How Video Interview Software Transformed IT Staff Augmentation

Video interviewing and video conferencing have dominated tech headlines in recent years and continue to be woven into recruitment processes. Potential employees and candidates, especially those in active employment, are always strapped for time. This makes the hiring process extremely difficult to coordinate as they may not have the time to spend countless hours in the interview room.

With video interview software already transforming several industries, the question everybody is asking is: how will video interview software help in staff augmentation?

In this article, we’re going to look at the current market outlook of video interview software, how it’s being used to improve staff augmentation services, and cases of successful implementation of video interviews. At the end of it all, you will have all the necessary information needed for IT staff augmentation.

What is Staff Augmentation?

Staff augmentation is a hiring model and outsourcing strategy that involves using temporary workers to fill short-term positions. It’s usually done through an IT staff augmentation provider that maintains such a workforce.

The hiring cycle involves many moving parts and one of the biggest concerns for companies when recruiting is the cost that comes with coordinating and executing the entire process. Studies have shown that employers can spend more than double their employee’s annual salary in recruiting and training costs, depending on the position they are looking to fill.

Another research conducted by the Center for American Progress has revealed that companies spend 16% of the annual salary when recruiting an employee earning less than $30,000 annually, 20% for those earning up to $50,000 annually, and 213% for executive-level positions. Tack on the job advertising costs, benefits, healthcare, and taxes, the cost of recruitment cost is bound to significantly skyrocket.

An obvious solution would be to evaluate between managed services vs staff augmentation to bring in qualified developers who are ready to hit the ground running and work together with your in-house team. These two hiring models help seamlessly augment your in-house team such that your permanent workers won’t realize they are working with a contractor.

IT Staff Augmentation Issues Video Help To Resolve

At least 2/3 of HR professionals have indicated that they occasionally use video interviewing software, and for a reason. But before we look at the benefits of video interviews, it’s important to mention one thing.

There are two major types of video interview software that companies can use to interview potential candidates:

Pre-Recorded Interview Software: These types of systems allow you to send out one-way interview invitations to your list of applicants with specific interview questions you need answers to. Once they get the request, they are then able to record themselves responding to these questions at their own convenience.

Live Video Interview Software: With live interview systems,  you have a one on one interview with the potential candidates. Typically, free conferencing services offer very little in terms of scheduling support and nothing in terms of recruiting features.  Paid versions offer more effective features that streamline the entire interview process.

Here are some of the benefits of video interviews, especially for staff augmentation companies:

Reduces Recruitment Time and Transportation Cost

As earlier indicated, recruitment cost is one of the biggest pits during the hiring process, However, travel also happens to be another major hitch for companies. Depending on the job position, some companies could fly in the candidates for an interview, which is costly, especially because there isn’t a guarantee that the candidate will qualify for the job.

Travel is not the only resource depleting part of traditional hiring process. Companies spend a lot of time trying to get the best and skilled IT professionals. On average, a company spends approximately 15 hours per week trying to source candidates. And once they successfully find the right candidate, preliminary interviews take approximately 30 minutes for each candidate, and 45 days to fill the same position.

Greater Control Over the Recruitment Process and Candidates

Having a large stream of potential candidates is a good problem to have, but the process is time-consuming. And this is especially true when dealing with a large group which is largely dominated  by people who don’t have the necessary qualifications. However, the introduction of video interview software in the recruitment process means that companies can maximise their time by focusing on the most qualified candidates.

Instead of wasting time talking to candidates who don’t meet the skills threshold you’re looking for, video interviewing software can help you quickly sort through and profile who makes the cut and who doesn’t come close.

Convenient Environment for Passive Candidates

A potential candidate may not be actively or desperately seeking for a new job, but open to new career opportunities — especially if the benefits and perks are attractive. However, if to formally appear for such an interview entails driving across town during work hours, they may find it too inconvenient opting not to pursue the job opportunity. As a company, you will have lost an opportunity to hire a great person.

Video interviewing has managed to address this challenge head-on by giving busy full-time employees more flexibility to participate in the screening process through a short live or recorded video interview. As a result, you are able to throw your hat in the ring and compete with other employers looking for creative staffing methods.

Turning Candidates into Brand Ambassadors

Another reason why staff augmentation through video interviews has become one of the best IT staffing models. As a company looking to augment your team, the biggest disservice you can do to your company is to provide potential candidates with a terrible application journey. This is because candidate experience impacts your brand and a negative journey can significantly undermine your long-term ability to acquire new talent.

Again, video interview software can help improve your recruitment strategy through a seamless candidate experience. You are able to reach and engage  candidates using modern and innovative methods, at the same time allowing them to express their aspirations beyond their CV.

You Get To Observe Non-verbal Cues and Body Language

Most if not all hiring managers majorly rely on phone interviews to assess candidates before inviting them for a face-to-face conversation. Although phone interviews are an effective way of determining the suitability of the candidate for an in-person interview, it’s very hard to assess non-verbal cues from candidates.

By investing in video interview software, you are able to get a first-hand feel of the candidate’s facial expressions, body language, and overall appearance (which can reflect professionalism). All these clues pieced together help in painting a clear picture of how suitable a candidate is for your company.

Moreover, the visual screening of the candidate gives you a better idea of how prepared the candidate is in terms of researching your company. Lastly, you’re also able to pick some hints on how rehearsed they appear, and whether they take a significant  amount of time to thoughtfully respond to your questions. If the candidate is worth their salt during this screening stage, then you shouldn’t have a problem in calling them back for a face-to-face interview.

Allows for International Talent Hunt

If you are sourcing for an ideal candidate from a global talent pool, video interviewing is one of the most cost-effective ways to go about it. Video interviews allow you to easily pick the ideal candidate from different parts of the world without necessarily requiring to spend any resources in terms of travel costs.

Drawbacks of Video Interviews

Although video interviewing helps standardize and streamline recruitment, it also presents a few drawbacks. These include:

Internet Connection Issues

One of the biggest downsides of video interviewing is the explicit dependence on a fast and stable internet connection. The candidate needs to be located in a location where local ISP provides seamless quality of service. Any slight disconnections or poor video quality could prompt the recruiter to do away with a candidate, even though they are best suited to fill a position.

Practical Case of Successful Implementation of Video Interviews in Leading IT Companies

The steep competition for skilled workers within the tech industry has compelled companies to look for creative ways to streamline their recruitment processes. World over, tech companies have embraced video interviews thanks to their cost-effectiveness and time saving nature when evaluating applicants. One of the pioneers in using this technology  is Typeform.

This software company that mostly specializes in online surveys has seen a 43% reduction in hiring time, despite candidates going through four different screening steps.

Final Thoughts

There are many obvious pressures associated with in-person job interviews. The candidates have to deal with issues like finding the office, deal with the parking situation, and the number of people in the interviewing panel.

All these unnecessary factors can lead to the disqualification of an otherwise qualified person. After highlighting the above mentioned benefits of video interviews, it easy to conclude that video interviewing is slated to become a standard staff augmentation practice. A good number of companies have already deployed this digital innovation into their recruitment processes, while others are still testing the waters. For those that have embraced this model, video interviews have opened up new doors in terms of expanding their horizons when sourcing for prospective candidates in a faster and more cost-effective way.