How can you hire a new employee without ever meeting them in person?
We live in an age where technology is everything. Now, employers have the option of use video interviews as a way to see if the candidate has what they’re looking for rather than having them at the office for an in-person interview. It also allows an employer the opportunity not to hire someone who would be a bad fit for their company based on how they present themselves in this type of interview.
The best part about video interviewing is that it is free! You don’t need any special equipment or software because most smartphones come with this functionality built-in already! All you’ll need are two devices and some time set aside.
Many companies are now hiring employees that they have never met in person because remote jobs are on the rise. Is it safe to hire employees you’ve never met? Yes! Here are some tips on how to hire virtually, successfully!
Meet the Candidate via Video
Now we are all familiar with platforms like Zoom and Webex for video conferences with employees, but this is also a great way to meet candidates face-to-face. When interviewing virtually, you can hear how the person expresses themselves and see if they are professional over Zoom.
Are they dressed professionally? Are they sitting up or lying down? Even though you cannot meet them in person, going on Zoom can help you put a face to the name and know who they are a little better.
Another reason why Zoom calls are essential, compared to hiring someone over the phone, is it shows how serious they are about the position. When a candidate gets a job offer without ever meeting anyone in the company, they may be more inclined to turn down the offer. When you hop on Zoom, they will be able to see who you are and vice-versa. When a candidate meets you, they are more likely to accept the job offer because they will picture themselves working there with you as a manager.
Bonus Tips: Before doing an initial Zoom call, ask the candidate to send you their resume. You may already have their resume, but you should ask for it again to see if they forget to send it to you. If they forget, it shows that the candidate may be forgetful, unorganized, or not serious about the hiring process.
If they can’t follow a simple task like sending a resume before an interview, they may not be the best candidate for you to hire. Candidates who do remember to send their resumes over to you are usually eager to start work and are highly organized and professional.
Lastly, make sure their resume is well-written. A well-written resume includes contact information, education, and experience. For more tips about what to look for in a resume, check out our article on “What to look for in a Resume.”
Have the Candidate Meet the Team
After meeting a candidate over Zoom for yourself for the first interview, make sure the candidate gets to meet the team. Set up another Zoom call after the initial interview with 2 or 3 team members from your team that they will be working with. This is a great way to see how they will interact with their future team members.
You want to make sure that the candidate fits your company’s culture before you hire them.
There is no need to add more than 2 to 3 individuals to the Zoom call because that may be difficult to control, and it will be intimidating to the candidate. You only need a few team members to meet the candidate to see how they work together.
Meeting the team will help them understand your companies work culture, resulting in great employee retention.
Bonus Tip: As you gain more employees that are not in your physical location, it is important to have a meeting just for them. This will help with increasing morale and experiences. If they have questions, these meetings are crucial for them to get the answers they need.
Pairing the Candidate with an Employee on Their Team
We know many companies are not going back to the office for a while, including some larger companies moving to fully remote forever. Newly hired remote employees may have difficulties adjusting to working from home without fellow employees being there to help with any questions. This is why it is a good idea to pair up a new hire with another employee.
Pairing your newly hired candidate with a fellow employee will give the newly hired employee access to another resource for them to succeed. Doing this will also help the candidate feel as if they are a part of the team! It is also good to give your number (as a boss) to them for any questions. However, pairing them up with an employee rather than their boss will be more beneficial because it may be intimidating to ask questions to a boss rather than a co-worker.
As a boss, it is important to make sure that you are available for your new hire when they need questions answered. Keeping in contact with them will also help you know how they feel about the position, resulting in higher employee retention.
If you are hiring virtually, do not forget to follow these tips. Following these will help you to hire the best employee possible.
We hope this article has been insightful and helpful! Now that you know more about hiring top talent for your company, you are well on your way! Remember, be honest about what you expect from employees so that there are no surprises later on down the road.
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article. If you have any questions about hiring an employee virtually or want to know more about how we can help with your hiring process, feel free to reach out anytime!
Remember: There is no need to worry about hiring someone without meeting them in person. We would love to help you find top talent in your area! Contact us at 401.331.2311!
