The Shift to Virtual Interviewing

Transcription

1 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing Results of GreenJobInterview s 2013 Survey of U.S. Employers Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel.

2 About the Survey In late May and early June of 2013, GreenJobInterview conducted a survey of U.S.-based employers regarding their use of virtual interviewing. A total of 249 individuals completed the survey, representing organizations from a wide range of industries including financial services, health care, manufacturing and education, as well as a variety of governmental agencies. The size of participants organizations varied widely, as well: Individuals completing the survey represented organizations from a wide range of industries including financial services, health care, manufacturing and education, as well as a variety of governmental agencies. Survey participants organization size ,000 1,001-5,000 5,001-10,000 10,001-25, ,000 5% 5% 10% 14% 15% 35% While the majority of participants work in Human Resources, other functional areas represented included Finance, Information Technology and Procurement. Fifteen percent of participants came from the ranks of senior management. The survey was conducted to gain insights into the reasons that employers are adopting virtual interviewing technology, the ways they are using it, their experiences, and their plans for the future. This is the first in an ongoing series of surveys about virtual interviews that GreenJobInterview intends to conduct. Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 1

3 Key Findings Virtual interviewing is growing in popularity organizations surveyed who have conducted virtual interviews excellent/good user experience plan to use virtual interviewing again 47% 65% 96% Virtual interviewing is gaining ground. When asked whether their organizations have ever conducted virtual/video interviewing (other than teleconferences), those who answered yes (47%) edged out those who said no (45%). The remaining indicated that their organizations are currently exploring the possibility of conducting virtual interviews. Most user experiences are rated highly. Among those who have used virtual interviewing technology, a combined 65% rated their experiences good or excellent. Twenty-eight percent called their experiences mediocre, and 7% said poor or very poor. Concerns about virtual interviews vary. Among those who haven t conducted virtual interviews, 37% said their primary reason for not trying the technology is that they have no need to learn about it; 33% are concerned about a loss of immediacy and in-person interaction; 7% are concerned about technical problems; 3% are concerned about costs; and 1% are concerned that virtual interviewing will be a bad experience for job candidates. Nineteen percent said they have other reasons. Many organizations plan to conduct more virtual interviews. Asked about their organizations plans for the upcoming 12 months, 66% of respondents said that they will likely conduct the same number of virtual interviews. A combined 30% said they plan to moderately or significantly increase their use of virtual/video interviews. And a total of 4% said that they plan to moderately or significantly decrease their use of virtual interviews. Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 2

4 Survey Questions & Responses Q1. How does your organization conduct job interviews? Check all that apply. One-third of respondents are now using virtual interviews a trend worth noting, as many employers hadn t even considered it just a few short years ago. In person 9 Telephone 77% Virtual/video interviewing 34% Teleconference 26% Clearly, the vast majority of respondents continue to rely heavily on in-person and telephonic interviews to meet job candidates. However, just over one-third are now using virtual/ video interviews as well a trend that is worth noting, as many employers had never even considered virtual interviewing just a few short years ago. Q2. Please estimate the total time you spend, on average, to set up and conduct a typical interview for a front-line to middle-management position. As reflected by these results, setting up and conducting interviews takes considerable time and effort for many employers. Larger organizations with several staff members devoted 4% 6 + hours recruiting and hiring may not feel the crunch of these efforts as much as mid-size and smaller organizations. 14% Even so, given HR s need to streamline 4 6 hours processes and reduce costs, hours interviewing job candidates is an area that could be further aided by virtual technologies. 44% 2 4 hours Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 3

5 Q3. What percentage of your initial job interviews are conducted in person? The percentage of employers investing in video interviewing rose 11% in 2013 as compared to Responses to this question were somewhat evenly spread out, likely indicating 0 12% 1 25% 26 50% 51 75% 76 99% 100% 12% 20% 12% 16% 25% 15% the diverse preferences and business cultures of the participants. It is worth noting that 12% of respondents said their organizations never conduct initial interviews in person, bolstering industry research that claims a growing number of employers are vetting job candidates through virtual tools and telephonic interviews before meeting them face-to-face. Q4. Has your organization ever conducted virtual/video interviews (excluding teleconferences)? Respondents were almost evenly divided in their answers. It will be interesting to note over time how these responses change, especially as employers continue to seek ways to streamline their interviewing/hiring processes and reduce related costs. As a recent report from Aberdeen Group states, video interviewing is one of the most powerful recruitment tools in place today. In fact, the research organization found that the percentage of employers investing in video interviewing rose 11% in 2013 as compared to According to the report, organizations are rapidly embracing video solutions to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and standardize the recruitment process. 45% NO No, but exploring possibilities. 47% YES Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 4

