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Why Skype is not the Right Tool for Video Recruitment

The HR sector is continuously turning its back to the traditional recruiting process where on-site interviews were the solution for getting to know the applicants. Providing great benefits for both employer and candidate, video recruitment is rapidly becoming the norm in candidate screening and interaction for companies around the world. With more and more employers wanting to implement video in their processes, the question about which platform should be used arises. After all, isn’t it just easier to boot up Skype and get started? This blog will discuss why Skype is not the right tool for video recruiting and why investing in a dedicated video recruitment platform is worthwhile for companies wanting to grow.

Skype – A Tool for Video Recruitment?

The use of video interviews in the recruitment process offers employers a way to connect with candidates easier, faster and more effectively. With an increasing number of organizations exploring video interviewing technologies, Skype is often a ‘easy’ way to start. Like any professional video recruitment platform, Skype enables employers to easily connect with candidates throughout the world via the webcam. But does this mean Skype is the right tool for using it in a recruitment setting? In my opinion, the answer is NO. And this is why:

Only live Interviews
Skype is an application for live online communication. Although live interviews definitely have their benefits, this type of interview is not always the right fit for every vacancy and stage of your recruitment process. Pre- screening candidates using live interviews can be inefficient and very time-consuming. No candidate or vacancy is alike. Professional platforms therefore offer live, automated and video pitch interviews as well as highly flexible and customizable settings, allowing you to create tailored processes that will help you meet your recruitment objectives.

No recording for later reviews
Without the installation of third-party plugins, Skype doesn’t allow you to record your interviews. This makes it hard to evaluate and compare candidate interviews afterwards in an efficient and safe manner. With a video recruitment platform all your interviews are securely stored online, allowing you to easily watch, review and share candidate recordings with internal or external stakeholders to select the best talent.

No integration with other recruitment systems
As you’re looking for ways to increase recruitment efficiency, you don’t want to have to enter data in twice. However, Skype isn’t designed as a recruitment tool which means the software isn’t able to communicate with your other HR systems. Video recruitment platforms integrate with other systems (like your applicant tracking system), making all data available in one place. It saves a lot of time and further increases overall recruitment efficiency.

No employer branding
Are your candidates interviewing with Skype or with your company? Skype doesn’t offer any employer branding functionalities making it unsuitable for employers that want to strengthen their brand and provide a great candidate experience. Dedicated platforms offer a customized interview environment that provides the candidate with a clear and professional image of your company.

Lack of security and privacy
Skype is not secure and in line with Data Protection laws when it comes to video conferencing for recruitment needs. When using video interviews, data should be encrypted, protected by firewalls and securely stored. A professional video recruitment platform observes the highest technical and organizational security standards, allowing you to meet candidates all over the world in a safe and secure environment.

Good Approach – Wrong Solution

Increasing recruitment efficiency with the help of online interviews is the right approach, but successful video recruitment needs more than just an online communication application. Skype is a great tool when it comes to keeping in touch with loved-ones or to get a first impression of how doing a video interviews works. But in the end, Skype misses many important functionalities that are needed to successfully utilize video interviews in the recruitment process. In order to benefit from an efficient, easy to use, mobile enabled online interview workflow, a secure video recruitment platform with customized functionalities and features is the best way to go.


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