4 Video Interviewing Etiquette Tips for Hiring Managers

4 Video Interviewing Etiquette Tips for Hiring ManagersWith unemployment hovering around 8.2 percent and the market flooded with applicants, it becomes easy to ignore interview etiquette. Hiring managers arent disregarding the advice of Miss Manners on purpose the problem is they are mora stressed and busy than ever before. A packed schedule, however, is no excuse for ignoring proper video interview etiquette.The war for talent is still raging, and even though there are more candidates in the marketplace, doesnt mean all candidates are created equally. You need to be impressed by your candidate in a video interview, but they should also be impressed with you and your company. If theyre not, your company will miss out on the top talent they need to succeed in todays idea-driven economy.As a hiring manager or recruiter, you represent the first insight into your company and its culture. Therefore, you need to be positively representing your workplace. Here are a few simple etiquette ti ps for video interviews which will keep candidates on the edge of their seats hoping for a job offerCheck your connectionThe most important preliminary step you need to take before your live video interview is to check your internet connection to make aya its not lagging. Its tough to have a stellar video interview if youre on a faulty connection. Keep in mind you are the person who invited the candidate to this video interview, and therefore there should be no technical kinks from your end. Before conducting the interview, double-check your Internet connection and maybe even perform a test interview with a coworker to make sure everything is working smoothly.Find the correct webcam placementDepending on what kind of computer youre using, you may need to adjust your web camera settings. Its important for the candidate to be able to see your face. After all, you want your live video interview to approximate the experience of meeting in-person. Its important both parties can see each other for better communication, both verbal and nonverbal. Since non-verbal accounts for a full 55 percent of all communication, you need to see and be seen. Conversely, make sure to position your webcam so your face is visible but not overwhelming the whole screen. You might be ready for your close-up, but candidates would prefer to see you at a professional distance.Staging is importantA vital piece of video interview advice given to all job seekers is to pay attention to staging. As a hiring manager, if you see a candidates pile of dirty laundry in the corner of their otherwise excellent video resume it will make a negative impression. The same, however, is true for you. Candidates are evaluating your company based on their research and the scant information they can glean from their video interview.Make sure to choose a clean, professional background to perform your interview. Your desk might be a mess because youre swamped, but if it ends up in frame itll look like youre disorg anized instead of busy. Take some time to clean out your interviewing space and focus on making sure you have the correct lighting. You want the image you present to top talent to be poised and professionalnot chaotic.Be presentThe most important tip of all is to be present in your video interview. Its easy to fall into the trap of assuming a candidate wont notice when your attention has wandered because they arent sitting in the chair across from you. But candidates know when you arent listening and nothing will leave a worse impression on top talent.Even if youre the busiest person in the company, the video interview is not the time to surreptitiously check your email or glance at your phone. You might not think a candidate will notice because of the video format, but be assured theyve made a mental note of your drifting attention span. The best way to combat this is to be 100 percent present during your video interview. Make plenty of eye contact and ask thoughtful, relevant fol low-up questions. This way, when youve found a great candidate, youre already well on your way to building a positive relationship.There might be more talent entering the applicant pool than ever before, but you still need to meaningfully engage in the interview to secure the best. Remember the interview is the first glimpse of the company most candidates will get. You want this to be a positive experience that will leave them wanting more.What are some more video interview etiquette tips for hiring managers? Share in the comments