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How You Can Prepare Yourself for the World of Remote Hiring; Nailing the Virtual Interview.

Once thought of as the way of the future, the virtual world has well and truly arrived in the world of recruitment. One of the many new realities for business, the hiring process has largely moved to a remote-first policy for onboarding new talent.

The global fight to ‘stop the spread’ of COVID and keep case numbers at bay has turbocharged emerging trends from digital adoption to workplace flexibility. The rise of flexible work practices and remote hiring is here to stay. The benefits of having access, speed, and ease are unrivalled, but you need to do your bit to ace this relatively new process.

The Statistics you Need to Know.

Global survey experts have shown that leadership teams are likely to allow remote working, including hiring processes, to continue post-pandemic.

• 80% of company leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time post-pandemic.
• 80% of full-time workers expect to work from home at least three times per week.
• 47% of leaders will allow employees to work from home full-time.
• 74% of leaders intend to shift at least 5% of their on-site workforce to permanently remote positions.
• 60% of workers believe a hybrid working model with a mix of remote and on-site work will be most productive going forward.

For professionals looking for new career opportunities, this means getting comfortable competing for positions in a remote-first world, particularly in the interview process. Read on to find out how you can put your best foot forward and stand out during a virtual interview.

Trust in the Process; Take Charge of Your Preparation.

Setting up your space:

Find a spot that is simple and free of distractions, ensuring the recruiter's attention is on you. You can even choose a simple virtual background instead of propping yourself in front of a busy wall. Studies have shown unconscious biases were less likely to affect the decision-making process when candidates had a clean backdrop.

• Check your lighting.
• Check your internet connection.

Prepare for the unpredictable:

Despite the familiar setting of your home, you might still face some unexpected situations. Become an expert on navigating the software your hiring company has chosen for your interview. In nearly half of the interviews we studied, technology caused unforeseen breakdowns.

• Keep notes handy, only referring to them as prompts.
• If you feel stressed or overwhelmed, it’s okay to ask your recruiter for a moment to gather yourself. We’re all human.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Picking up important cues from facial expressions, gestures, body language, or tone comes far easier face-to-face. However, in virtual meetings, some of the intangibles are often lost and nerves can kick into high gear. When we’re feeling nervous, we tend to speak at a faster tempo.

• Use a speech-to-text converter to practice and measure tempo.
• Use appropriate hand gestures to emphasise specific points and convey meaning.
• Look into your webcam, not at your reflection - turn off video mirroring so you’re not tempted to look at yourself while you speak.

Spark conversation: 

One of the main challenges during a virtual interview will be keeping the conversation lively. Showing genuine interest in the interviewer, the role, and the organisation is best achieved by asking pre-prepared questions. Avoid any questions you can easily find answers to on the hiring companies websites or online profiles.

• Converse with the recruiter in a natural, candid way.
• Find common interests - do some pre-work to see if you and your interviewer share any interests.
• Ask questions about the kind of technology you’ll have access to when working remotely.

Working With Concentis; Getting Interview Ready.

For better or worse, remote hiring is here to stay. While there are many undeniable benefits to this, interviewees and hiring managers need to do their bit to reap the rewards. Whether you are a client wanting to access the best in the field, or you are an industry professional looking for a leading role with your company of choice, there are many benefits to being part of the Concentis family.

Our unique ability to identify and evaluate great project management talent sets us apart. Combined with our vast talent network, we ensure we match quality candidates with quality roles, consistently delivering on client success.

Sourcing and assigning resourcing industry professionals into specialist roles, we elevate existing capabilities to help you deliver projects safely, on time and on budget.

To get in touch, call us on 07 3607 6305 or email us at hello@concentis.com.au