Hire Calling

Entrepreneur, August, 2000 by Chris Penttila

* Always have a backup plan. Make sure there's a phone nearby or you can access e-mail fairly quickly to contact the party on the other end if your connection fails. Right now, chances are, you 11 have problems with the connection. (Smith's experience as an interviewee is that getting connected to begin with is often the hardest part.) Make sure that prior to the interview, you figure out how you'll quickly reconnect if the line goes down. Knowing what to do if things disintegrate can alleviate stress on both sides of the screen.

* Streaming what? Video interviewing is still relatively new, and many job seekers may never have heard of it (much less experienced it). Don't be surprised if interviewees aren't familiar with this type of technology and be prepared to acquaint them with the process. By planning ahead, you'll feel more comfortable--which will help you make your initial recruiting decisions. Plus, planning ahead will surely save you some time and money down the line.

Chris Penttila is a freelance journalist who covers workplace issues from her home base in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, area.