Student Perceptions of Web Interviews and Key Points for Improving Corporate Image

Recruit Management Solutions Co., Ltd. has conducted and published the results of a survey of 1,407 university students who participated in the 2021 new graduate recruitment process, regarding their impressions of web interviews and the impact of web-interview-specific phenomena on their desire to join a company and their corporate image ("Survey on University Students' Job Hunting 2020," Nov 15, 2020). Understanding how students feel about web interviews can serve as a useful reference for corporate recruiters.

✅ Over 80% of students have experienced web interviews

Among students who had interview experience during the main recruitment process, approximately 81% have experienced web interviews.Although the number of students reporting web interview experience decreases and the ratio of in-person-only interviews increases as the selection process progresses from the first to the second round, more than 60% still conducted web interviews even in the final interview stage.

✅ What are students' impressions of web interviews?

Whether a student prefers a web interview or an in-person interview varies depending on the stage of the selection process. While over 40% of students answered that they "prefer web interviews" or "somewhat prefer web interviews" for the first interview, that figure dropped to less than 20% for the final interview, showing that the percentage of students who prefer in-person interviews increases as the selection process advances.

✅ Reasons why web interviews are preferred

Reasons for preferring web interviews are summarized into three points: "psychological aspects," such as being able to take the interview without tension and in a relaxed state because it is at home, and being able to avoid crowded trains and prepare right up until the start of the interview, allowing them to focus their energy on the interview; "economic and efficiency aspects," such as not incurring travel time or costs and being able to interview with multiple companies at once; and "social aspects," such as concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, there are also opinions favoring in-person interviews, stating that feelings, atmosphere, and enthusiasm are better conveyed, that it is easier to talk, that they want to feel the personality and atmosphere of the employees directly, and that it is unsettling not to meet in person at all until the end.

✅ What improves a student's desire to join a company and their corporate image during a web interview?

To improve a student's desire to join a company and their corporate image during a web interview, the following seem to be key points:

1. The interviewer's communication attitude
2. Prompt and reassuring troubleshooting
3. Consideration for creating a comfortable environment
4. Showing the work environment
5. Flexible responses

The survey results list the following as events that increased their desire to join a company, which are things companies can implement immediately: 1. The interviewer reacted more expressively and nodded clearly, taking into account that it was a web interview. 2. Even when an interview could not be conducted due to connection issues, they rescheduled the date and assured the student that technical issues would not affect the selection process. 3. They offered words to ease tension, such as "It's hard to get used to web interviews, isn't it?", stated that there was no change in selection criteria between web and in-person, and offered words of appreciation for the effort taken to prepare, such as setting up a camera. 4. They showed the office through the PC camera, or the interviewer conducted the interview from home, which provided a sense of security by showing that the company is considerate of the social situation. 5. They changed an in-person interview to an online one upon learning the student lived outside the prefecture, etc.