Rethinking Interview Strategies part 1 – Video interviews

Which strategies and techniques should lab informatics hiring managers be using? In part 1 of this 2-part series, we’ll be examining how your interview strategy can identify the most promising candidates, and how video interviews could fit into your strategy.

When searching for a new hire, there is no shortage of interview styles that HR teams can employ to find the best fit. However, in any industry, it can be hard to figure out what methods you should use to find the most promising candidates, and this is certainly the case in lab informatics where required skillsets can be very specific and in short supply. With this in mind, it is important that hiring managers opt for an interview style and strategy that meets the needs of the business and brings in the best applicants.

In this 2-part series, we’ll examine two key interview styles that can bring real benefits to hiring managers working in the lab informatics sector – video interviews, and skills-based hiring.

Types of video interviews

Video interviews can be split into two types – asynchronous (one-sided) and synchronous (two-sided).

Most hiring managers and candidates will be familiar with synchronous video interviews, which involves hiring managers hosting a live interview with a candidate over a video platform such as Zoom or Teams. Synchronous interviews can be great for screening a large cohort of candidates over a short time frame, however it’s important that both candidates and hiring managers observe video best practice to ensure the interview runs as smoothly as possible (and we cover best practice in more detail below).

Asynchronous interviews comprise of a pre-recorded session, where a hiring manager or interviewer would prepare a series of questions for candidates to record and submit their responses to as a video. There are some limitations with this type of interview regarding the lack of human interaction, as some candidates may find this off-putting, and there is also little opportunity for candidates to ask questions and get a feel for the company. However, there is an abundance of benefits too. Asynchronous interviews can help to reduce stress for candidates who are nervous about interviewing, as candidates can have sight of the questions and prepare their responses ahead of time, and also re-record their responses if they aren’t happy with how the first take went. Asynchronous interviews can also benefit employers, as they can be a useful tool for employers to screen candidates early on in the process based on their responses to pre-set questions, before committing to full scale interview.

Preparing for video interviews

For employers taking the synchronous interview route, there are a few considerations and best practices to implement to ensure that the interview runs smoothly for both the interviewer and interviewee.

Prior to the interview, expectations need to be set so that the candidate can go into the interview fully prepared. For asynchronous interviews, this might include checking the candidate has access to everything, and is clear on the process to take when submitting their video responses. For synchronous interviews, it’s important that both candidate and interviewer follow these technical tips:

  • Check that internet connection is strong and uninterrupted.
  • Check camera, microphone, and speakers prior to interview to ensure all working as expected.
  • Ensure interview takes place in a quiet space free from distractions and background noise.
  • If the interview is being recorded, ensure that the candidate is made aware and consents to that from the start.
  • Speak slowly and clearly.

Lights, camera, interview – benefits of video interviews

In the years following the global lockdowns, video interviews have almost become the norm for many organisations, and with so many benefits for both candidate and hiring manager, it’s easy to see why.

Firstly, video interviews streamline the hiring process. They can be scheduled outside of working hours and at shorter notice, as they are much less time intensive to plan and schedule than in-person interviews. Not only does this benefit hiring managers, who have a better chance of finding the right candidate and making their decision quickly, but this also benefits candidates who don’t have to take time out to travel and attend an interview face to face. This also means that hiring managers have a better chance of engaging passive candidates, who may be open to new opportunities but not willing to make significant time commitments to job searching.

Another key benefit of video interviews is that they remove geographic constraints, which is especially important in lab informatics where a lot of the work can be done remotely. Video interviews allow hiring managers to engage with candidates based around the world, and in industries like lab informatics where teams are often rolling out projects in labs across continents, and not expected to be on-site full time anyway, it means that hiring managers aren’t limited to candidates who are based locally.

Will video interviews work for me?

For businesses struggling to source the right talent, or finding themselves losing promising candidates along their hiring process, video interviews can help to secure the right person for a role. From removing geographic constraints for candidates, to helping hiring managers find and secure talent quickly, we expect that video interviews will remain popular and continue to be a mainstay in employer’s hiring strategies. However, while video interviews are a useful tool in screening and interacting with candidates early on, face-to-face interviews are still important for both candidates and employers – as such, video interviews are a great way to complement your in-person interviews rather than replace them altogether.

In our next blog, we’ll be examining the benefits of another popular hiring strategy – skills-based hiring. Make sure to check our Insights page for updates!

For more insight on how to optimise your hiring strategy and successfully roll-out video interviews, contact us at https://32stripes.com/contact/

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