Hiring Virtually: What to Look for in a Candidate

You wrote the job description, posted it online, and the resumes are rolling in.  Typically the next step is to send out interview invitations and meet the potential candidates. But these are not typical times and as remote work is on the rise, the initial interview has shifted from face to face in a conference room, to behind a screen.

Having interviewed and built a successful team we are proud of, we’ve collected some key things to look out for when searching for the perfect new addition to your company. Whether you’re using Zoom, Teams, or Skype when doing a video conferencing interview keep the following best practices in mind:

  1. Prepare – Has the candidate done their research? When a potential hire comes with questions about the company it shows a commitment to the role they are applying for.
  2. Engaged – Remote work requires clear and transparent communication skills. This is your chance to assess how this person expresses ideas. Due to lack of face-to-face time during the initial interview process having them open up and engage allows you to determine if they are a good culture fit for your team.
  3. Direct – Remember, you want to hire someone for the long term and it’s important to make sure your company goals and their professional goals match up. A good way to assess this is to ask where they want to be in their career in the next 3 to 5 years. Does this role allow for them to grow into these goals?
  4. Follow Up – Did the candidate follow up with a thank-you note after the interview? The small things add up and this shows an attention to detail you want when bringing a new hire into your current company culture.

While there are challenges with interviewing candidates remotely, it’s an exciting time to expand where you find new talent to join your team. And by keeping an eye out for the qualities mentioned above, video interviews can still be a great way to assess the talent and skills of potential job candidates.

What are additional things to be on the lookout for when doing virtual interviews? We’d love to hear about your experience, comment below.

Contact us:

www.primegroupins.com/request-a-quote

844-631-4901

info@primegroupins.com