Top Virtual Interview Trends in 2024

Virtual interviews don’t have to be awkward or inferior to in-person interviews. Both video call technology and remote interview best practices have made progress in recent years. This is good for both candidates and interviewers, as mastering the virtual interview can impress either side of the video call. Load up your preferred office background and learn the newest tricks and trends for virtual interviews in 2024.

Pre-Interview Email Exchange

Preparedness is key to any interview. Top companies and candidates have learned that a virtual interview requires a different kind of preparation from an in-person interview. Long and detailed multiple-email exchanges are now standard before virtual interviews.

These pre-interview emails contain key information such as:

• The projected length of the interview
• Who will be on the video call besides the interviewer and interviewee
• General categories of questions the interview will cover
• Which video call platform the interview will use
• Tips for a successful remote interview, such as how to frame yourself in a video call and how to arrange your background

Hiring managers should put as much information as possible into these preliminary emails to give candidates the most guidance possible. Candidates must read these emails carefully from start to finish.

Minimizing Distractions

Using free Microsoft Teams backgrounds is only the first step in creating a distraction-free interview call. Distractions can reflect poorly on the hiring manager’s organization and throw off an interviewee’s performance. A quiet space is a must, without the chatter of airport lobbies or coffee shop patrons. Try to choose a location without overhead announcements from a PA system.

Asking the Right Questions

Proper questions and evaluation rubrics ensure a fair interview process for all candidates. Old-fashioned methods such as grading a candidate’s handshake or hiring based on gut feelings introduce bias into the interview process.

Instead, interviewers are now asking a wider range of questions during remote interviews. Candidates must prepare for both technical questions and open-ended questions meant to assess their personality and “soft skills.”

Soft skills aren’t specific to the job’s field but are invaluable in any workplace. They include organization, ingenuity, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

Virtual interviews are trending to include more soft skills questions, such as how the candidate would solve a hypothetical problem or respond to an interpersonal dynamic. It’s not only possible but important to get a sense of the candidate’s personality.

Introducing Everyone on the Call

A hiring manager would never conduct an interview with other staff present in-person and fail to introduce them. However, this uncomfortable scenario is common in virtual interviews.

Call platforms allow other members of a team to sit in on virtual interviews without necessarily disclosing their names or even speaking. Verbally introduce the candidate to everyone who will be on the interview call. Giving every team member a virtual background with logo can create a good impression of the hiring team and company.

Creating a Secure Atmosphere

A good interview isn’t simply one that finishes on time or asks a good array of questions. The best hiring managers create an environment where candidates can show their best selves, and the latest trends can all contribute.