Review your online branding

Your employer branding needs to be current and reflect your vision and values. It also needs to be consistent across various channels, from your website to your social media.

Set the scene for your interview

As you would with a face-to-face interview – the details are important, you need to confirm:

• The basics: date, time and length
• Those who will be involved in the interview and their position in your business
• The platform you will be using and how the candidate will access this – normally phone or laptop
• Contact phone numbers – ensure you confirm you have the correct phone number for the candidate and they have yours in case either of you have problems when it comes time to access the virtual interview. 

A phone conversation first followed by an email to confirm ensures your candidate has everything they need prior to your interview. Include instructions on how to access the online interview rather than assuming they are familiar with the process.

Be tech ready

The two most common online platforms are Microsoft Teams and Zoom. If these are new to you, or if it has been a while since you last used the technology there may be updates waiting so we recommend a trial run prior to engaging a candidate.

Prepare for your interview

• Ensure where you are interviewing has a suitable backdrop (or blur your background)
• Limit distractions and set your phone to silent
• Look professional, dress as you would for an in-person interview

Prepare your questions

Ensure you have a set range of competency-based questions prepared which can be used for all your interviews (online and in-person).

Remember to offer information about the working environment, your team and culture. Give the candidate the opportunity to ask questions.

Closing the interview

Close as you would a normal interview, by thanking the candidate for their time and providing details on the next steps and timeframe in which you expect to make your decision.

Stick to it! From this point communication is essential to keep your candidate engaged and motivated towards your opportunity.

The PN Personnel team have conducted a LOT of interviews. Nothing will beat meeting in person. We recommend using the online interview as a tool to capture the widest range of candidates and when you need to streamline your recruitment in a timely manner.