recruiting virtually
People and Culture

Recruiting Virtually, How To Hire Top Talent

Ian Cook

March 8, 2024

time

mins

Are you ready to take your hiring process to the next level? In 2024, virtual recruitment with tools like Vouch has become a go-to method for finding, selecting, and onboarding top talent, especially with an always-on remote workforce at your fingertips. 

Recruiting virtually is easy, too, as you can use tools like Vouch for your entire recruitment funnel, from building your employer brand on social media platforms to widen your talent pool, improving workplace culture and even onboarding new employees, all virtually.

Modern video tools for recruiting virtually not only save time and money but also offer unique advantages for employers who care about their recruitment experience - from small companies to large corporations.

Let's get started!

Key takeaways for recruiting virtually:

  • Recruiting virtually allows you to tap into a global talent pool, and tools like Vouch make it easy to recruit across time zones.
  • Virtual recruiting saves time and money by eliminating travel expenses and also helping green initiatives.
  • Video tools like Vouch also help you showcase your company culture, which is crucial for virtual recruitment success.
  • Providing a personalized experience is key to attracting top talent.
  • Legal and ethical responsibilities must be upheld in the virtual hiring process.

What are the advantages of recruiting virtually?

Virtual recruiting strategies and remote hiring techniques bring several advantages for employers, big and small. By embracing virtual recruitment, you can streamline your hiring process, save time and money, reduce bias, and tap into a global candidate pool.

Here are the top 5 benefits of recruiting virtually:

1) You can screen more candidates in less time

Virtual recruiting allows you to efficiently screen a larger number of candidates, and one-way video interviews and online assessments enable you to evaluate a potential candidate's skills, qualifications, and cultural fit without lengthy back-and-forth communication or scheduling conflicts.

2) Recruiting virtually saves on costs

Virtual recruitment eliminates the need for travel expenses and time-consuming logistics. With remote hiring techniques, you can automate manual tasks such as reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews, and coordinating travel arrangements. This not only saves money but also frees up your HR team's time for other important tasks.

3) Recruiting virtually reduced biases

Virtual recruiting allows for a standardized and consistent approach to candidate evaluation. By using the same virtual platforms, assessments, and interview questions, you can reduce subjective biases and ensure fair and equitable evaluations. This helps you make more objective decisions based on candidates' qualifications rather than personal preferences. 

4) Access to a global talent pool

With remote hiring, geographical constraints no longer limit your talent search. You can tap into a diverse talent pool by considering candidates from different regions, countries, and even time zones. This enables you to find the best fit for your organization's needs and access a wider range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. 

5) Share your top candidates with your recruitment team

When it comes to the final top candidates and even setting your candidate personas, getting your team and upper management's input can be invaluable. With Video recording like Vouch, you can simply send them a link and let them provide feedback in minutes for local, and remote candidates.
 

What are the challenges of virtual recruiting?

While virtual recruiting has its advantages, there are naturally some challenges that you need to be aware of. When assessing candidates for cultural fit, the lack of in-person interaction can make it more difficult to gauge their compatibility with your organization's values and culture.

Candidates may also feel less engaged during the virtual hiring process, which can impact their overall experience and perception of your company. That's why your employer branding and your employer value propositions (EVPs) matter so much, to inspire candidates before they even apply!

However, there are strategies you can implement to overcome these challenges and create a successful virtual recruiting experience:

Showcase your company culture 

Provide candidates with opportunities to understand and experience your company culture through workplace videos and your employee advocacy on your social media accounts. By letting your current employees tell their stories and experiences, you can be sure to attract the ideal candidates, which also helps with retention rates.

Ensure easy communication and feedback

Maintaining regular communication with candidates throughout the virtual recruitment process can change the entire experience - for good. Providing candidates with updates on their application status and timely feedback on their interviews or assessments will ensure they feel valued and engaged.

What are the compliance and legal considerations of recruiting virtually?

When recruiting virtually, and if your business is in the US, it is crucial to adhere to the guidelines set by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and ensure a fair and non-discriminatory recruitment process. You need to always check your local country's regulations.

This means avoiding bias based on factors such as age, disability, gender, marital status, race, and religion. 

From a business perspective, by implementing inclusive practices, you can also attract a diverse pool of qualified candidates and build a strong and equitable workforce. We have written a comprehensive guide on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) here.

It is also essential to be aware of the legal considerations that may vary across countries. Familiarize yourself with the labor and privacy laws relevant to your location and ensure compliance during the virtual recruitment process. 

For instance, if you are recruiting in Europe, it is crucial to adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect candidates' personal data and ensure data privacy.

By staying up-to-date with local guidelines, local labor laws, and privacy regulations like GDPR, you can ensure a fair, inclusive, and legally compliant virtual recruitment process that promotes equality and safeguards candidate data.

