Are Virtual Interviews Effective in Healthcare?

In the age of technology, more and more businesses are conducting virtual interviews. This includes healthcare recruiting. There are pros and cons to this type of interviewing, and it’s important to weigh them both before deciding if healthcare virtual interviews are right for your organization. Additionally, it's important to explore if these interviews are enough to make an offer to a candidate or if they should be used as an initial candidate screening.

What Started the Virtual Interview Trend?

To truly understand whether healthcare virtual interviews are right for healthcare recruiting, it's important to first understand how they started. While you might initially think they began during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual interviews were being done prior to the pandemic in order for companies to be able to reach a wider pool of potential employees.

Companies across various industries began using virtual interviews as soon as video conferencing began mainstream. You could even argue that phone interviews are a form of virtual interviewing, as it allows for an initial screening of a candidate without the expense of having them come into the office.

However, virtual interviews are typically done via video conferencing more often than phone interviews now. This is due to the popularity of video conferencing applications like Zoom that allow companies to not only see their potential interviewee but also give them the opportunity to speak face-to-face.

The COVID-19 pandemic surely increased the usage of healthcare virtual interviews, since often there was no other option. Previously, most healthcare candidates were required to come into an office-based interview to be considered for a job. This was due to the need for in-person interactions and assessments of skills or qualifications to complete certain aspects of the position.

The question now is whether to continue this trend of healthcare virtual interviews or to return to in-person interviews in a post-pandemic healthcare environment.

Pros and Cons of Virtual Interviews in Healthcare

As with any interviewing practice, there are pros and cons that should be considered before deciding if healthcare virtual interviews are right for your organization. Each organization will have unique needs that may make the virtual format beneficial for some and not for others.

The primary benefit of virtual interviews is clear. Healthcare virtual interviewing can be a much faster process than traditional in-person interviews, and it allows organizations to reach a wide variety of candidates without incurring the cost of travel or scheduling difficulties that come with inviting everyone on site for an interview.

The variety of candidates also has the added benefit of reducing bias and increasing diversity among applicant pools. This is because virtual interviews allow hiring managers to expand their range of candidates and evaluate potential hires in a neutral environment.

However, there are some drawbacks associated with healthcare virtual interviews. One of the most significant cons is that it can be difficult for the interviewer to build a rapport with the candidate. In healthcare hiring, a good rapport between the interviewer and applicant is particularly important as it allows both parties to ensure they are a good fit for each other.

Additionally, virtual interviewing can also present challenges in assessing soft skills of candidates that are best observed during an in-person interview, such as communication style and professional behavior.

Pros of Virtual Interviews

1. Increased Flexibility
2. Cost-Effective
3. Easier Screening of Candidates
4. Increased Diversity
5. Increased Efficiency

Cons of Virtual Interviews

1. Loss of Personal Connection
2. Limit on Soft Skills Assessment
3. Technical Difficulties
4. Lack of Visual Cues
5. Potential Security Concerns

Ultimately, while healthcare virtual interviews have a number of pros and cons associated with them, they can be an effective recruiting tool when used properly. Hiring managers should make sure to assess the pros and cons of virtual interviewing carefully before making a decision, taking their needs and those of their organization into account. By doing this, they can ensure that they are making the best decision for both themselves and their organization.

Are Virtual Interviews Effective in Healthcare Recruiting?

When you weigh the pros and cons, you will find there are clear benefits of virtual interviews for the hiring team. However, that does not necessarily mean that the interviews are effective overall. Any new process implemented throughout the hiring process is likely to cause disturbance in workflows, and virtual interviews are no exception.

As you might expect, numerous studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of virtual interviews for recruiting. However, limited data is available on healthcare recruiting specifically. In one study, a majority of fellowship program directors said they would consider the use of virtual interviews. They found that the process was sufficiently effective for determining candidate eligibility and selection.

There is no easy answer to the question: are virtual interviews effective? Each healthcare organization must make their own decision regarding the best practices for their specific hiring needs. The key benefits of virtual interviews are that they allow both the recruiter and the candidate to save time and money associated with in-person interviews. However, that needs to be balanced with other aspects that determine if this is the right candidate for the position. The primary factor to consider is whether a healthcare virtual interview can provide an adequate assessment of a candidate's skills, experience, and personality traits.

Ultimately, healthcare hiring managers must decide if virtual interviews are the best option for their recruiting process. They should also consider how to maximize the potential of a healthcare virtual interview by utilizing technology and tools that are designed for remote interviewing, such as video conferencing solutions or online assessment tests. When done right, virtual interviews can provide an effective way to assess candidates efficiently.

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Top 5 Virtual Interviewing Tips for Healthcare Hiring Managers

Since this form of interviewing candidates is relatively new, here are some best-practice tips to help your healthcare virtual interviews run smoothly. Whether you have conducted them before or are just starting out, there are several points to keep in mind when interviewing someone using a virtual format.

1. Train Your Staff

To ensure your virtual interviews are effective, hiring managers should consider providing staff training. This will help to ensure that all members of the team are well-prepared and can make the most out of the virtual recruitment process.

2. Choose the Right Technology

Another key step for effective healthcare virtual interviews is to choose the right technology for your use case. When selecting a platform, be sure to consider features such as video quality, audio clarity, and security measures like encryption that are necessary for conducting secure interviews remotely.

3. Establish a Professional Environment

To make sure the interviewee feels comfortable and like they are being treated professionally, you should take measures to create a professional atmosphere. This includes ensuring there are no distractions, such as noise or another person in the room with you during the interview.

4. Pay Attention to Body Language

Since you can't rely on facial expressions and body language to gauge how the candidate feels, it's even more important to pay attention to voice tone and word choice. If something seems off, don't be afraid to ask for clarification.

5. Follow Up After the Interview

Just as you would after an in-person meeting, be sure to follow up with candidates who participated in a healthcare virtual interview. Thank them for their time, provide feedback, and let them know when they can expect to hear from you about next steps.

If needed, the candidate's next steps may include a follow-up interview, peer interview, or in-person visit to the facility. Just because they started out with a virtual interview, doesn't mean they can't move to an in-person interview. Ultimately, healthcare organizations are still responsible for making sure they are hiring the right candidate, and virtual interviewing is one of many tools available to assist in this process.

Healthcare recruiting teams need to weigh the pros and cons of virtual interviews when deciding whether or not it fits their needs. While healthcare virtual interviews are becoming increasingly popular, that doesn't mean they will work best for your company. Evaluating the cost, time, and effort involved versus the potential outcome are key to making an informed decision. Ultimately, are virtual interviews effective for healthcare recruiting? The answer lies in a close examination of your individual needs and the benefits that come with them.

Looking for more tips on healthcare recruiting? Visit the iHire Resource Center to gain insights into what candidates want, new trends in healthcare recruiting, and more.