With so many companies now making the leap into virtual recruiting, recruiters have been thrown into a whole new way of working. Virtual recruiting isn’t anything new, but with more recruiting being done online than ever before, you’re bound to be making some mistakes. Here are some of the mistakes you’re making in virtual recruitment, and how you can avoid them.
1. Using The Wrong Tools
In virtual recruitment, you’ve had to start using a whole new set of tools in your recruitment system. Of course, at first you would have been using just what was available to you. That meant you were using popular video chat software like Zoom, which was easy to get set up and working.
Now though, you’ll have seen the limitations that these platforms have. They’re not designed for recruitment, and so they aren’t really the best tools to be using. If you’re still relying on them, then you’ll want to make the switch to a virtual recruiting platform. These are designed with you in mind, so you can deliver virtual recruitment events, interview candidates and get insights all on the same platform. They’ll also offer some automation too, which makes the whole process easier.
2. Not Doing Enough Planning
Just like in face to face recruitment, you need to be planning ahead. You need to know what you’re looking for when you start recruiting, and have a plan to get the right person on board. As you’re recruiting virtually, it’s very easy to keep notes and plan on your desk out of shot when interviewing, so you can stay on track.
‘At the start of the day, know how many candidates you’ll be recruiting, and have their details to hand’ says HR manager Caroline Austwick, from Paper Fellows and Write My Paper. ‘It’s also a good idea to have a list of questions to ask each candidate, so you can keep the interview on schedule.
3. Not Picking Up On Non Verbal Cues
Many feel that it’s harder to recruit someone virtually, as you can’t meet the candidates directly. It is true that it’s harder to pick up on body language, but you absolutely can still do it. You just need to know what you’re looking for, and pay attention as you’re speaking to them.
You need to know that the candidate is enthusiastic about the role that you’re looking to fill. Do they look excited about the job role? Are they able to express what their achievements are and what they can bring to your company?
You can record virtual interviews, and watch them back. That allows you to watch the candidate closely, and get a better idea of who they are and whether they’d fit in with your organisation.
4. Not Communicating Efficiently
Communication during all interviews is key, but it’s especially important during virtual screenings. In person, you’ll have people waiting in a waiting room, so everyone is together and you can start an interview as soon as everyone is ready. You can’t do this virtually, so you need to communicate well to your candidate.
Be clear about what time and date you’ll want to speak with them, and send this in an email so they have it in writing. ‘It’s a very good idea to send a follow up email the day before’ says writer Daniel Santoro from State Of Writing and Essayroo. ‘That helps remind them what time they need to be online, which is helpful when they may have other virtual interviews happening as well.’
5. Not Following Up
Finally, once you’ve conducted the interview with your candidate, make sure you’re following up with them afterwards. You want them to see that you’re still interested in them as a candidate, and to keep them engaged with the recruitment process. Use the tools you have to send feedback, and update them on whether they’ve been selected for the next stage.
There are a lot of ways to slip up when recruiting remotely. Luckily, there are easy ways to avoid these mistakes and do everything smoothly. Avoid these common virtual recruitment mistakes, and you’ll be able to get the right person for the job.
Emily Henry is a writer with Essay Services and Academized, where she writes about recruitment. She also is a tutor at OX Essays.
