During the pandemic and state of emergency, msg life interviews continue online, via video call. The HR manager introduces the job interview process to the candidates. Since mid-March 2020 we have introduced online interviews also in msg life Slovakia. Since then, we have completed over a hundred video interviews with job applicants. How do these interviews work and what can you expect from the whole process? Our HR manager Veronika will tell you more.
What precedes the online job interview?
“The whole job interview process starts with the candidate being interested in a vacant position at msg life Slovakia. Latest job offers can be found on our website in the Career section, or on LinkedIn, Facebook or Profesia.sk. However, a recruitment agency can also approach them. If someone is interested in our company and in one of our job positions, they should definitely not hesitate to contact us and send us their CV.”
I found a suitable position. What happens after I send my CV?
“After a considered review of online CVs, we contact the selected candidates and arrange a time for an interview by phone. We send the candidate an invitation to an interview by email. The invitation contains all the necessary information about the company, the HR policy as well as all the important information about joining the online interview. If the candidate has been contacted by a recruitment agency, the communication is mediated through the agency.”
What communication platform do you use?
“At msg life Slovakia we use the MS Teams platform for video calls. We have tried various video calling apps and Teams has been the most successful. How to start a video call? The candidate joins by clicking on the link provided in the email. This platform works smoothly, so far there have been no difficulties in using it and we use it within the company for normal communication or during home office too. It is also possible to start a video call via mobile phone.”
What time do the interviews take place?
“We want to make the time of interviews as close as possible to the real time of face-to-face meetings, i.e. between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. However, we do sometimes interview at 7:00 a.m., and of course we try to accommodate candidates’ time availability. If the proposed hour does not suit the applicant, they can agree with us on another time. You also need to set aside enough time. It is impossible to generalize how long the interview takes, but we can say that it is usually around an hour.”
Who will I meet at the online interview?
“In the first round, the candidate meets me most often. In the case of a Java developer job, the interview takes place with colleagues from the respective development team. At the first interview, the candidate learns all the necessary information about the company and the position for which they are applying. At this stage we see if the expectations from your side as well as from ours have been fulfilled.”
How many rounds in total is the selection process?
“The number of rounds very much depends on the position offered by our company. For some it is two to three rounds, for a position with very specific requirements it is four rounds. Anyway, after the first interview, if we are comfortable with each other, we invite the candidate to the second round. In it, the candidate will meet his potential future senior manager. This is where deeper knowledge and experience as well as their and our specific expectations come into play. It may also happen that the interview round turns into an interview in German or an interview in English, depending on the position. If we are a good match for this round, we will arrange a date for a practical assignment – this is a short test to confirm that the person is the most suitable candidate. This is followed by an appointment and the signing of the contract. However, we will notify candidates in advance of the selection process by email with all the necessary information and the number of rounds. Other details, especially the technical ones, can be found out in the next rounds.”
Will the online form of interviews continue in the future?
“Unfortunately, we don’t know that for sure, we will see how the situation develops. For now, however, we are still sticking to online interviews, and adapting to the parent company in Germany. We are still conducting online job interviews in our branches in Zilina and Kosice, as the company’s headquarters are in Bratislava.”
What would you recommend to the candidates in conclusion?
“I have received a request for a company tour, but we are unable to comply with that request at this time. However, you can get a glimpse into our premises through our Google Business profile. I definitely recommend you also check out our website, where candidates can find information about our products or employee benefits. Alternatively, think about what questions to ask in the interview, which always demonstrates the candidate’s interest in the position. We hope that after the pandemic, both company tours and coffee with the candidates will be possible again. In conclusion, I would like to add that there is nothing to be afraid of. Don’t worry about how to handle the interview or how to make a good impression at an interview, we have a nice team and we look forward to meeting new colleagues.”
