Employers Prefer In-Person Interviews, but 40% Fold In Virtual Components
Interview Methods Appear Industry Specific
Latest Results from The Harris Poll
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PITTSBURGH, PA August 11, 2023 —Job seekers should prepare to meet with potential employers at least once during the hiring process, as 51% of U.S. hiring managers say they prefer to interview candidates face-to-face instead of through a screen or phone.
However, the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still evident as 8% of hiring managers only conduct interviews virtually, while another 40% use a combination of in-person and virtual.
This is according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.
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%), initiative (46%) and that the candidate is driven (40%).
Only 35% view this behavior as negative with descriptions such as obsessive (19%), creepy (16%) or out-of-date (14%).
“Nothing tops connecting with someone for a chat face-to-face,” said Miko Bailey Director of Sales and Training, Express Employment Professionals Pittsburgh West. “In today’s rapidly changing world, we seem to be missing the drive for human interaction. The ability to read body language and gain an insight into a candidate’s genuine personality and level of engagement is often missed during a virtual interview.”
Technology was such a wonderful asset to keep the workforce connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller.
“However, 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,” he added. “Looking at these survey results, it seems companies agree.”
Survey Methodology
The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between June 13 and June 26, 2023, among 1,010 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 3.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.
If you would like to arrange for an interview with Deb Gray, owner of Express Employment Professionals Pittsburgh West, please call 412.494.2000
About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022 and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.
About Express Employment Professionals Pittsburgh West
Express Pittsburgh West is celebrating our 16th anniversary. We have two local offices: 6200 Steubenville Pike, Robinson Township, PA, serving the Allegheny County West area and 699 Pennsylvania Avenue, Monaca, PA, serving Beaver County. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to stop by either office, visit our website or call 412.494.2000.
About Bill Stoller
William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
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