Traditional vs. Modern Interviewing: Which One Actually Works?

Hiring has changed a lot over the years, but one thing remains true—interviews can make or break the hiring process. The way companies evaluate candidates has evolved from rigid, time-consuming methods to streamlined, tech-driven solutions. So, which approach is better? Let’s break down the key differences between traditional and modern interviewing techniques and see how they stack up.

The Traditional method

The Good, The Bad, and The Outdated

Traditional interviews have been the go-to hiring method for decades. Here’s how they typically work:

In-Person Meetings – Candidates visit the office to meet with hiring managers.

Phone Screens – Initial candidate assessments are done via phone calls.

Structured Questioning – Interviewers stick to a set of standard questions.

Multiple Rounds – Candidates go through several stages, sometimes over weeks

The Problems with Traditional Interviewing:

Time-Consuming – Scheduling conflicts, long interview processes, and multiple rounds drag out hiring timelines.

Inconsistent – Different interviewers may have different interpretations of the same candidate.

Bias-Prone – Face-to-face meetings can lead to unconscious bias affecting hiring decisions.

Candidate Ghosting – The long, drawn-out process can lose candidates to faster-moving companies.

The Modern Approach

Smarter, Faster, More Efficient Hiring

Today’s hiring teams need processes that match the pace of modern work. Traditional interviews can slow things down, but modern techniques use technology to make hiring more efficient, consistent, and scalable.

One-Way Video Interviews (like Wedge!) – Candidates answer pre-recorded questions on their own time. Hiring teams can review responses when it fits their schedule, reducing back-and-forth and speeding up decision-making.

AI-Powered Interview Summaries – Provides clear, concise summaries of each interview, saving time and helping teams stay aligned throughout the hiring process.

Asynchronous Hiring – Scheduling no longer needs to be a bottleneck. Candidates can interview anytime, from anywhere, while hiring managers review when it’s most convenient.

Data-Driven Hiring – Tools analyze interview responses for deeper insights, reducing bias and improving decision-making.

Why Modern Interviewing Wins:

Saves Time – Companies using Wedge reduce time-to-hire by 50% or more.

More Flexibility – Candidates don’t have to drop everything for an interview.

Reduces Bias – Structured, standardized video interviews create a level playing field.

Better Candidate Experience – A smoother, more engaging process means fewer candidates drop out.

‍Which Approach is Right for You?

If you’re still relying on traditional interviewing methods, you might be losing top candidates to companies that move faster. Modern interviewing, especially with Wedge’s one-way video interviews, helps teams hire better, smarter, and faster; without sacrificing quality.

The choice is clear: ditch the outdated process and embrace the future of hiring.

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