In this blog we will explore interview tips on the process. The blog will cover how these interview tips will help you land your next job. We will look into what companies current interview preferences is and how the interview process has changed since the Covid 19 pandemic. Interviewing is a complex and these interview tips will help you navigate the difficult task for all involved. This blog will give you guidance on what to expect both from a job seeker and a hiring managers perspective.
3 ways interviewing has changed in the last 3 years.
Over the years we have worked with a large collection of businesses from leading multi nationals to start ups and everything in-between. In 2019-2022 Covid had this incredible effect on the hiring process. Albeit video interviewing was catching on mainly with those coming from abroad into the US or out of state. People generally tried to fly to the location to interview. Today that would be very rare, unless it was a senior position.
Does your company prefer in-person or video interviews with job candidates, and why?
Simple answer we do both, at the first stage of the interview process we do a simple phone call, just marry up the skillset to the requirement. Subject to that going ok, we will invite the person to our office. If the individual is out of the country or over 1 hour away we will do a video call. We are very flexible but that in person interview is important for a few reasons:
- We want the candidate to know how long and easy it is to get to the office.
- We want the candidate to see the office, picture where they will work 2-3 days per week (most customers we have run a hybrid working model)
- It shows commitment from the candidate, they are willing to take time out, it shows they want the role and want to make a good impression.
- In Person interviews can be a little more casual, that walk to the elevator or door can really give a great understanding if the person will fit into the culture. Are they introverted or extraverted. How they treat people in reception etc. All these small things can be very powerful personality traits when deciding to offer or not.
The above points are simply not possible to do via video.
How has this changed since the pandemic, if at all?
Before the pandemic, a lot of companies would insist on an in-person interview. As hybrid or remote working back then was not as evident, coming to the office was the norm. Now it’s the reverse. So, interviewers need to assess how they come across on video. People are very different in person then on video.
Areas such as flexibility are also more evident today as they were in the past. I used to request 3 times/dates from people and I would pick one and that would be the time. Today I would pick one confirm it and suddenly, the candidate is no longer available “someone just booked that time” remains a common excuse. As I work mainly in the IT sector, skills are niche and in demand. So, the above can be forgiven. But its more evident now then it was 3 years ago.
Is it tied to whether your business is in-person/remote/hybrid?
Yes, hugely. If you are interviewing for a remote position, requiring someone to come to the office is just not a requirement, well it shouldn’t be. Chances are it will put out both the candidate and interviewer and it’s a lose lose.
I think for office-based roles and Hybrid based roles, an in person interview is important. For the candidate they should want to see the office, what the space looks like and if they can picture themselves working there. It’s an opportunity to see what some of your colleagues look like etc.
A candidate should know where the office is and how easily accessible it is. How long the commute was, is there parking? Do I need to take 1 bus or 2. How often does the bus come and so on. Now you can check this stuff out of google but doing it is so important. Most HR and Recruitment teams know this and really should force the candidate to do it. Let’s say someone thinks a 1-hour commute is fine, but as part of that 1 hour commute there is a 20 minute walk. That 20-minute walk in the rain, snow, heat can really be a challenge for the best of us.
If you are looking to avoid common Interviewing mistakes, please see our latest insights on the topic here.
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