As travel becomes more time-consuming and expensive, law firms and out-of-town candidates alike are often eager to use video conferencing in place of a face-to-face interview. But, while video interviews may seem like a great idea, your firm and your candidates may not be ready for prime time quite yet. Seasoned interviewers provide the following recommendations:

1.      Don’t permit the video conference to create an unlevel playing field between candidates who interview in person and those who interview by video. 

2.      Remind participants before the conference that just because they are not on the screen doesn’t mean the other party can’t see them. Reading a newspaper, playing with your Blackberry or scratching in embarrassing places will be noticed.

3.      Video interviews can be a daunting experience for nervous candidates. Consider making the first interview by telephone and using video as a follow-up second interview.

4.      Video systems in law firms are often set up to take in an entire conference room. Make sure that the focus is as close as reasonably possible. The rule of thumb should be the equivalent of a portrait photograph (from waist to top of head).

5.      Consider preparing written tips to put candidates at ease. One law firm tells candidates, “They say a television camera puts 10 pounds on even the thinnest person. So we won’t notice your 10 pounds if you don’t notice ours.”

6.      Have conference room or cell phone telephone numbers in advance in order to communicate if the technology fails.

7.      If you intend to tape the video interview for later review, remember that you must have the interviewee’s permission to record the interview. Video tapes are subject to all the same retention rules as any other application materials.

8.      Follow all the normal rules of etiquette that would be followed in a face-to-face interview. Be sure to introduce everyone participating, including anyone who enters the room late.

9.      Inappropriate or illegal questions by inexperienced interviewers are even more dangerous with a video record.

10. Recognize that interpersonal skills and video interviewing skills may be much different. A candidate who normally looks interviewers directly in their eyes may tend to look at the TV screen rather than the camera.