How to hire someone you've never met in person (Virtual hiring)

by Saheem P May 18, 2023

Hiring someone you've never met in person can be quite difficult, especially when you are not familiar with the right tools and technology. With the rise of remote work, hiring is done virtually with the help of virtual interview platforms.

In this article, we will have a look at what Virtual Recruitment is and the 5 steps to hiring effectively.

What is Virtual Recruitment and Hiring

According to research, due to COVID-19, there has been a 135% rise in remote job offerings.

Also, according to Yello, Virtual recruitment has become the most used method in the hiring process.

Virtual hiring is a process that takes place online and involves interviews between candidates and recruiters. It is a streamlined process to evaluate candidates based on their skills.

Best Practices for Successful Virtual Hiring

From clear communication to a streamlined process, here are some of the best practices for successful Virtual Hiring:

1. Communicate clearly

2. Streamline the process with ATS & virtual assessment tools

3. Master video interviewing skills

4. Train managers for virtual hiring

5. Follow up for a good hiring experience

Virtual Hiring Process- 5 Steps to hire effectively

1. Determine the hiring needs of your organization and the roles that need to be filled

Before getting to virtual recruitment you need to analyze the requirements and what positions are to be filled. Understand the criteria such as soft skills or technical skills needed for the job role.

This leads to a tailored experience that helps to close open positions quickly. According to Builtin.com, when the job recruitment process is optimized, the hiring cycle can be shortened by 60% while quality is improved.

Also, make sure to include clear roles and responsibilities to attract the right candidates.

2. Post virtual job openings on job boards and the company's website

After you have analyzed the requirements, create job descriptions and post job openings online. Use career sites that have candidates looking for jobs.

Leverage the company's website and social media to post jobs and attract suitable candidates. This also helps build an employer brand which can provide added benefits to your organization.

Also, make sure to optimize them for search engines by including relevant keywords in your job descriptions.

3. For each job opening, review and screen resumes and applications

Typically, 250 resumes are received for each job posting. Interviews will be conducted with 4-6 candidates out of those six. Yes, screening resumes take a lot of time and can be quite frustrating.

However, video interviewing tools help you streamline the entire process and get qualified candidates quickly.

Such tools can help you filter out unqualified candidates and identify the most qualified candidates. While screening resumes recruiters must look for skills and check if they match the keywords in the job description.

4. Schedule and conduct virtual interviews via video interview platforms

According to SHRM, automation or artificial intelligence is used by HR professionals in interviews (69%), in reviewing resumes (64%), and in automating searches (52%).

Video interviewing tools also help you quickly schedule interviews and conduct multiple rounds of interviews. You can also take assessments if you are looking to close technical positions. With such tools, you can quickly conduct virtual assessments and skills tests to evaluate candidates.

5. Make a job offer and negotiate terms

Now you can give offers to selected candidates and negotiate the terms. You can conduct the final interview round online through virtual interview platforms.

Consider having a good onboarding experience for new employees. Onboard and train the new hire virtually with digital tools and resources.

According to Glassdoor, new hire retention can be improved by 82% and productivity by over 70% with a great onboarding process. So start leveraging the virtual platforms to communicate clearly and effectively.

Also Read-

5 Uses of Recorded Video Interviews for Recruiters and Hiring Managers (tacnique.com)

12 Best Video Interviewing Platforms For Virtual Interviews [2023] (tacnique.com)

Final thoughts

In conclusion, Virtual hiring can be an effective way to streamline the entire process and onboard skilled candidates. Such platforms also provide added benefits such as streamlined processes and the elimination of hiring bias.

Remember to communicate clearly and master skills such as providing great job descriptions and mastering video interviewing skills.