Comments on: Colleges Begin Offering Online Interviews

By: Brian Fisher

Brian Fisher — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:07:11 +0000

Chris,
I sometimes wonder if I ascribe too much meaning to the personal encounter? To paraphrase some folks I know, “I prefer to look at the report card and read the recommendations.” It sounds- from your experience- that adding video to helps to assuage the concerns of those of us who prefer a personal interaction.
I also appreciate you admission regarding your own comfort level. Making eye contact with camera is truly a learned skill- that we will all have to learn.

By: Christopher Dow

Christopher Dow — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:07:56 +0000

Just had my first domestic video interview and it went really well. After the initial phone call to set up account information, The video was vastly superior. I was able to see the candidate react to questions and see them formulate their questions and answers in a very genuine way.
I always come away from phone interviews wondering if I got the whole story- I know there were pieces missing and it always makes my interview notes seem really one dimensional. The video added a whole level of interaction that, short of a handshake, felt almost natural and and is something I will be able to express effectively in the interview notes and in committee when we meet.
I hope to be able to work more video interviews in over time- the simple fact that candidates are willing to use technology this way says as much about their learning style and their creativity as anything else.
The biggest hurdle I face personally is my comfort own level with using video in a professional setting- I feel totally fine talking with friends and family, it will just take time to get as comfortable in front of the computer as I am in the office. Overall a great new tool-

By: Peter Baron

Peter Baron — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:51:29 +0000

Derek, might take a look at:
http://www.tokbox.com
It wouldn’t require a student to set up an account (they can hop on from a school sanctioned page on the toxbox site) and you can easily add multiple people to a video chat. I saw it in action the other day and it looks promising.

By: Brian Fisher

Brian Fisher — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:15:13 +0000

Derek,
Spot-on. Like so many of the web-based video conferences and connections that I’ve been scheduled for, the technology isn’t seamless but it’s getting there. Security, firewalls, and user settings present hurdles.
Thanks for reading and commenting,

By: Derek Perkins

Derek Perkins — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:47:29 +0000

I piloted online (webcam) interviews this fall with some of my international students. Unfortunately, the pilot was unsuccessful with students from China, Taiwan and Korea. None of the video connections worked. Our IT department chose to use ooVoo which may be part of the problem. (Still trying to work with their customer service to try to resolve the issue). The other part of the problem is the unknown – the bandwith and firewall protection of the user on the other end. Additionally, some countries regulate their internet in a vastly different manner than we are used to here in the US.
Despite these initial issues, I am hopeful we can find alternatives to make this work. While the face-to-face campus interview will always be the preferred method – finding ways to assist those who just can’t make it to campus benefits both the family and the school.
I feel that once we overcome the hurdles, the online interview can replace the phone interview.