With today's advanced technology, we can interview almost anyone, anywhere in the world. For years this wasn't possible as the technology and infrastructure wouldn't support anything more than a phone screen. But with the advancement of video conferencing, now businesses can conduct virtual interviews.

There are many advantages of virtual interviews. But that doesn't mean they're always better than traditional face-to-face ones. Virtual interviews offer businesses a more efficient way to source and assess talent from a larger geography, at a lower cost. Sounds pretty advantageous! But there are still pros and cons to virtual interviews.

First, virtual interviews are more convenient for both the employer and the candidate. The employer can interview potential employees without having to travel or set up a physical location. And candidates don't have to take time off from work or worry about transportation costs in order to attend the interview. Plus, virtual interviews are often much faster than traditional ones since they involve less scheduling and setup time.

Another advantage of virtual interviews is that they allow employers to expand their talent search to a wider range of candidates. Organizations can recruit from anywhere in the world, allowing them access to a larger pool of potential hires than ever before. This means businesses can easily find the best-suited person for the job without having to narrow down their selection based on geography.

Lastly, virtual interviews are great for reducing stress and promoting a more relaxed atmosphere. With no physical presence in the room, employers can assess a candidate's capabilities without worrying about their body language or clothing choices. This helps employers make better hiring decisions based purely on qualifications instead of superficial features.

So you know the upside, what's the down? Cons to virtual interviews, really any interview that isn't face-to-face, is that you can't read body language as well. It's hard to gauge the candidate's enthusiasm or drive during a virtual interview. Additionally, without any physical presence, it's difficult to build a connection with potential hires - which is one of phone interviews' pros and cons as well.

Luckily, Pillar thought of this while building our interview intelligence software. As COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders forced a shift in how companies hire, our team built Ai into our platform to assess the factors that humans could miss in virtual interviews. Things like vocal inflections, tonal changes, body language, and micro-expressions - all of which are difficult to detect when done remotely.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Interviews

As we dig deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of online interviews, it's important to note that this type of interview can be just as beneficial and insightful as an in-person one if you have the right tools. We know that online interviews allow people living far away to apply for roles that only a few years ago, they would've needed to move halfway across the world for, but there are many online interview pros that haven't been mentioned.

Advantages:

1. Cost savings - travel expenses for both the interviewer and applicant can be completely eliminated, saving companies time and money.
2. Increased speed - conducting online interviews saves everyone time as scheduling is much simpler.
3. Larger reach - candidates from all over the world can apply for a job and be interviewed without having to relocate.
4. Relaxed atmosphere - virtual interviews create a more relaxed atmosphere than face-to-face interviews, which can be incredibly beneficial in getting to know the candidate better.

So to review: costs, time, reach, and setting. These are all powerful factors leaning in favor of online interviews. Now let's look into some potential cons to this type of interview.

Disadvantages:

1. Lack of connection - virtual interviews don’t allow for a full understanding of the applicant due to the lack of body language and other nonverbal cues.
2. Technical issues - technical difficulties can occur, from poor audio quality or video freezing to losing connection entirely.
3. Interruptions - there may be background noise that disrupts the conversation or unexpected interruptions from children, pets, or family members.

The nice thing about many of these disadvantages is that they're not a problem for people who are prepared. There are many reasons to use online interviews, and even more reasons to make sure you're taking the proper steps in order to prepare and maximize your success.

All things considered, both virtual and in-person interviews have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Companies who are deciding between the two should weigh the pros and cons when deciding which type of interview to conduct. Online interviews offer many reasons to use them, and all of them add to team bandwidth and the company's bottom line.

Either way, whether you choose to use traditional face-to-face interviews or online ones, it's important to have the necessary tools in place for a successful interview session. That's why at Pillar, we've created an interactive video interview platform that makes it easy to conduct virtual interviews. This gives businesses a great way to make sure they're getting the most out of their interviews and finding the perfect person for the job.

Hiring will never be easy, because people are complex, but as we move toward a post-pandemic world, companies can prepare for what's ahead by leaning into the innovations that drive success for them. Hiring is one of those metrics. Virtual interviews are here to stay and they can be just as effective and insightful as any other type of interview if you're prepared.

Online Interview Description

Online interview descriptions are a must-have for any business that plans on leveraging the power of virtual interviews. They should inform the applicant about the format, expectations, and length of the interview. This description should also set clear guidelines for how to conduct themselves during and after the interview. Having these descriptions in place will not only help you make better hiring decisions but also eliminate confusion among your candidates.

One of the biggest questions we see asked by candidates is, "How to impress in an online interview?" There are many resources online that your candidates will be reviewing before they speak with you. LinkedIn, Coursera and many other online resources have online interview scripts for candidates to memorize, online interview sample resumes, and helpful tips on how to prepare for an online interview.

The best of your candidates will come prepared. They've done their research, talked with someone in the role, and maybe even have connections in the company that they've leaned on to get interviews. They're proactive and know what to expect these are the "cream of the crop."

But I'm sure you won't be surprised at how many candidates are still hopelessly unprepared for online interviews. To make sure you get the most out of your discussions, it's important that you have the right tools in place to ensure that your interviewee is being honest and presenting their true selves. This means having software that can capture facial expressions, vocal inflections, and body language to identify who's selling you a load of BS, and who's actually a good fit for the role.

The way to mitigate much of the confusion and fear associated with online interviews is to make sure that your interviewees have a clear understanding of what's expected of them in the lead-up, during, and after the interview. Having concise descriptions on your website or job postings can help alleviate some of the stress and ensure that applicants are informed before they enter into an online interview. They can also serve as a candidate litmus test.

If the candidate has skimmed an interview description, you can ask a detailed question that immediately assesses the person's preparedness for your interview. Ultimately, having an online interview description helps ensure that your candidates are well-prepared and informed before they enter into any type of virtual interview setting with you - so creating this description is key to setting the tone of the interview.

How to create an online interview description:

1. Describe the format of the interview - will you be conducting a one-on-one video call? Or perhaps a panel-style virtual meeting? Make sure to include the expected length of the interview as well.
2. Explain expectations - describe what you're looking for in an ideal candidate and how they can demonstrate their fit during the interview.
3. Set clear guidelines - communicate any rules and etiquette expectations that the applicant should follow throughout the interview.
4. Give an overview of yourself - let candidates know who will be conducting the interview and a bit about their background to set the stage for a more comfortable conversation. This also allows them to do their research, view your profile, and become familiar with you before the interview.

By taking these steps, you'll set yourself up for more successful online interviews with your applicants. No one likes feeling unprepared, so by giving candidates an accurate description of what to expect during their virtual interview, you can ensure that they come ready and excited to learn more about the role and show off their skills.

Want to level up your interviewing game? Check out Pillar's interview intelligence software to gain greater insights about your candidates and maximize your success in hiring. With Pillar's platform, you can learn more about the people you're interviewing and find the perfect person for the job. Book your demo to see more, today!