In the modern age of remote hiring, the virtual job interview has devolved into a Wild West of unprofessionalism and artificial intelligence shortcuts. According to Sara Nibler, a recruiter at Redballoon who places candidates in roles ranging from manufacturing to media, job seekers are increasingly confusing the convenience of Zoom with an excuse to abandon basic professional etiquette. From candidates wearing bathrobes to those outsourcing their critical thinking to AI, the virtual hiring process is facing a crisis of casualness.
Nibler, who has worked with more than 80 organizations, including small businesses, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and larger companies, across various industries, personally conducts over 600 interviews per year. She laughed as she recounted some of the things she’s seen, telling Fortune in a recent conversation.
“I spoke to one gentleman who, I think he wanted to be very prepared for the call,” Nibler said, “but he was, you know, fresh from the shower, with his hair still dripping wet, his shirt was open.” Nibler said she would classify this as similar to an interviewee wearing a bathrobe, although technically, a colleague of hers conducted an interview with a berobed candidate.
