A Primer on Video Interviewing Software

The adoption of video in recruitment was advancing steadily, and the COVID-19 pandemic only expedited the growth. Video interviewing platforms enhance the hiring process for a multitude of reasons — attracting the right talent, improving candidate experience or promoting the employer brand. Businesses have discovered the advantages of using dedicated video interviewing platforms in terms of efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness.

A dedicated video interview platform is an integrated, feature-rich, one-stop-shop for video recruitment, which covers all aspects of interviews from scheduling to evaluations.
Both the HR Tech Stack and processes stand to gain from a dedicated platform for video recruitment.

Let’s take a look at the why and how of video interviewing software.

Lights, camera, action…online!

The chaotic grind of recruitment is almost never-ending. With an influx of resumes, applications and cover letters, screening candidates and multiple rounds of interviews, it’s no wonder that video interviewing platforms have become increasingly popular over the years. Video interviewing in recruitment is now nearly the norm across the globe.

Video interviewing solutions are especially beneficial for campus recruitments which are characterized by large volumes and an intense hunt for talent. There are numerous benefits to using a dedicated video interviewing platform. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Why should you consider a video interviewing platform?

With the presence of a multitude of video conferencing applications such as Zoom, Google Meet and many others, at first glance, it may seem like an overkill to have a dedicated video interviewing solution. However, these applications offer just that – video chat, which is just one aspect of a holistic solution.

Let’s take a look at some of the features that make dedicated video interviews conferencing a superior option:

• AI-powered digital verification: Eliminate the risk of impersonation with digital verification. AI-based algorithms verify the candidate’s identity against a government-approved ID card. This is repeated throughout the hiring process to ensure that the same candidate is being interviewed, assessed and onboarded.
• Advance Scheduling: Schedule individual interviews or bulk-schedule for larger recruitment drives such as for campuses. Calendar invites can be sent automatically, with all required details.
• One-way / Asynchronous video interviews: Typically when you think of video interviews, what comes to mind is a live interaction between the candidate and the interviewer. However, video interviewing platforms enable asynchronous interviews. Recruiters can record questions once, and send them to multiple candidates. Candidates can sign in, record their responses and send it back at their convenience while enabling recruiters to screen multiple candidates at their own pace. This is especially useful for campus recruitment scenarios, which are challenged by limited resources and time constraints.
• Live interviews: Live interviews allow face-to-face interaction with individuals or groups. Some platforms also enable live coding interviews, especially useful when conducting campus recruitment for the IT sector, to gauge programming and problem-solving skills. Candidates can be assessed for coding skills over a shared coding window, and solutions can be brainstormed.
• Recording/playback of interviews: When interviews are conducted live, the entire interaction can be recorded and played back. This helps to run the interview through multiple panelists, some of who may be offline, reduces any possibility of personal bias and enables a fair recruitment process. All of this is possible with recruiters and candidates being at different places, and in different time zones, without the hassle of scheduling and waiting for multiple people from the hiring teams. What’s not to like?
• Company branding: Many platforms let you create a customized experience for the candidate – with the company brand on the invite, and during the interview. Adding the company brand provides a professional and positive experience to the candidate, which is very close to a face-to-face interview.
• Interview evaluations: You can shortlist candidates, rate performance, and inform candidates who didn’t make the cut, all via the platform.
• Seamless flow of information: Video Interviewing platforms can integrate with other apps or workflows with additional APIs and plug-ins, thereby ensuring automatic updates and facilitating a holistic recruitment solution.
• Collecting feedback: Video interviewing solutions also automate feedback collection at the end of an interview, letting recruiters know what went right, and what could be improved.

The benefits of video interviewing software are especially seen in large-scale recruitment drives such as campus recruitment. Campus recruitment involves screening thousands of candidates across multiple locations, so a streamlined and collaborative system will expedite the hiring process.

How video interviewing software aids campus recruitment

Using a dedicated video interview platform offers tangible benefits to the campus recruitment process.

Video interviewing platforms minimize or even eliminate the need for travel, leading to huge time and cost savings for companies, especially when it comes to campus drives.

