Have that person verify that your lighting is adequate without causing glare, that all parties in the room can be heard while speaking at a reasonable volume, and that everyone can be seen on camera. In addition, ask a colleague or friend to do a test call with you.
Skipping video and fading volume can frustrate both parties.
It is also critical for you to test and experiment with your equipment prior to the interview to make sure that audio and video work properly, and so that you know how to troubleshoot when something goes wrong.
It also helps both parties understand what one another is saying, particularly if anyone has an accent or speech impairment. For example, the visual element can help advance the conversation more naturally than a phone conversation between relative strangers. This method offers many benefits both to interviewers and candidates.
Many other libraries have turned to online video conferencing software such as Skype to replace audio-only interviews when making first contact with candidates. Several of them presented so well, further clarifying details of their résumés and cover letters, that we decided to invite them for an on-site interview. The extra time spent on this process was well worth it.
This candidate’s experience was impressive, but the discourteous behavior was off-putting and, more importantly, prevented the person from adequately responding to our questions.ĭuring that same interview process, we also had a list of candidates whose application materials were not a perfect match for our position, but since the online interview process is easy and free, we decided to give them a first look. Our initial enthusiasm turned into disappointment. Within the first few minutes of the conversation, the candidate began ignoring us to speak with someone else in the room. The person on screen was wearing a bathrobe and appeared to have just emerged from bed. Filled with hope, we initiated the call, but as soon as the candidate appeared onscreen, our positivity began fading. A prospective new colleague submitted a superb application and possessed useful qualifications far beyond what the position required. Our search committee gathered in a conference room anxiously awaiting the start of the online interview with our first candidate.