“There’s a better way to do it. Find it” – Thomas Edison

In healthcare video interviewing of candidates is becoming increasingly popular – both with Skype accounts and the adoption of specialist video interviewing software.

Companies such as Bupa, Care UK, Age UK, and the NHS Leadership Academy are all early adopters of specialist video software, whilst a large number of hospital trusts also regularly use Skype to interview international candidates. But what are the pros and cons of video interviewing?

Pros of Video Interviewing

• It provides significant opportunities to save on travel costs for long-distance candidates
• It can be a lot more convenient for candidates because they don’t have to commute to a physical location which costs them time and money. Many applicants are now able to complete an interview on their smartphone
• Video interviewing is often low cost or no cost upfront so your return on investment is safeguarded
• The immediacy of technology can speed up the recruiting process meaning you can fill your vacancies more quickly
• Technology provides you with access to international candidates you may not otherwise be able to reach by only offering in-person interview

 

If you use specialist video interview software, you can also benefit in the following ways

• You can easily pre-screen candidates using pre-recorded video profiles so that you don’t invest time interviewing unsuitable candidates
• It is easy to add multiple colleagues to a larger conference call
• Many specialist software providers offer some form of easy scheduling tool so coordinating calendars is convenient, even across time-zones
• 24/7 technical support is usually provided as part of the package

 

Disadvantages of Video Interviewing

• Technical problems can make the interview challenging if there is no technical support available
• Some candidates can feel uncomfortable on camera
• Candidates must have access to a webcam and microphone
• If your candidates are in a different time-zone, this can limit your capacity to interview a large volume of candidates in one day if you want your team to work sociable hours

 

Our top tips for maximising video interviews:

• Check what technical support the provider has. Often technical support for Skype is limited, but many video interviewing providers offer 24/7 support by phone, email or instant messenger.
• If you are using a recruitment agency to support you with your recruitment, ask if they offer any specialist video interviewing tools as part of their process
• If you do video interviewing via an agency, ask if they can offer video conferencing facilities for any candidates who don’t have access to a reliable internet connection.

 

Conclusions

There are plenty of advantages to video interviewing in healthcare recruitment – particularly when domestic staffing is challenging. However, just like face to face interviews some of the logistics need to be well thought out in advance, and it is important to get the support of the wider team.

My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organisation, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com