Solutions for Recruiters in Online Interviews with Recent Graduates

7 Common Interview Challenges with Recent Graduates and How to Overcome Them 

Navigating job interviews with recent college graduates can be challenging due to their unique set of behaviors and expectations. A recent survey by Intelligent.com reveals key areas where new graduates often struggle during interviews. This article discusses these challenges and explores effective technological solutions that can help enhance the interview process.

List of Common Challenges and Solutions

1. Struggling with Eye Contact (53%)

   • Problem: A significant majority of employers notice that recent graduates often struggle with maintaining eye contact, which can negatively impact the interviewer's perception of their confidence and engagement.
   • Solution: Implementing AI-powered proctoring tools like Talview can provide candidates with real-time feedback on their eye contact and general demeanor, helping improve their presentation skills during interviews.

2. Asking for Unreasonable Compensation (50%)

   • Problem: Half of the employers surveyed reported that recent graduates tend to have unrealistic salary expectations.
   • Solution: Before appearing for the interview, candidates can do research on the average compensation of the role they are applying for, through websites like Indeed.com. This can help set clear expectations early in the recruitment process, aligning candidate expectations with market standards.

3. Dressing Inappropriately for Interviews (47%)

   • Problem: Nearly half of the respondents find that graduates often dress inappropriately, which may reflect a lack of understanding of professional norms.
   • Solution: Providing digital guides on professional attire and conducting pre-interview coaching sessions can educate candidates on the appropriate dress codes for interviews.
     
     
     

4. Using Inappropriate Language (27%)

   • Problem: More than a quarter of employers noted the use of inappropriate language during interviews, which can be a significant deterrent.
   • Solution: AI-enhanced training modules can coach candidates on professional communication, helping them avoid slang and casual language that might be inappropriate in a professional setting.

5. Refusing to Turn on the Camera During Virtual Interviews (21%)

   • Problem: A notable percentage of graduates are hesitant to engage fully by turning on their cameras during virtual interviews, which can impede the interactive quality of the conversation.
   • Solution: Encouraging the use of engaging and interactive virtual interview platforms live Talview’s Interview Rooms can emphasize the importance of visual presence and help candidates feel more comfortable with the camera on.

   1. Lack of Professional Experience

      Challenge: Recent graduates often struggle to demonstrate job-relevant skills due to limited professional experience, making it difficult to showcase relevant examples during interviews.

      Solution: Graduates should emphasize academic projects, internships, and volunteer work that demonstrate their skills. Utilizing the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure their responses, this can enhance the presentation of their experiences. Highlighting transferable skills and explaining their applicability to the job role, graduates can effectively bridge the experience gap.

   2. Poor Interview Preparation

      Challenge: Many graduates do not conduct sufficient research on the company and role, and often arrive unprepared for interview questions.

      Solution: Graduates should conduct comprehensive research on the company’s history, values, and recent developments. Practicing common interview questions and preparing tailored responses can also be advantageous. Utilizing online resources such as Glassdoor for company-specific interview insights can further enhance their preparation.

   Conclusion

   By leveraging technological solutions and using relevant websites, recruiters and candidates both can effectively address these common challenges online interviews. These tools enhance the interview experience, help identify the right talent, and ensure graduates are better prepared and aligned with professional expectations, leading to successful hiring outcomes.