6 Video interviewing is being called one of the most powerful recruitment tools available today. Q5. If you answered yes to question 4, please rate your experience with virtual/video interviews. VERY POOR POOR 1% 6% 2 MEDIOCRE EXCELLENT 59% GOOD While the large majority of respondents have had good to excellent experiences with virtual/video interviewing, a significant percentage (2) reported mediocre experiences. We believe this percentage will decrease over time, as less reliable and less user-friendly virtual interviewing solutions are forced to discontinue their operations. We also believe that some of the mediocre and poorer experiences cited by respondents are due to the fact that they have chosen to work with virtual interviewing providers who offer the lowest price points a decision that may make financial sense (especially when trying a technology for the first time) but that also often exposes the employer to lowerquality solutions. Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 5

7 Q6. If you answered no to question 4, what is the primary reason you have not conducted virtual/video interviews? It seems that a substantial number of organizations have yet to tap into the cost-reductions and efficiency gains that virtual interviewing delivers. Haven t had a need to learn Concern about loss of immediacy and in-person interaction Concern about technical problems Concern about costs Concern it will be a bad experience for job candidates Other 37% 33% 7% 3% 1% 19% A little more than one-third of respondents indicated they haven t had any need to learn about virtual interviewing. We find this noteworthy because it seems to indicate that a substantial number of organizations have yet to tap into the costreductions and efficiency gains that virtual interviewing delivers. Another third of the respondents cited concern over loss of immediacy and inperson interaction as the main reason they haven t adopted virtual interviewing. However, our experience and the experiences of our clients have shown that live virtual interviewing maintains high levels of interaction and immediacy. Although nothing can replace the immediacy of in-person interviews, employers such as InterContinental Hotels Group have praised virtual interviewing for allowing them to retain a tangible level of personal contact even though the interviewers and job candidates aren t in the same physical location. As Aberdeen has reported, live video interviews, unlike recorded interviews, provide greater levels of engagement and interaction and even allow recruiters and hiring managers to go off script, asking questions in a more spontaneous manner. Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 6

8 Q7: If your organization does conduct virtual/video interviews, what is the primary reason you began using them? 92% of respondents cited various gains in efficiency and time/ cost savings as their primary motivations for conducting virtual interviews. To improve overall interviewing efficiency and save time 36% To reduce costs To narrow down candidates for an in-person interview To replace telephone interviewing/screening To improve high-volume interviewing/hiring 2 2 7% 1% It s not surprising that a combined 92% of those responding to this question cited various gains in efficiency and time and cost savings as their primary motivations for conducting virtual interviews. What is somewhat surprising is that just 7% are using virtual interviewing to replace telephone interviewing/ screening. Again, it will be interesting to see whether and how this statistic changes over time. Question 8: Within the next 12 months, your organization will most likely: Conduct the same number of virtual/video interviews 66% Moderately increase use of virtual/video interviews Significantly increase use of virtual/video interviews Moderately decrease use of virtual/video interviews Significantly decrease use of virtual/video interviews 22% 2% 2% While two-thirds of respondents stated that they will likely conduct the same number of virtual interviews over the next year, a striking 30% will be conducting moderately or significantly more virtual interviews. Only a total of 4% of respondents plan to decrease their virtual interviewing. Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 7

9 Summary As the results of this survey show, employers plan to continue their adoption and use of virtual interviewing technologies, despite concerns about loss of immediacy, the quality of their interactions with candidates, and technical glitches that might arise. Indeed, employers are enthusiastically embracing virtual interviewing thanks to a host of benefits it provides. These benefits include cost savings, reduced timeto-hire, elimination of travel, better access to larger talent pools, improvements in HR s performance and processes, and stronger employment branding, among others. Virtual interviewing is a powerful tool for helping employers meet and secure the best possible talent. Every organization s performance and growth are directly tied to the quality of its talent, and virtual interviewing is a powerful tool for helping employers meet and secure the best possible talent. About GreenJobInterview GreenJobInterview provides cloud-based virtual interviewing solutions that help employers dramatically reduce the time and costs associated with scheduling and conducting interviews. Our robust and easy-to-use live, recorded and mobile solutions also enable organizations to reach a global talent pool, strengthen their employment brand and reduce their environmental impact. More than 300 of the world s leading organizations (including Walmart, PepsiCo, UCLA and Mayo Clinic) have chosen GreenJobInterview, and we continue to gain recognition for developing technology that literally transforms the recruitment process for employers and job seekers alike. Better Interviews. Faster Hiring. Less Travel. July 2013 The Shift to Virtual Interviewing 8