Almost every company that was hiring throughout the pandemic was forced to shift to a remote hiring process. Employers were making difficult hiring decisions without even meeting a candidate face-to-face. As we continue to recover from the virus and return to our old ways, many companies will maintain remote interviewing practices that they adopted last year. Of course, some employers will return to the office, and it will be “business as usual;” however, remote interviewing is here to stay, at least in some facets, for most companies. Here’s why.
Less geographic barriers
In a traditional face-to-face interview, there are limitations on talent pools. You will receive the majority of your candidates from your local market or others that are nearby. But with remote hiring processes, an employer’s candidate pool is vastly different. You can essentially interview candidates from across the country. Employers can hire anyone from anywhere! With larger talent pools, employers can fill their vacant jobs faster and tap into groups of talent that would otherwise be unavailable. Less geographic barriers result in better hires and fewer turnovers.
Increased flexibility
Also, with remote interviewing, there is a tremendous amount of flexibility for both parties. For candidates, this means you don’t have to squeeze in an interview during a lunch break, call in sick, or rush after work to throw on your interview outfit. For employers, you don’t have to block out a massive chunk of your day or even week to host a group of candidates. With more flexibility, employers have more time to focus on their other responsibilities or even schedule additional interviews to expand their talent pool.
Easier on the budget
Remote interviewing is also easier on the budget. You no longer have to fly out candidates to spend an entire day or afternoon interviewing, going out to lunch or dinner, and parading them around the office or job site. With virtual interviewing becoming a staple, you no longer have to pay for a candidate’s airfare, hotel, meals, and other expenses. Of course, there will be circumstances where you will need to fly a candidate in, maybe for a leadership role. However, most candidates don’t need an all-day interviewing event before an employer can make a decision.
Supports diversity and Inclusion efforts
A big push for many companies is an emphasis on diversity and inclusion programs. Employers are diligently working towards fostering a more inclusive hiring process and working environment. Remote hiring can aid these efforts by eliminating hiring biases. Hiring professionals tend to gravitate towards candidates that mirror their own backgrounds. As a result, recruiters and hiring managers may overvalue hard skills instead of considering a candidate’s interpersonal or soft skills. With remote interviews, a candidate’s skills have the opportunity to speak for themselves instead of allowing unconscious biases from affecting a hiring decision.
Need to prepare for an upcoming remote interview?
So, these are just a few reasons why remote interviewing is here to stay long after the pandemic. If you are looking for resources to help you prepare for your upcoming virtual interview, you’ve come to the right place! Please take a look at our interviewing tips, tricks, and insights here. Good luck!
