Best Process & Questions for Remote Candidate Interviews
4 min readThe nature of work is changing, and there is no doubt about that. One of the biggest changes in the workplace is the accelerated pace at which companies are embracing a remote work model. According to Deloitte, 55% of executives expect at least 50% of the workforce to be working remotely shortly, with almost 15% placing the number closer to 75%.
Workers, too, seem to be embracing remote work. The Society for Human Resources Management reports that 52% of all workers would prefer to remain working at least part-time remotely — and 21% of those workers say they would take a pay cut to make that happen.
With the rise of remote work, companies need to consider how this impacts the interview process, especially when seeking remote employees. While 86% of job interviews were done remotely during the pandemic, the sudden transition did not allow companies to fully develop clear processes for these virtual interviews.
This article will look at how you can make remote interviews part of your application process using eSkill’s industry-leading Talent Assessment Platform. Using video response questions, you can build interview questions into your normal skills tests. We will also look at some of the best interview questions for remote workers, so you can get the information you need to make the best hire.
How You Can Add Video Response Questions to Skills Tests Using eSkill
When you use eSkill for your skills testing needs, you can access more than just the 800+ pre-made skills tests in their library. eSkill’s biggest value is the ability to customize your skills tests, so you can tailor your tests to focus on finding candidates with the best JobFit for your open positions.
Creating skills tests using eSkill is easy. For instance, you can combine two existing tests, like Quantitative Analysis and Adobe InDesign, to create your customized test. Or you can pick individual questions from eSkill’s bank of more than 1,600 validated questions to make your skills test as precise as possible.
Another option for increased flexibility is the ability to include video response questions. These questions allow candidates to record answers to your questions, giving you valuable insight into aspects of each candidate that might be more difficult to assess otherwise. These aspects include communication skills, verbal reasoning abilities, and the chance to learn more about the candidate’s personality.
Benefits of Using Video Response Questions in Your Remote Interview Process
With video response questions, you can build interview questions for remote workers into your application process, saving both you and the candidate a great deal of time. These questions are much less stress-inducing for candidates than a live interview, making them more likely to perform well. This incentive is emphasized when you clarify that these questions are part of the interview process.
The real benefits are for employers. Because video response questions are recorded, you do not have to gather the entire hiring team together in a single place to host the interview. Instead, each team member can view the response on their own time, providing their score.
You also do not have to view every video response answer. You can quickly eliminate many candidates based on the rest of their skills test, indicating which applicants lack the basic skills necessary to succeed. You can then view the remaining candidate videos, taking the time you need to make a careful assessment.
The Best Interview Questions to Ask Candidates
When you are using video response questions as part of your remote interview process, it is important to take the time to ensure you are asking the right questions. But what are the best interview questions to ask candidates during a remote interview?
It is important to balance thoroughness with the total number of questions. You want to find out about a candidate, but you need to avoid overwhelming them, which may lead them to abandon the test. Some good questions you can include in your remote interview process include:
- What attracted you to this position?
- Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
- What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?
- Can you describe your greatest work-related triumph?
- When working as part of a team, can you describe the role you normally play?
These are only some of the questions you can ask candidates. Remember, your goal is to learn as much as you can in only a few questions, so ask highly relevant, high-yield questions that allow the candidate to show their personality and skills.
Interested in Finding Out How Video Response Questions Can Help You Interview Remote Candidates?
Learn how eSkill’s Talent Assessment Platform gives you an edge over your competitors when looking for the best JobFit. Request a demo today.