A new employer survey reveals how they really feel about remote job interviews. Here’s what bugs them the most and their top tips for making a positive (virtual) impression.

It’s no secret that more and more companies are conducting virtual interviews to screen potential candidates, rather than having them come into the office during COVOID-19. It doesn’t look like that trend is coming to an end any time soon. Plus, studies have found that job applicants are judged more harshly in virtual interviews than in in-person interviews.

A recent survey of hundreds of hiring managers found that 69 per cent of them were conducting video job interviews during the pandemic and 58 per cent were planning to continue screening candidates this way even after the COVID-19 precautions are lifted.

Eighty per cent of hiring managers acknowledged virtual interviews as a positive experience. They say that conducting interviews remotely provides flexibility, reduces cost, saves money, and reduces hiring time.

It’s not all positive, though. Employers note several recurring drawbacks with meeting and screening candidates online rather than in person.

The most common downsides of virtual interviews

1. – Unreliable internet connection (60%),

2. – Poor quality webcam (55%),

3. – Audio issues (51%)– Having difficulty assessing a candidate through a virtual interaction (50%)

The survey also asked the participating hiring managers if they had any advice to potential candidates for making their upcoming virtual interviews more successful. These are the are the six most common tips they agreed could help an applicant make the best possible on-screen impression.

Advice from hiring managers for winning remote interviews

1. – Dress appropriately – 72.6%

2. – Limit distractions – 71.2%

3. – Test your technology before the interview – 59.6%

4. – Monitor your body language – 56.7%

5. – Keep your virtual identity professional – 56.7%– Practice answers to common interview questions – 56.3%

A virtual interview is still a job interview. You may be at home, but you are still meeting with a potential employer. Test your connection and your camera angle before getting started. Dress for a professional job interview, and take the encounter as seriously as you would if you were heading into the workplace for an in-person meeting.