RCadmin Recruiting
People Claiming They Signed In To Interviews When They Didn’t

Title: Addressing the Rise of False Interview Attendance Reports on Virtual Platforms

In recent weeks, many professionals involved in virtual recruitment and interviews have reported an unusual trend: candidates claiming they signed into scheduled meetings on time, yet there is no evidence of their presence when the interviewer logs in. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly common, raising concerns about the accuracy of attendance reporting and the reliability of remote interview technologies.

Typically, the interview process involves scheduled meetings set through platforms like Microsoft Teams or similar video conferencing tools. Interviewers prepare by signing in and waiting for candidates at the designated time. However, there have been numerous instances where, after waiting for several minutes—often five or more—interviewers conclude that the candidate has either missed the appointment or is unresponsive and then sign out or move on. Subsequently, candidates contact the interviewer claiming they were present and waiting at the correct time, yet no one is found in the virtual lobby or meeting room when the interviewer joins.

This pattern appears to have recently increased, prompting questions about the root causes. Initial troubleshooting, such as verifying that calendar invites and meeting links are correctly sent and functioning, typically confirms that the scheduling system is accurate. Despite this, discrepancies persist. Some possible explanations for this issue include:

  • Technical Glitches: Occasionally, platform glitches or connectivity issues may prevent the candidate’s video or audio from transmitting, leading them to believe they have successfully signed in when they have not connected properly.

  • User Error or Forgetfulness: Candidates may forget to properly join the meeting, navigate to the correct link, or may experience delays that cause them to join late or mistakes in joining the call.

  • Intentional Misinformation: In some cases, candidates may attempt to misrepresent their attendance status, possibly to avoid scheduling conflicts or due to misunderstanding.

  • Platform Synchronization Issues: There might be delays or errors in the synchronization between calendar invites and the virtual meeting platform, causing subsequent confusion regarding a participant’s presence.

Given that your booking system and invitation links are verified to work correctly, and the problem persists, it’s important for organizations to consider additional measures. These might include:

  • Using Confirmed Attendance Features: Leverage platform features that log when a participant actually joins the meeting, such as the attendee report in Teams.

  • Implementing Pre-Meeting Checks: Send reminder messages that include instructions to confirm their presence or provide a prompt to check their connection.

  • Recording All Sessions: Record interviews to verify actual participant presence and engagement during scheduled times.

  • Clear Communication of Expectations: Inform candidates about the importance of timely and proper connection and advise them on how to troubleshoot common technical issues.

  • Consider Alternative Scheduling Tools: Explore dedicated scheduling and attendance tracking tools that provide more granular attendance insights.

The rising reports of such discrepancies highlight the need for interviewers and HR professionals to refine their virtual interview protocols and leverage technology effectively to ensure transparency and fairness. While remote interviews offer flexibility and efficiency, they also require vigilance to prevent and address reporting inaccuracies.

Are you experiencing similar issues? Share your insights and solutions to help improve the virtual hiring process for everyone involved.