Denver HR Experts, StaffScapes Discuss the Pros and Cons of Phone Interviews in Recruitment

In the competitive landscape of talent recruitment, a competent and efficient hiring process is instrumental to a company's ultimate outlook. Thankfully, technological advancements in communication now allow for a variety of formats to conduct compelling interviews with prospective candidates. Although nothing lives up to an in-person meeting, utilizing tech to vet an applicant can offer several advantages.

More often than not, companies will include a telephone interview as part of their recruiting process; however, this should never entirely replace the tried-and-true system. Instead, StaffScapes, a human resource solution center recognized for its outstanding employee recruitment practices, views phone interviews as another tool with pros as well as cons.

To better understand the benefits and downsides, the innovative team behind StaffScapes highlights below everything you need to take into account before tweaking your hiring process to incorporate mobile conversation.

Time

Perhaps the most apparent advantage of conducting a phone interview is the flexibility in time management it offers. Recruiters can easily share their calendars with candidates and promptly schedule a meeting at a mutually convenient time. The interview can even occur outside regular business hours if needed.

Geographical Limitations

Depending on the organization as well as the vacant role, it may not make sense to recruit outside of the business's city; however, telephone interviews permit companies to expand their applicant pool. As the global economy evolves, using tech to recruit talent on a broader scale can help attract a higher percentage of quality job seekers.

Filter

According to business hubs Forbes and Glassdoor, job postings, on average, easily receive 100 resumes or more. While recruiters and human resource professionals are trained to sort through the rubble, so to speak, a one-page document never tells the full story. If a resume appears promising but requires some clarification, a chat over the phone swiftly rectifies this. A quick verbal review also ensures that the ideal candidates are brought in for an in-person interview.

Technical Difficulties

Can you hear me now? Technological issues often strike at the most inconvenient times and especially enjoy disrupting conference calls. Therefore, it's necessary to test your tech, whether it's your smartphone's service or an application like Skype, to avoid any awkward moments during a phone interview. After all, candidates are also evaluating their prospective employers, and reliable technology helps set a good impression.

Rapport

While some individuals are terrific at building rapport over the telephone, candidates that thrive off face-to-face interaction shouldn't necessarily be docked points for failing to do so, especially if the job does not require heavy phone use. Genuine human connection is vital to a company's culture and therefore is best observed in a traditional setting where time allotment is less of an issue.

Body Language

Since over 50% of communication is nonverbal, body language is a crucial aspect of the interview process or any business meeting for that matter. How a person physically carries themselves during an interview demonstrates how they handle anxiety as well as stress under pressure, which could be defining factors between one candidate and another. For obvious reasons, this characteristic cannot be appraised over the phone.

Phone interviews treated as one of many aspects of a strategic recruitment process can result in successful hires. Still, employers should always be mindful of both the pros and cons of a phone interview as they develop their plan to interview and select promising candidates.

About StaffScapes:

As a leading expert Professional Employer Organization (PEO) focusing on HR compliance, policies, and best practices, StaffScapes helps businesses in the Metro-North area and throughout Colorado, maximize their team members' performance. StaffScapes develops an individualized solution for every partner company's unique needs. StaffScapes works with all types and sizes of businesses throughout Colorado in assisting their mission by taking responsibility for HR compliance and allowing their partners to focus on their core mission.