Jul 8, 2021

The class of 2021 is ready to enter the workforce — virtually, that is. Despite employers making plans to head back to the workplace as COVID-19 restrictions ease, younger employees are looking to secure their jobs in a virtual setting, according to a report by Handshake, a career platform for college students. Eight-seven percent of new graduates would prefer to interview and network online and 71% believe it’s a less intimidating environment for job hunting. The majority of employers have plans to hire digitally this year : 93% plan to conduct interviews and attend job fairs virtually and 79% plan to continue the practice even after COVID is no longer a concern, Handshake found. “The pandemic accelerated our plans to expand our virtual recruiting capabilities,” Julie Grzeda, executive director for early career talent at GE, said in a release. “Companies of all sizes are working to provide more personalized interactions and proactive outreach to share our opportunities with students.” The job market is undergoing a sea change post-COVID. Employers are preparing for a hiring spree while the majority of employees have plans to look for new job opportunities . But while virtual recruiting is becoming the norm, employers are struggling with identifying qualified candidates in a remote setting. Forty-one percent of employers say virtual recruiting makes it difficult to assess and identify top talent and 31% found it difficult to engage with candidates remotely, according to a survey by Monster. However, candidates feel more comfortable in these virtual settings, especially underserved groups like women and people of color, Handshake found. Fifty-eight percent of Black applicants and 57% of LatinX job seekers thought virtual interviews were more fair than in-person interactions. These applicants said they felt less anxious about experiencing implicit biases and were more likely to move forward in the interview process. “At in-person interviews, most companies ask me about my immigration status before asking about my academic accomplishments,” one student told Handshake in the report. “At the virtual career event, I wasn’t asked those questions and could focus on networking instead.” Women also felt more at-ease in a virtual environment: 55% of women prefer online interviews, compared to 41% of men, Handshake found. Women said they felt more able to speak up without being interrupted in a virtual setting and 43% said they were more likely to apply for a job after attending a virtual job fair. As employers look for more ways to expand their talent pool and hire more diverse and inclusive staff, it’s imperative that virtual recruiting becomes a normal part of the HR process, says Andy Valenzuela, CHRO of HireVue, a virtual recruiting platform. “The positive is that [the pandemic] is opening up markets and talent that didn't exist before because companies still weren't sure whether they could fully operate in a remote environment,” says Andy Valenzuela, CHRO of HireVue. “Technology doesn't mean the process is impersonal. Technology can create a similar experience and have personalized elements to it.”