Virtual interviews are not really anything new, but they have become more common in recent years. Across all industries and employers, the virtual interview has become a staple of any company’s recruitment process. There are several reasons for this. The first is that the technology now exists to make them as seamless as possible. Think of the larger remote working trend and you clearly get an idea of how ubiquitous and essential virtual interviews and other forms of remote working have become.
That being said, even though the technology has advanced to the point of being highly effective, wieldy, versatile, and user-friendly, it’s quite remarkable how many potential pitfalls conducting a virtual interview has. Nevertheless, the upside here is that the technology has become good enough to mean that these pitfalls nearly always involve errors on the part of the user, not the technology.
This means that if you prepare for them accordingly, you can be pretty sure that your virtual interview will go off without a hitch. For that though you need to know about the technology and how it works. This is why, says healthcare jobs recruitment service, Health Jobs, all candidates graduating today should avail themselves of some basic IT skills.
Virtual Interviews and the Healthcare System
Healthcare is absolutely no stranger to communication technology advancements. In fact, it is more at the forefront of this technology than many other industries. Just think of telehealth, a relatively new concept in healthcare that sees patients being served remotely, whether that be counseling, doctor consultations, or prescription distribution. All this technology is very well known within healthcare and, almost certainly, you’re going to use remote communication technology at some point in your healthcare career – even if you never actually have a remote interview.
Another reason that you can probably expect a virtual interview is that moving across the country to take up a healthcare job is not uncommon; in fact, it’s the norm. At later stages of the long and complex application process, you will probably have to go on to attending a site visit but, for the initial stages, those potential recruiters in California will probably interview you from your flat in Pittsburgh via virtual interview.
Virtual Interview Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
What are these pitfalls then which, even now, are still fairly common?
Faulty Internet Connectivity
It is not hard to install working internet in almost any location. There are no dead spots in the country and all internet speeds typically used are fast enough to facilitate an interview. This means that any mistakes here can be prevented before the interview. Quite simply, test your internet ahead of the interview. Moreover, if you think you might have a hardware problem, then test it well before the interview or find another location if you are really in a pinch.
Confusion About the Platform
Whether you are using Skype, Zoom, WebX, or anything else, it’s important to get to grips with how the platform works before the interview begins. This means knowing what to click, how to enter the room, what virtual tools you might have to use, and how to properly set up your microphone and camera.
Unprofessional Physical Location
This doesn’t take too much preparation. Normally, there is nothing wrong with conducting the interview from your bedroom, but screaming children, family members chatting, or noise from the street outside are certain things you want to avoid.
These are the major pitfalls of conducting a virtual interview. The days when you could blame technology are over, so ensure that you properly prepare. The technology will do the rest.
