What Is Remote Interviews & Its Importance

Duration: 6-8 minutes

Remote Interviews are included in the range of interviews taken virtually; usually this process occurs through video conferencing or from telephone calls. They make it more convenient for the interviewee, are flexible to the interviewee''s time, and are economical.

Table of Content

• What is a Remote Interview?
• Why Remote Interviews are Preferred?
• Let''s Dive Into the Process of the Remote Interview.
• Types of Remote Interview We Should Generally Know
• Points to Remember When Providing a Remote Interview
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a Remote Interview?

Do you still remember how difficult, time-consuming, and costly a job it was when we had to manually go from office to office with our resumes in our hands to give an interview?

But today, we can give as many interviews as possible just with our desktop from the comfort of our home. These kinds of interviews can be termed as remote interviews.

A remote interview is the technique by which an employer connects with a candidate over the phone through conferencing, to ask questions based on several criteria for hiring. The generally accepted premise is that he or she would prefer a remote interview when the interviewee and interviewer are in separate localities.

Although the idea of remote jobs had been a trend since the early 2000s, it reached 59% growth in 2010 and peaked during the COVID Pandemic. The world stopped but job hunting never paused. People started to apply for a remote job and were selected through a remote interview.

Why Remote Interviews are Preferred?

Nine out of ten companies indicate that they prefer virtual interviews more than face-to-face interviews. But why? Here are some reasons why remote interviews are preferred:

• Comfort: Who, after all, doesn''t want comfort? When everything is available in our hands, and that too in a very reasonable amount of time, then why ever shall a person opt for such a rigorous process? For that reason, remote interviews are preferred by both the employer and the applicant.
• Availability: Everybody is always available on their mobile phones, laptops, and almost everybody has good internet connectivity. This makes this point justified that the candidates and interviewer be present throughout and there is a very slim possibility to remain absent.
• Flexibility: More the use of technology, more is flexibility! It is flexible in a way that a remote interview can be taken at any place regardless of wherever the location may be. It saves time, money, and effort for both the organization and the applicant.

Let''s Dive Into the Process of the Remote Interview

The process of a remote interview:

1. The interviewer posts a job description, so the HR needs to fill in details about the requirements in this very step.
2. Once all the applications are received the recruitment starts.
3. In the next step, the suitable candidates are filtered out of the applicant pool, and they are contacted to inform about the further process.
4. This leads the way to communicate with the applicant through the process of remote interview. This could be through video conferencing using varied platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Skype or on telephones.
5. The final candidate is selected, and they are put on board.

Types of Remote Interviews We Should Be Aware Of

There are two types of Remote Interviews:

• Telephonic Interview: It is a kind of remote interview process where the interviewer conducts the interview procedure on call. It is one of the most convenient ways of getting to know about the candidate and smoothing out the complex interview procedure. Few companies even go for a pre-recorded question interview process.
• Video Conferencing: Video conferencing is an online two-way live interview process, whereby the interview is conducted through live video conferencing platforms, such as Skype, Google Meet, and Teams. It is slightly different from the telephonic interview in that it offers the experience of face-to-face interviews.

Points to Remember When Providing a Remote Interview

• Ensure that there is a good internet connection, and check on all the technical aspects to avoid a glitch.
• Put a smile on your face so that your interviewer finds no reason to hesitate for a good start.
• Always greet the interviewee and inquire about their day.
• During the interview, wear a microphone to have your voice clear and audible.
• Put in a reminder before the set call/interview.

Conclusion

Millions of factors pave the ground for a successful and peaceful career in an organization, which devices do we have to make our presence somewhere it felt.

According to Gartner report, 86% of organizations conducted the virtual interview for hiring the official people during the coronavirus pandemic.

This shows how an extreme job like taking an interview in person turned into just a simplified task.

As we come towards the end of this very knowledgeable and insightful write-up, I hope that we helped you make your HR experience better the next time. Now you can confidently take on the remote interviews'' responsibilities.

We''ll keep bringing more in for you! Till then keep reading, keep thinking, and keep HRing!