Job applicants interviewed through video conferencing come across as less likeable, according to a study from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

According to the study, conducted by Greg Sears and Haiyan Zhang when they were PhD students at DeGroote, using video conferencing for job interviews disadvantages both employers and candidates.

In simulated job interviews, candidates who were interviewed by video-conferencing were rated lower by interviewers and were less likely to be recommended for hiring. Meanwhile, candidates also rated their interviewers as less attractive, personable, trustworthy and competent.

“Increasingly, video technology is being used in employment interviewing because companies feel it provides convenience and cost savings,” explains Sears, now an associate professor at the Sprott School of Business. “Despite their growing use, our study shows that video conference interviews are not equivalent to face-to-face interviews.”

The researchers recommend that video conferencing be used only for preliminary screening interviews. Final selection of candidates should be conducted through face-to-face interviews.

The study is published in the journal Management Decision. The research was funded by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council.