ESS Candidate Newsletter – APRIL 2020
Columbus, OH – APRIL 2020
In this month’s, ask the recruiter, we discuss best practices for video interviews.
Introduction – Aaron Wandtke
Positions Filled in the Last 30 Days
Ask the Recruiter – “What are best practices for Skype or Zoom interviews?”
Introduction:
Wow, what a difference a month can make! COVID19 has affected everyone. While we are not experts on medical care or the virus, we can tell you how it is affecting our business and the companies with which we work.
- March was our busiest month so far this year and we just completed our second best first quarter in company history.
- Companies have spent the last two weeks setting people up to work from home and/or have instituted a job sharing program so only a certain number of people are in the office each day.
- Companies are allowing people to start new jobs by working remotely.
- We do not have clear best practices on how companies are doing onboarding yet.
- Companies are doing Zoom interviews in place of scheduling on-site interviews.
- Because people are working remotely and have more flexibility, interview processes are moving faster.
- Companies have to fill certain critical openings.
We will continue to provide updates on best practices and share suggestions as we have them. If you need help with a process, or help filling a critical opening, please call. Our entire team is set up to work remotely and we are committed to filling openings in a timely manner.
Ask the Recruiter – “What are BEST PRACTICES FOR DOING A SKYPE OR ZOOM INTERVIEW?”
We have talked about this topic in previous newsletters but we believe this is a pressing topic for our current landscape. Every company is now using video conferencing to conduct interviews. Knowing this is new for both candidates and employers, let us review some suggestions on how to make the best impression possible.
- Create an account – Skype and Zoom have become the two most popular video interview platforms. Create an account prior to the day of the interview.
- Test – Although simple, each platform has various tools to use. At a minimum, be familiar where the mute button is located. With the number of people working from home, we have seen some internet speeds affected by having many family members sharing the same internet.
- Dress and Practice – This is a formal interview and you should treat it as such. Dress according to your research on how the company dresses. Also, practice a call so you can see how to manage eye contact. Instead of focusing on the computer screen, your eyes should focus on the camera. This is new for everyone and may be uncomfortable so practice with friends and family.
- Background audit – During the test, see what shows up in your background. Think about how the color of your background compliments what you are wearing. A white wall and a white shirt would not do well together. We encourage you to remove anything that may distract the interviewer from you, like large earrings.
- Preparation – Like a phone interview, you may have some notes that you can easily glance to in order to remind you off previous work projects. In addition, writing out questions and having them available is a sign the other interviewer of your preparation. Yes, it is okay to take notes while they answer your questions.
The video interview is now here to stay. Companies will continue to refine this process and use it moving forward so it is important for you to have game plan and strategy for these calls. If you need help or any additional suggestions, please let me know.
We want to help you get whatever job you are trying for. Many silly mistakes are avoidable with some preparation and awareness. If there is anything, we can do to help you not by a story in our newsletter. Please let us know
I can be reached at 614-885-8490 or by e-mail at aw@ess123.com.
