Remote interviews are the new norm in the corporate world, and it is expected to continue post-pandemic.

Today, companies embrace remote hiring as it gives hiring managers and recruiters an opportunity to hire the right talent regardless of their location. But there are both positive and negative sides to it.

Virtual interviews use several tools, and most recruiters and candidates aren't familiar with them. It has its own etiquettes, just as in-person interviews have.

That said, with the extra challenges that come with conducting interviews online, you need to find ways to structure and streamline your remote interview process to find the right talent.

Remote interviews are conducted online using a third-party video interviewing tool, where the interviewer and the candidate are geographically separated.

For many, the benefits of virtual hiring are becoming harder to overlook, especially with the availability of effective communication techniques. Remote hiring is a cost-effective and time-saving approach for businesses. Here’s how remote hiring can benefit businesses:

• Get access to a talent pool worldwide
• Reduce business costs
• Reduces cost per hire
• Increases employee retention
• Boost team’s productivity
• Better time management

Following the right remote interview etiquette can help you structure and streamline the recruitment process. This article will discuss some of the best remote interview etiquettes you can follow to achieve your recruitment goals.

Use The Right Video Interview Tool

Using the right video interview tool is the key to any successful remote interview.

Some prominent video interview tools are Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, or Go-to-meeting – they also offer additional recruiting functionalities such as simple interview recording, embedded evaluation forms, etc.

For instance, suppose you’re hiring a technical team for your organization. In that case, you need a live coding interview tool with whiteboarding functionality. So, you must choose the tool which satisfies the technical recruitment needs to assess the candidate’s coding skills. The most preferred tool by recruiters is Intervue. It is a coding assessment tool with whiteboarding functionality. It also offers an integrated audio/video calling functionality through which you can monitor the performance of the candidates.

Hence, you must carefully analyze your needs before you choose the right remote interviewing tool. Make sure to select an easy-to-use tool - a complicated tool can impact the candidate experience.

Do Your Homework

As we have mentioned that you need some tools to conduct remote interviews, take your time to figure out whether the tools and technologies you’re using are working perfectly or not.

Conduct a test call with your co-worker or family member to ensure you know how to display your video, connect your mic, test audio/video connection, and anything that might come up during the interview.

Also, you must keep the contact details of the candidate handy so that you can switch to a telephonic interview if there are any technical issues.

Prepare The Interview Space

Along with a complex tool, choosing an unprofessional interview space can impact the candidate experience. Since your camera will be on, you need to choose a professional space by removing clothes, dishes, trash, and other clutter.

You need to ensure that the place you’ve chosen is quiet and away from distractions. If you have any pets, children, or roommates, make sure they are out of your interview place with the door shut to prevent disruptions while you’re interviewing. You don’t want loud noises from the background to make it hard to hear the candidate.

Be Clear About The Interview Details

In a remote interview, there’s nothing better than over-communicating the interview details. As remote interviewing is the new norm and most candidates aren’t aware of the tools. So, give all your candidates the same information and let them start on the same foot.

Convey the following interview details clearly:

• The date of the interview
• Who will be interviewing?
• Which tool they’re going to use?
• What do they need to prepare beforehand?
• Is audio or video required?
• Do they need to share their screen?

As a recruiter, it’s always better to give some tips to the potential candidates about what types of questions can be asked. The more information you provide to them, the easier it will be to put their best foot forward.

You Should Be Well-Dressed

While remote working allows you to work from the comfort of your home, it doesn’t mean that you look unprofessional in interviews.

Assume your entire outfit will be seen if you have to stand up, so try to avoid sweatpants and wear business-appropriate bottoms. Dressing up can increase self-confidence, conceptual thinking and appears more professional.

Introduce Your Company Culture Digitally

As a physical meet is not an option anymore, the candidates won’t experience the company culture. So, you need to introduce your company culture virtually so that candidates don’t miss out on finding out all about you.

Give them background introductions, share stories, introduce with senior management, explain that you expect employees to demonstrate each value, and give candidates best practice examples to help them understand what you mean.

Virtual company introductions can be complex, so you need to find ways to give a realistic feel to the candidates.

Every member of the recruiting team plays a crucial role in enhancing the candidate experience. The way you communicate with candidates speaks a lot about you and your organization.

When you communicate with candidates effectively, streamline your interview process, and keep them engaged, it shapes their perception of your company. Furthermore, they’ll talk about your company with their friends, relatives, and colleagues and might post a positive review on several recruiting sites, resulting in creating a positive employer brand.

Remote interviews are the future of the corporate world. According to Forbes, not only do employees want to work fully remote post-pandemic, 58% say they will seek other opportunities if they aren’t allowed to work remotely in their current position.

Conducting great remote interviews is not enough – you’ll need to build connections digitally with your candidates.

With the interview etiquette mentioned above, you can successfully conduct remote interviews and enhance the candidate experience.