REMOTE CHANCE OF HIRING? 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTING VIDEO INTERVIEWS IN CHINA

The uncertainty in the current world of work is posing a challenge to established hiring practices, particularly interviewing potential candidates for a new role in China. Many employers interviewing over the coming months may be doing so over video for the first time.

To support employers who are hiring remotely while still employing their key workers, Jackie Mordue, Regional Managing Director at recruiting experts, Hays, shares five tips she considers most important to conducting a successful video interview and landing the right candidate for the role.

1. Decide on the platform

According to Jackie, deciding on the right platform is crucial. “There are a number of options open to you including Skype, BlueJeans, FaceTime and GoToMeeting. Consider, however, that not all candidates will have access to certain tools, so make sure to come to a mutual agreement on which platform you will use and that both parties have all necessary details and software beforehand.”

“It’s possible that there will be more than one decision maker present which also adds a level of complexity to a video interview. Being clear on the arrangement of the interview in advance will put candidates at ease and ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.”

2. Prepare, prepare, prepare

“Although it is different carrying out an interview via video, technically no other part of the interview should change”, Jackie says. “It will benefit both parties if the style and format resembles a physical interview, so come with pre-prepared interview questions including a mix of technical and behavioural questions.”

Jackie adds that “part of your preparation should also be to counteract any technical difficulties by doing a test run of the software and ensuring all appliances are fully charged.”

3. Reflect your company culture

“An interview is a crucial opportunity for a candidate to gain insight into a company’s organisational culture, so it’s in your interest as an employer to convey this over video”, according to Jackie.

“Without coming into the office or meeting colleagues, it can be hard for a candidate to get a feel for what it might be like to work at your organisation. Get past this by thinking about your company’s value proposition and culture. If you have facts and figures which paint your company in a good light, get these across. Make sure to give the candidate an opportunity to ask questions about this too”, Jackie advises.

4. Don’t neglect your notetaking

Jackie reminds employers not to forget to take notes on your interviewee just because you’re interviewing via video. “Notetaking is really important during an interview, but do try not to let this diminish your engagement with a candidate”, Jackie warns. “Bear in mind that communication can be slightly less natural over video, but try to take note of how your candidate comes across over camera in terms of their body language, tone of voice and level of engagement.”

5. Take time to review

“These notes will come in handy after the interview when you need to review what might be multiple candidates. It’s also helpful to have something to refer to when feeding back to your recruitment consultant to let them know how it went”, says Jackie.

Jackie reminds employers that “it is inevitable amid ongoing external challenges that video interviews will become more commonplace, so remembering these tips will be useful to guarantee a smooth interview and successful hire.”