11.1: Virtual Interviews- the New Normal?

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In chapter five, we identified a variety of interview types you may experience when seeking employment. A virtual interview is one of them. Virtual interviews are conducted via videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or FaceTime. As early as 2011, hiring managers began to utilize videoconferencing to conduct interviews with candidates who did not reside locally, saving organizations and candidates time and money.(18)

Today, virtual interviews are almost as ubiquitous as face-to-face interviews. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2019, virtual meetings and interviews became a promising practice for staying connected to colleagues and hiring employees. Organizations had to quickly pivot and increase the use of virtual tools in order to keep their current and potential employees and clients safe.

Virtual interviews can also be more convenient for employers and interviewees by saving money and travel time, expanding the candidate pool (no geographical restrictions), and minimizing scheduling conflicts. While there are drawbacks to virtual interviewing, it is now considered the safest and fastest way to conduct business in the era of COVID-19.(19) Embracing virtual interviewing can help enhance and ensure that the appropriate talent is hired and the well-being and safety needs of all parties involved are taken into consideration.