Collaboration Governance – Using microsoft teams for job interviews

Remember that they may not be familiar with Microsoft Teams, so let them know that they just need to click on the link to access the meeting! Face-to-face interviews are often conducted in a private office or conference room. The same care should be taken by each member of your organization who will be participating in the virtual interview. Ideally, choose a room where you will be lit from the front, rather than the back. Front lighting reduces dark shadows and provides a flat, warmer light.

If you have a window at your back, your face might be in shadow, making it harder for others on the call to see you properly. You can help the candidate better focus on you if you place yourself in front of an empty wall or another non-distracting background. While virtual interviews can be more convenient for recruiting coordinators and job candidates, they can easily feel impersonal and rushed.

This can reflect poorly on your organization and how seriously you are considering a candidate. This helps give a professional appearance that sets the tone for the interview and reflects on your entire team.

Looking directly into the camera during the call can also help foster a sense of having a face-to-face connection. You need to give the candidate your entire focus. Clearing your desk of everything but note-taking materials can also help.

Even when both you and the candidate have strong internet connections, some lag and delay is inevitable. This can get confusing, especially when trying to ask follow-up questions or share your screen. Similarly, when screen sharing, wait a few seconds after loading an image, web page, or presentation slide to give it time to load for others on the call. You never know when technology problems might happen. No matter how unlikely these things might seem, prepare a back-up plan.

For example, rescheduling your Microsoft Teams interview for a later date or switching to a phone interview can keep you and the candidate from scrambling if something goes wrong. That way, you can quickly set up a new interview time if needed. This way, you can resolve any issues before the call starts. Microsoft Teams interviews can help streamline your interview process and make it easier to reach top candidates from across the country.

Ask all candidates whether they have any accessibility needs and discuss with them how these can best be addressed. Ensure that everyone on the panel is aware of the need for reasonable adjustments and knows how to implement them. There is guidance on accessibility in online events. Read the online events accessibility guidance. When invited to interview candidates should also be asked if they have any constraints due to caring responsibilities, that may affect the timing or circumstances of their interview.

We recommend using Microsoft Teams for interviews, please see below best practice for setting this up. It is best practice to send separate invitations to the individual candidates and interview panel. Do offer all involved a trial call as some people may be more used to this format than others. See this annotated screenshot of a sample interview schedule on MS Teams. This will ensure there will be no confusion. The candidate will only be able to access that meeting interview and they will not have access to the email addresses of those on the panel.

Candidates using a University of Oxford account will be able to bypass the virtual ‘lobby’ and access the meeting directly by clicking on the hyperlink. Arrange with any internal candidates that they should be ready five minutes before the scheduled start time of their interview, but should wait for a call from the Chair or meeting organiser before clicking the link to join the call once the panel are ready to start. Virtual interview challenges.

Panel interviewers. Tips for virtual interviews. Pause animated content.

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Candidates using a University of Oxford account will be able to bypass the virtual ‘lobby’ and access the meeting directly by clicking on продолжить hyperlink. How is your positioning?❿
 
 

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