Quick Takeaway

Augusta supports in-person, virtual, and phone interviews—and each can be successful depending on your hiring process.

While most hires across Augusta customers still begin with an in-person first interview, the best format is ultimately the one that allows your team to:

• Meet qualified applicants quickly
• Keep your recruiting process moving
• Create a great candidate experience
• Confidently make hiring decisions

Key takeaway: While virtual interviews continue to become more common, most hires across Augusta still begin with an in-person first interview.

In This Article

• Choosing the right interview format
• When to use in-person interviews
• When virtual or phone interviews make sense
• Using screening calls alongside official interviews
• Managing interview formats inside Augusta

There Isn't One "Best" Interview Format

Every agency recruits a little differently.

Some agencies invite qualified applicants directly to an in-person interview.

Others begin with a quick phone or virtual screening before deciding whether to bring someone into the office.

Augusta supports both approaches.

Rather than asking:

"Which interview format is best?"

Ask:

"Which format helps our team meet qualified applicants as quickly and consistently as possible?"

Speed and consistency generally have a much larger impact on hiring success than whether the conversation happens over the phone, on video, or in person.

In-Person Interviews

Across Augusta, most hires still begin with an in-person first interview.

In-person interviews allow you to:

• Build stronger relationships
• Showcase your office and culture
• Introduce candidates to your team
• Answer questions in real time
• Move immediately into onboarding or next steps when appropriate

They're often a great fit when:

• Your office is easy for applicants to reach
• You're hiring caregivers at a high volume
• Your recruiters have consistent interview availability
• You want to move candidates from interview to onboarding as quickly as possible

Many agencies even make contingent job offers during these interviews to reduce delays in the hiring process.

Virtual or Phone Interviews

Virtual and phone interviews are excellent tools when geography, staffing, or scheduling make in-person meetings more difficult.

They're commonly used when:

• Your service area is large
• Applicants live farther away
• Your recruiters work remotely
• You want a quick conversation before investing in an in-person meeting

These formats can also help recruiters quickly answer applicant questions and determine next steps without requiring travel.

Using Screening Calls Before an Interview

Many agencies prefer speaking with applicants before an official interview.

Augusta supports that workflow through Hiring Stages.

For example:

Application → Phone Screening → In-Person Interview → Orientation

However, some agencies choose a simpler approach.

Rather than requiring applicants to book two separate meetings, they allow qualified applicants to immediately book their official interview.

Their recruiter then calls the applicant before the interview to:

• Introduce themselves
• Build rapport
• Answer questions
• Confirm the candidate is still a good fit
• Decide whether to keep, reschedule, or cancel the interview

This approach helps maintain a fast hiring process while still giving recruiters the opportunity to have an initial conversation.

Keep Your Process Moving

Regardless of which interview format you choose, the biggest opportunities usually come from:

• Offering enough meeting availability
• Reducing the time from application to first conversation
• Following up promptly with qualified applicants
• Making it easy for candidates to move to the next hiring stage

Often, those improvements have a greater impact on hiring success than changing the interview format itself.

Managing Interview Formats in Augusta

Interview formats are configured within your Hiring Stages.

You can choose whether each stage uses:

• In-person meetings
• Virtual meetings
• Phone meetings

You can also configure:

• Meeting duration
• Availability
• Buffer times
• Automated scheduling
• Calendar connections

👉 Learn how to configure your Hiring Stages

👉 Learn how to optimize your recruiting schedule

In Summary

Augusta supports in-person, virtual, and phone interviews because every agency's recruiting process is different.

While in-person interviews continue to account for the largest share of hires across Augusta customers, the most successful agencies are typically the ones that:

• Meet qualified applicants quickly
• Keep interview availability open
• Create a smooth candidate experience
• Move applicants efficiently from one hiring stage to the next

Choose the interview format that best supports your team—and focus on building a hiring process that keeps great candidates moving forward.