Job seekers should prepare to meet with potential employers at least once during the hiring process, as 51 percent of U.S. hiring managers say they prefer to interview candidates face-to-face instead of through a screen or phone, according to a recent “Job Insights” survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals, a nationwide employment services company with nine Utah locations.
However, the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still evident as 8 percent of hiring managers only conduct interviews virtually, while another 40 percent use a combination of in-person and virtual.
If an applicant shows up at a business unannounced to secure employment, a majority of employers describe the tactic positively, saying it shows motivation (57 percent), initiative (46 percent) and that the candidate is driven (40 percent).
Only 35 percent view this behavior as negative with descriptions such as obsessive (19 percent), creepy (16 percent) or out-of-date (14 percent).
While the methods for conducting job interviews depend on multiple factors, including industry and skill level of the candidate, the value of in-person interaction can also set candidates up for success.
“We continue to use virtual interviews mostly for professional and administrative roles,” said Jorge Costas, Express franchise owner in Florida. “For our light industrial candidates, in-person interactions are more successful.”
In Washington, Express General Manager Stacey Snodgrass’s office also requires in-person interviews for certain positions.
“While we were engaging in phone and virtual interviews for most positions, we noticed an uptick in our number of no-shows when it came to the second, in-person part of the interview to complete onboarding forms,” she said. “Wasting valuable time on no-shows hurts both the company and potential applicants who may be a strong fit.”
Virtual interviews do have advantages, such as time efficiency, but both Snodgrass and Costas say these types of interactions don’t provide a full picture of the candidate.
“In-person interviews are the best, in my opinion, to get to know the applicant; to see and connect with them to determine the best professional fit for them and a potential employer,” Snodgrass said.
If a job seeker followed up on an application in person, Costas said he would try to interview them immediately if his schedule allows or encourage them to schedule an appointment at a later date.
“I do find that a person who has the confidence to show up and ask to be interviewed has an interest in working, and that initiative should not be discounted,” he added.
Outside of showing up at the company to increase hiring chances, Snodgrass suggests job seekers follow up after an interview with references, send a thank-you note to the hiring manager and check back in a week if they haven’t heard any updates.
“Technology was such a wonderful asset to keep the workforce connected during the COVID-19 pandemic but returning to in-person interviews or a virtual component at the start of the hiring process allows employers to assess soft skills that are hard to capture without meeting face-to-face,” said Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller. “Looking at these survey results, it seems companies agree.”
The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States between June 13 and June 26 among 1,010 U.S. hiring decision-makers.