time so that you don't have to read them from a piece of paper during a video interview. Before interviewing any of the candidates for a position, take time to develop your interview questions and practice them so that you have a handle on them by the time your first interview starts.

Even experienced interviewers need to learn how to conduct an interview using new equipment. One of the best things you can do is test your equipment before you meet with any candidates. If the audio is not working, you will not be able to hear the candidate's answers, and there is a good chance the candidate will not be able to hear your questions. If the video feed is not working properly, you will miss out on the opportunity to assess each candidate's body language and gestures. Consider scheduling video interviews only when there is a technical support representative on hand to assist you should you experience a problem with your equipment.

Just because you are using video to conduct an interview does not mean the interview should be any less formal than an on-site interview. When you are learning how to conduct an interview via video, it is a good idea to create standard interview questions and reference the job description or skills list during each interview. Doing so will help you focus on the essential skills and abilities needed for the position, not an interviewee's personality traits or clothing. Asking open-ended questions—questions that cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no"—is also important.

If you are a new human resources professional, you actually have an advantage over your more experienced colleagues. When you learn how to conduct an interview, you will be able to develop interviewing skills that work well, whether you are meeting with a candidate in your office or interviewing someone via video. Your colleagues may have to attend formal training programs to learn how to make their interviewing techniques work with today's technology. Some may even have difficulty using audio and video equipment to conduct professional interviews.

Interviews are one of the most important human resources duties, as they help identify candidates who have the skills and traits needed for open positions. Using video interviewing can save your company thousands of dollars on travel expenses for recruiters and candidates, so this technique is something you must learn. If you need help learning how to conduct an interview via video, consult books and other resources that contain interviewing tips.

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