They provide companies the opportunity to widen the talent net and attract right candidates pan-India, enabling access to candidates and campuses at remote locations.

Campus recruitment often requires apple-to-apple comparisons. Giving out the same set of questions in the same order to multiple candidates allows just that, and enables a structured format. Interview questions are vetted beforehand, and candidate responses can easily be compared.

• Live interviews are enhanced with branding, whiteboarding, messaging, and recording. Recorded transcripts can be viewed later, easing out scheduling conflicts which are so typical of campus interview panels.
• Gen Z’s comfort with video is high, and for them it’s really a de facto expectation. Pre-recorded interviews ease without the stress of a first formal face-to-face interview.
• Recorded transcripts allow deeper insights into candidates by not just taking, but observing non-verbal cues.
• With automated scheduling and screening, and data integration with other systems, recruiters can now spend time on developing relationships with young candidates and understanding where they come from, thereby deriving deeper insights.

Video interviewing platforms lead to better efficiency and productivity and provide a democratic interview process for campus recruitment.

Prep, prep and more prep

While offline recruitment is a lot more time-consuming, a lot of things can be fixed quickly when face-to-face. Going online requires the recruitment team to be prepared for any eventualities, but it is well worth it, considering the benefits.

Advance prep goes a long way to ensure a smooth and seamless experience for video interviewing. Besides the tech required – infrastructure and a reliable video recruitment platform – recruiters need to ensure that the process is well thought out. Send candidates a simple, yet detailed email with clear instructions to use the platform, expectations, timelines and how to submit content (for asynchronous interviews), what kind of connectivity they will need, and helpline numbers in case of trouble.

For asynchronous interviews:

• Identify the set of questions for screening candidates.
• Identify the methodology of the interview.
• Set timelines to send emails, receive submissions and screen candidates.
• Test the recording and submission method before sending invites.
• Acknowledge submissions, and inform candidates about next steps.
• Ensure candidates get a notification once screening is complete.

Make it picture perfect

Conducting live interviews requires that the environment is quiet and that all panelists are logged in on time. Candidates should receive advance notifications and reminders. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth, hassle-free process:

• Ensure all panelists test their camera, microphone, and speakers right before the interview.
• The environment should be free of distractions, and a quiet place without background sound. Notifications on the system should be muted. If using a mobile, make sure you have a mobile phone stand, so that the device is steady.
• Good lighting is important so that the interviewers and candidates are clearly visible.
• Recruiters and panelists should be in either formals or semi-formals, depending on company policy and candidates need to be informed earlier about dress code guidelines.
• Body language matters. Smile with your eyes, so the candidate feels comfortable. Maintain eye contact.
• Speak clearly and at a reasonable pace, and do not interrupt the candidate or any other panelist.
• Send a thank you note to the candidate and inform them about next steps.

Let’s cut to Hecuba

Video interviewing is an attractive proposition, but it might not be smooth sailing all the way.

Give candidates a second chance if they experience any technical issues. Ensure all evaluations are objective, as it’s easy to be influenced by a confident and smiling Gen Z-ian. If candidates are not comfortable in front of the camera for pre-recorded interviews, cut them some slack, have a word and give them a second chance, live or asynchronous. Personalize follow-up mails, especially when candidates fail screening.

All of these challenges can be surmounted, and given the numerous benefits, video interviewing solutions are here to stay. Video interviewing platforms offer a secure and streamlined solution to cover all aspects of video recruitment and expedite the hiring process.

HirePro’s Video Interviews platform is a holistic solution that lets companies hire faster with hassle-free live and asynchronous interviews.

And…it’s a wrap!

Video interviewing platforms are ideal for high-volume campus recruitments, which require both asynchronous and live interactions, identity verification, detailed tech evaluations and are yet appealing enough to a discerning generation.

Offering a rich experience for both recruiters and candidates, these dedicated platforms are collaborative, save time and cost, are more efficient, improve productivity, and can integrate to back-end HR systems, allowing for seamless transfer of information.

HirePro offers state-of-the-art video interview software to evaluate candidates remotely on skills and personality! Call us at 080 6656 6000 or write to us at sales@hirepro.in for a demo.