• Employers can use free services or vendors to conduct online interviews.
• Virtual interviews won’t make sense for every situation.

Because recruiting and hiring has been impacted by new capabilities of online communications, employers are increasingly choosing to conduct interviews virtually. Any company can conduct an interview online using services like Skype or FaceTime, and in some cases, these services are replacing preliminary phone interviews and allowing recruiters to get a better overall feel for an applicant’s demeanor. However, these free services can involve problems, such as a faulty internet connection, which can make for a frustrating, or even incomplete, interview.

Free services aren’t the only way to conduct virtual interviews. Some employers use vendors to administer their online interactions. Though the fees for services deter some employers, the costs may be justifiable for organizations that would otherwise pay for applicants’ travel costs.

Online interview vendors offer some significant advantages over free services, including:

• Increased accessibility for applicants, which typically require less bandwidth than video chat;
• Opportunity for an unlimited number of participants;
• Ability to record and save conversations securely; and
• Round-the-clock access to technical support.

Instead of virtual interviews, some employers ask applicants to submit a one-way interview by addressing a list of scripted questions in a video profile. In place of a first-round interview, some companies find these profiles to be quite convenient. They not only ensure that the same questions are asked of all applicants, but typically eliminate scheduling issues.

Though one-way interviews give employers the convenience of multiple reviews by decision makers, not all employers are convinced. The profile familiarizes the employer with applicants, but doesn’t give applicants the opportunity to get to know the organization, which can be an important part of the hiring process.

Virtual interviewing won’t always make sense, but in many situations, companies can find savings in both time and money. Taking the time to evaluate the potential benefits, even if limited to specific positions, might result in a considerable return.