Best remote interviewing tools and software

With remote work becoming more common, businesses have started to transition to hiring entirely remote employees. These employees may be located in different time zones or states, which has impacted how businesses interview and hire new team members. Now, with COVID-19 forcing remote work on many businesses, remote interviewing and hiring are becoming even more common.

For the remote interview process to be a success, your business needs to use the right tools and software. The following options can help to facilitate virtual interviews, making the process easier for both hiring managers and job applicants.

Interview scheduling tools

Scheduling video interviews or phone interviews can be tricky, especially if you’re corresponding through email. These tools can streamline that process, making it easier for both you and the job applicants.

1. Jotform

Jotform’s customizable appointment forms can help you take control of your schedule. When you’re ready to schedule interviews with applicants, just send them a link to a form. They then fill out the form and reserve an appointment — without having to go back and forth with you through email.

You can also use Jotform to gather applications. Customize existing employment application templates to include the specific fields that matter most to your business and then print out PDFs of responses for reference during your remote interviews.

Jotform also lets you go beyond just interview scheduling. Thanks to its flexibility, you can also use it to quickly create job applications and collect necessary documents from applicants. And of course, for recruiters and hiring managers who want to make the interview process even better, use Jotform to gather feedback from candidates.

If you need to obtain interview consent, then check out some of Jotform’s many consent form templates, some of which include e-signature capabilities thanks to Jotform Sign, the platform’s e-signature solution. 

You also have access to plenty of other Jotform products for other business needs, like approval workflows for applications and exit interview questionnaires.

2. Calendly

Another way to streamline the scheduling process is with Calendly. With the Pro plan, you can share up to six of your calendars through email, so applicants can book an interview in your available time slots. Calendly also offers a free option.

3. YouCanBookMe

YouCanBookMe is another platform that makes interview scheduling incredibly easy. It integrates with different calendar and videoconferencing apps to keep your interviews automatically organized and easily accessible.

You can take advantage of YouCanBookMe’s free plan, or you can upgrade to a paid plan for multiple booking calendars and customized reminders. You can also set up single-use links for interviews to ensure security.

Applicant assessment software

Applicant assessment platforms can inform your interviews. Conducting assessments before interviewing potential candidates can help you identify quality candidates — and the answers may inform the types of questions you ask.

3. pymetrics

With pymetrics, applicants complete games and exercises to determine important traits — like cognitive strengths, risk aversion factors, and behavioral tendencies.

The platform can also measure the attributes of your best staff members to determine which characteristics determine an employee’s success at your company. This data created specifically for your business may give you a unique advantage in evaluating applicants.

4. eSkill

eSkill offers tests and behavioral assessments, and it functions as a video interview tool. It’s equipped with a test library that encompasses many subject areas, saving you time. You can also upload your own test or design a custom test by choosing your favorite questions.

5. Harver

Harver offers a combination of interactive assessments, predictive analytics, and workflow automation to streamline your hiring process. It’s also a fabulous resource on hiring education; you can access free e-books, white papers, and podcasts to help you learn how to hire better.

6. HackerRank

Designed specifically for finding developers, HackerRank is a technical interview platform that helps you screen applicants and hire developers who have the right skills for the job. This technical skills assessment software looks beyond candidate experience and features objective skills assessments.

Videoconferencing tools

Effective video interviewing depends on reliable, quality videoconferencing tools. Below are some of the best video chat options.

7. Zoom

Zoom offers online meetings, online conference rooms, and even video webinars. The online meetings and conferences are ideal for initial and follow-up interviews with larger teams at your business. Zoom is a versatile, easy-to-use platform, and it’s free to use at the basic levels.

8. Skype

Skype offers audio and HD video calls for a quality video interview experience. With an applicant’s permission, you can record Skype calls to review later on. End-to-end encryption will help keep sensitive calls private. Skype is free to use.

9. VidCruiter

VidCruiter takes a different approach to video interviews — the interview software records one-way candidate interviews for you to review, saving you time in the screening process and helping you find the best candidates for second and third interviews. This also helps to eliminate scheduling challenges when you’re interviewing candidates who are already working full-time positions and aren’t available for interviews during traditional business hours.

As an added bonus, VidCruiter doubles as an applicant assessment tool. Automated assessments test applicants’ hard and soft skills.

10. Spark Hire

Like VidCruiter, Spark Hire’s video interviewing platform allows candidates to complete video interviews on their own time. Candidates respond to your interview questions, and you review those video responses at your leisure. This can help save you time. You can share the videos with hiring managers and identify the best candidates for in-person or live video interviews.

Preparing for successful remote interviews

Remote interviews require a slightly different approach than traditional interviews, but many of the skills you already use for in-person interviews will transfer. By identifying the software and tools that work best for your business, you can create an efficient, effective, and easy-to-use remote interviewing process. Not only is this important for your own time and efficiency, but it will convey your professionalism to candidates as well.