You have a full day of virtual interviews scheduled, and you’re excited to explore the next round of candidates who might be a good fit for your role. However, there is even more to consider in properly preparing for a solid day of back-to-back interviews, especially if they’re online. Missing a step could translate to a poor first impression or missed hiring opportunity. For any healthcare hiring managers who are interviewing multiple candidates, this is the preparation to-do list you need to see. With a full day of virtual interviews, these are the tips to help ensure you’re at your best with each candidate.
1. Preparing Your Technology
If you have a full day of virtual interviews coming up, you’ll want to take the time now to verify your internet connection and equipment. Find a more public space where stronger internet connections exist, if necessary. Test your earbuds and perform a few test calls with friends or colleagues to ensure audio, video, and web connections are strong. And verify that your onscreen name, which will display to healthcare candidates, is a professional moniker or your company title. If you’re concerned about a failing piece of equipment, now’s the time to arrange for backups, including batteries for your laptop, wi-fi connection, webcams, and audio devices.
2. Preparing Yourself if You’re Remote
Once you’re certain everything is in order with your tech, it’s time to consider how to prepare yourself and your virtual interview space. Should you be conducting interviews virtually from your on-site office, you might not have much to prepare. Your office may already be a visibly professional space. However, you might be inclined to wear sweats under the desk if you’re working remotely to conduct interviews. So make sure you’re in professional attire above the desk. And pay special attention to what’s visible behind you so as not to give the impression that you’re messy or unprofessional in any way. It’s also recommended that you take whatever steps necessary to prevent distractions. So, if you’re concerned about noisy little ones or Fido barking, make plans for a sitter or kennel day spa for the day.
3. Organizing a Playbook for Each Virtual Interview
The day before your full day of virtual interviews, take the time to create a playbook for each healthcare candidate on the docket. Print out documents to have in front of you, including the job descriptions, resumes and CVs. Have any correspondence leading up to the interview, and the names and pertinent details for each, as well. You don’t want to look unprepared or mix up details between candidates. The best way to prevent mishaps, like talking about the wrong role or addressing the applicant by the wrong name, is to have a full stack of separate reference materials for each individual.
4. Organizing Your Interview Notes
Take your organization a step further by also drafting a full list of questions you have for each candidate. Even if you feel you have questions committed to memory, it’s a good idea to keep reminders on paper in front of you. And be sure you have a few pens available so you can take notes and write responses for each interview separately. Additionally, have your calendar or day planner nearby, either physically or digitally, so you can efficiently schedule follow-up interviews or next steps during each virtual interview.
5. The Confidence Checklist for Every Virtual Interview
To prepare to make the very best first impression from your first virtual interview through to your last one of the day, it might help to keep a list of reminders nearby and off-screen to remind yourself of these confidence-emitting behaviors.
Posture Matters: One study showed that 33% of hiring managers admitted to coming to a hiring conclusion within the first 90 seconds of engagement. Imagine candidates will make similar assumptions about hiring managers. Within those critical greeting and introduction moments of each virtual interview, make sure you display strong posture and inviting body language.
Engage with Body Movement: During each of your virtual interviews, make sure you’re using positive body language, including head nods and smiling, to convey your attentiveness. If you want top talent to consider joining your healthcare organization’s ranks, they’ll need to feel prioritized from the first moment of engagement.
Eye Contact Online: Eye contact builds trust with any engagement. When you’re interviewing virtually, make a conscious effort to look directly at your webcam from time to time, not just the screen, to simulate engaging eye contact.
6. Refreshing Between Interviews
Whether you have one set of back-to-back virtual interviews or a whole day of them, you’ll want to be diligent about managing your time in between calls. And should one or more of them run over, you’ll need to prepare to quickly make smart use of your remaining time. Take the time in between interviews to stand up and stretch, use the restroom, and grab a fresh drink before your next call. If your interviews are scheduled to run through lunchtime, it’s a good idea to grab a snack in between calls, too, so your rumbling stomach doesn’t interrupt an important conversation.
Before you tackle a full day of virtual interviews, consider reviewing these tips to ensure you make your best first impression and are totally prepared to put your best foot forward. And if you still need help scheduling a full day of healthcare job interviews, let InSync Healthcare Recruiters help!