Implementing strategies for bias elimination

To eliminate bias from the recruitment process, consider implementing the following strategies:

  1. Blind Resume Screening: Remove personal information such as name, gender, and ethnicity from resumes to focus solely on qualifications and skills.
  2. Diversity Training: Provide training sessions to enhance awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion among recruiters and hiring managers.
  3. Structured Interviewing: Use a standardized set of questions for all candidates to ensure uniformity and minimize bias.

Promoting inclusivity and non-discrimination

Creating an inclusive hiring process is crucial in attracting a diverse pool of qualified candidates. Some practices to consider include:

  • Job Advertisements: Use inclusive language that attracts a diverse range of applicants and avoids gender or other biases.
  • Accessible Application Process: Ensure that your online application process is user-friendly and accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • Equal Opportunity: Treat all candidates fairly and provide equal opportunities for employment regardless of factors such as age, disability, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

By implementing these strategies and being transparent about your commitment to diversity and inclusion, you can create an ethical and inclusive virtual recruitment process that promotes non-discrimination and eliminates unconscious bias.

What technology do you need for recruiting virtually?

Virtual recruiting relies on leveraging technology, making it crucial to assess and optimize your recruitment process. Start by evaluating if your existing systems support the necessary features for virtual recruitment, such as one-way video interviews and the ability to upload company videos. 

If your current tech stack falls short, consider incorporating chatbots as virtual recruitment assistants. Chatbots can provide instant responses and support to candidates, enhancing their experience throughout the hiring process. By leveraging recruitment technology effectively and using tools like Vouch video, you can streamline your virtual recruitment efforts and improve candidate experience.

Should you showcase your company culture virtually?

Absolutely. To overcome the lack of in-person interaction, company culture videos and employee spotlight videos can introduce candidates to team members and give them a better understanding of what it's like to work in your company.

During virtual recruitment interviews, make sure to emphasize your company culture and values with examples and stories that demonstrate what sets your organization apart from other companies your candidates might have applied to. This could make all the difference between attracting a top hire or not.

How do you provide a personalized virtual recruitment experience?

When recruiting virtually or recruiting in person, it is essential to infuse a human touch to ensure candidates feel valued throughout the virtual hiring journey.

1. Make candidates aware of your virtual hiring process

Transparency is vital in virtual recruiting, and you never want to confuse a candidate once they apply. Begin by clearly communicating the steps involved in the virtual hiring process, then make sure they understand what to expect next at all times.

2. Encourage communication at all times

Establish a personal connection by introducing yourself to the candidate, either pre-recorded or on a live call. This simple gesture can help create a sense of familiarity and trust and encourage candidates to communicate via your preferred channels, such as email, social, and video calls, to facilitate a more personalized recruitment and onboarding experience.

3. Always seek feedback to improve the experience

Feedback is a vital part of any successful process, including recruiting virtually. Regularly asking candidates for their feedback not only shows that you value their opinions but also presents an opportunity to enhance your virtual recruitment strategies.

FAQs

What is virtual recruiting?

Virtual recruiting is the process of conducting the hiring process remotely using technology. It includes video interviews, virtual events, and online assessments.

What are the advantages of virtual recruiting?

Virtual recruiting offers advantages such as increased efficiency, cost savings, and access to a global talent pool. It allows for screening more candidates in less time and eliminates the need for travel expenses.

What are the challenges of virtual recruiting?

While virtual recruiting has its advantages, it can be challenging to assess cultural fit and keep candidates engaged. However, strategies such as showcasing company culture and providing regular communication can overcome these challenges.

What are the compliance and legal considerations in virtual recruiting?

When recruiting virtually, it is important to comply with EEOC guidelines and avoid discriminatory practices. Understanding and complying with local labour and privacy laws, such as GDPR in Europe, is also crucial.

What technology is needed for virtual recruiting?

To support virtual recruiting, assess and adjust your recruitment tech stack. Determine if your systems support features like video interviews and company video uploads. Consider integrating with an ATS and using chatbots as virtual recruitment assistants.

How can company culture be showcased virtually?

Virtual recruiting can include showcasing company culture through virtual experiences, such as providing a virtual office tour, introducing candidates to team members, and assigning virtual tasks that reflect the job requirements.

How can a personalized experience be provided during virtual recruiting?

To provide a personalized experience, make candidates aware of the virtual hiring process and introduce the interviewer to the candidate. Utilize candidate relationship management tools and email marketing software to automate and personalize communication throughout the recruitment process.

 

Conclusion

In 2024, virtual recruitment, powered by tools like Vouch video, has become a prominent method for finding, selecting, and onboarding top talent in an era where tech and video are staples for all demographics.  The benefits of recruiting virtually are immense, and the best part, remarkably easy with tools like Vouch.

Like to try Vouch?

Loved by companies like Canva, Nike, Cisco, Stryker, HubSpot, Amazon and more, tools like Vouch make leveraging video in your business remarkably easy.

Be sure to book a Vouch demo today and chat with a video content expert.

Ian Cook

Ian Cook

Creative Lead

Lights. Camera. Traction

Cut through the noise with video.