Strategies for HR Success in Virtual Recruitment

Learn how to overcome the challenges of virtual recruitment and attract top talent by leveraging the right technology and taking a strategic approach to hiring

As more and more companies embrace remote working and flexible working arrangements, the talent pool has expanded across geographic boundaries. This makes it necessary for companies to rely on recruitment software and digital hiring practices to find, connect with, assess and hire the right candidates - regardless of where they are located. That's why Florence Carter, People Director at Busuu, says: "Now is the time to invest in a good HR system that automates and covers as much of the hiring and onboarding process as possible."

Virtual recruitment offers a cost-effective and time-saving way to find the best talent, helping companies stay agile and one step ahead of the competition. HR teams can do their work without interacting with candidates in person, but what are the other characteristics of good virtual recruitment and how can HR teams be successful at it?

What is virtual recruiting?

Virtual recruiting is a hiring process that takes place remotely and with the help of digital tools. Candidates are interviewed by phone or video call (through platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams). They do not meet the hiring manager or hiring manager in person. A fully virtual recruiting process may also include online surveys, quizzes or assessments to properly assess the candidate's suitability for the open position.

What are the benefits of virtual recruiting?

Here are just a few of the benefits of a virtual recruiting process:

• Easier scheduling - Candidates and hiring managers can more easily fit interviews into their busy schedules when they do not both have to be in the same location
• Time and cost savings associated with travel. For companies that are fully remote or support hybrid working arrangements, it makes sense to conduct recruiting virtually as well.
• It speeds up the hiring process. Digital online assessments help hiring managers weed out unsuitable candidates faster than assessment centers or on-site testing.
• It can help improve the candidate experience. Because virtual hiring is faster and easier than traditional, in-person hiring processes, candidates receive a decision on their application more quickly.
• It creates a larger talent pool. Since candidates don't have to travel to a specific location to complete their interviews, employers have a larger pool of candidates to choose from. This can also help improve candidate diversity, for example by making it easier for people with disabilities or caring responsibilities to attend an interview.

How to get virtual recruiting right

1.Target talent through social media

Social media has become a powerful talent acquisition tool for HR departments. As virtual recruiting becomes more prevalent, social media platforms provide a great way for companies to reach a wider audience of potential candidates looking for a job. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Glassdoor, and even Instagram have given job seekers far greater visibility of their career opportunities than they had before. This means that companies need to showcase their culture and employer brand on their social media channels to attract the talent they want and help potential candidates understand whether they would be a good fit.

By posting job openings on social media channels, particularly LinkedIn - the preferred platform for recruiters and candidates - companies can attract talent and save time and money. Katrina Collier, author of The Robot-Proof Recruiter, says, "By leveraging all forms of social media and showing people what goes on behind closed doors at your company, you give people the opportunity to decide whether or not to apply for a job opening, saving you time and money."

To successfully attract talent through social media, HR should work with their company's marketing team to build or showcase the employer brand and internal culture through social media channels. HR can then begin to create a strong online presence by maintaining active social media profiles - both by posting on their personal profiles and by asking people to add posts to the coordinated channels. Post topics could include company culture, job openings and benefits. HR can also conduct targeted advertising to attract job seekers with specific skills or experience that match the company's needs.

2.Conduct thorough virtual interviews via video call

Aliya Vigor-Robertson, co-founder of JourneyHR, says, "Selecting the right candidate is more important than ever in today's climate. Not only do companies need to assess how well a candidate fits with their culture and behaviors, they also need to make that assessment based on virtual interactions alone."

HR can select the best candidate for the role without having to meet them in person by conducting pre-recorded video interviews or live interviews through video calling platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

The long-term benefits of video interviews include creating a comfortable atmosphere for candidates and reducing their carbon footprint by eliminating the need to travel. “You can also reach a wider network of people than those who can travel, and so can increase diversity and inclusion,” adds Collier.

And with so many companies now embracing remote and flexible working, video interviews can give candidates a glimpse of what it would be like to work at your company. After all, in-person interviews for a fully remote or virtual role wouldn’t provide an accurate insight into the day-to-day working practices of the respective team.

But managers need HR’s support if the video interviews are to be a success, warns Carter. "It's important to train managers on how to conduct effective video interviews so that conversations are as interactive and consistent as possible." They also need to know what to do in case of technical problems, Robertson says. "If the conference call software crashes in the middle of a video interview, hiring managers should know to have the candidate's cell phone number ready so they can conduct a phone conversation instead.

Video interviews can also help HR evaluate applicants more effectively than phone interviews because they give interviewers the opportunity to assess the applicant's communication skills, body language, and overall presentation. By observing the applicant's nonverbal cues, HR can gain insight into their confidence and professionalism. Additionally, HR can gauge the applicant's adaptability and ability to handle virtual communication tools, which is crucial in remote work.

3.Welcome new employees with solid online onboarding

HR can welcome new employees and help them socialize by introducing them to their manager or colleagues via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. However, if HR wants to familiarize new employees with systems, processes, the mission, values, and strategy, it should turn to online onboarding software like IceHrm Onboarding.

With our onboarding software, HR teams can educate, train and onboard new employees before their first day of work through engaging videos and presentations, as well as information about their new workplace and colleagues. What's more, you can even ask new employees to complete training and submit important documentation. Not sure if onboarding software for new employees is right for you? Here are 11 benefits of onboarding software you shouldn't miss.

After virtually hiring and welcoming new employees, Robertson says companies should make sure they get feedback on the hiring process from employees and candidates. "The feedback is important to make improvements that will make the virtual hiring experience better and more engaging for future candidates. Need more help getting your onboarding process right? Check out our comprehensive guide to onboarding remote employees.

Embrace virtual recruitment to expand your talent pool and improve efficiency. Invest in tools like IceHrm Onboarding to streamline the hiring and onboarding process. Continuous feedback from candidates and new hires will help refine and enhance your virtual hiring practices.