Admittedly, most recruiters now favour virtual interviews for the earliest stages of recruitment, as this is by far the most productive way of seeing high numbers of applicants. However, two-thirds of job seekers continue to favour face-to-face recruitment, citing that it improves the candidate experience. Skimping on face-to-face interviews towards the end stages of a recruitment drive can also see recruiters failing to factor in crucial considerations like body language and mannerisms.
This is by no means to say that technology can’t serve a crucial role at every stage of the recruitment process. The right software can even make it easier to conduct and oversee efficient in-person interviews. But, in-office interviews continue to offer ample benefits, especially for promising candidates. Here’s why.
In-Person Observations
Over 55% of communication is non-verbal. The way that a candidate holds themselves can be even more telling than the things they say. After all, candidates can lie, but body language like crossed arms, a lack of eye contact, and a general disinterest will always reveal the truth.
Admittedly, body language isn’t completely defunct during video interviews. But you may still miss a lot when you can only see a candidate’s head and shoulders. By comparison, face-to-face interactions can build trust and reassurance. When you can see your candidates in their entirety, their body language can reveal everything from confidence to exaggerated application claims, and more.
Meet the Team
While you can set up group Zoom meetings involving your entire management team, it isn’t always a good idea to do so. After all, if all of your top-tier managers take the same time out, who’s going to oversee the office? Plus, the whole team wouldn’t dream of piling into a physical interview. So, why would you overwhelm your virtual interviewees in this way?
It’s a far better option to bring candidates into the office to meet the team. This way, you can introduce managers or relevant colleagues one at a time. This will be far less overwhelming for your candidate. It also means that, aside from taking a moment out to say hello, teams and managers can keep working. And, everyone will surely be happier that way!
Close-Up Company Culture
46% of job seekers cite company culture as a pressing reason to apply for a role. A further 88% of job seekers at least consider company culture before accepting a job offer. But, video interviews that reveal little more than your beige office wall don’t exactly showcase this key feature.
This inability to display company culture can result in the loss of top talent. It can also lead to hires who are in no way suited to how your company operates. And it’s a problem that you can eliminate by bringing all promising hires to the office at least once.
Even if you just have potential recruits walk through your office to get to the interview room, an in-person interview can show your candidate –
- The general office layout
- The office dress code
- Working environment (e.g. break room, natural light, office plants)
- Employee behaviour
- And so on
Office Walkarounds
Office walkarounds are imperative for any new hire, and they can also be useful during recruitment. Showing someone around the office before they’re officially working for you can even make their transition easier. When they already know where everything is, they can get started with work right away on their first day. This is also your chance to show off what your office has to offer.
After all, things like your amenities and office benefits could sway a top candidate towards your company. As such, in-office walkarounds are always worthwhile. You could do this before an interview to help break the ice. Equally, you may like to round things up with a tour. Either way, try to highlight selling features such as –
- Any on-site amenities like a break room, gym, or car park
- The office or space the candidate will be working in
- Office features like large windows and string decor
- Surrounding area, including local green spaces or cafes
In-Person Products and Services
Whatever your company offers, a candidate should ideally interact with your product before you give them a job. After all, how can they sell your products well if they’ve never physically touched them?
This is a less pressing priority if you offer services that can be explained more abstractly. Still, it’s useful to see in person how any candidate interacts with your products or service statements. You could even tie these into your interview in a way that you might struggle to do virtually. Then, you’ll see first-hand how successful that candidate might be if they worked for you.
Get Recruitment Tech Right With HireHive
There’s no denying the value of recruitment technology, but it’s essential that you use these tools in the right way. In-person interviews continue to hold their value. HireHive can help you to honour that while still simplifying your processes.
Rather than attempting to replace your in-person preferences, our recruitment platform revolutionises the recruitment that works for you. We make it possible to oversee the entire applicant journey, whether some of that is virtual, or your entire recruitment process is face-to-face. We also make it easier than ever to arrange, assess, and analyse your in-person interviews. And this is true even if you use virtual interviews at some stage in the process.
Your applicants deserve a smooth candidate experience. They also deserve the chance to prove themselves face-to-face. Achieve both with HireHive, so set up your free demo today.
