More and more, I’m hearing finance professionals share that they are tired of working remotely and would like to get back to the office. Maybe not five days per week, 3/2 or 4/1 hybrid seem to be the sweet spots. But another related sentiment is popping up. I’m seeing candidates beginning to hit the wall with virtual interviews, so I did a little digging. Workable’s 2024 data nails it—60% crave in-person options over yet another Zoom screen. I get it; after years of virtual meetings and interviews, face-to-face can seal the deal where pixels fall flat. 
It’s not just griping—stats back the burnout. StandOut CV’s 2025 survey shows 70% of candidates have ditched a virtual interview due to tech glitches—spotty Wi-Fi, frozen screens, you name it. SHRM’s 2024 report adds fuel—63% of job seekers say virtual fatigue saps their energy, making them less sharp. Compare that to pre-pandemic vibes—94% of final interviews were in-person (StandOut CV, 2023)—and its clear folks miss the real thing. Even with video’s boom—up 57% since 2019 (StandOut CV, 2025)—it’s losing steam; 69% of employers still use it (StandOut CV, 2025), but to what benefit? 
Why the pushback? It’s human—WitHe’s 2024 stats show 65% lose interest after a bad virtual experience; no handshake, no vibe check. In Tampa Bay, where Q1 hiring’s up 12% (Tampa Bay Business Journal, Feb 2025), candidates want to feel the chemistry. Sure, virtual is quick—84% schedule within 24 hours (StandOut CV, 2025)—but 60% still bolt from clunky processes (SHRM, 2025). Firms mandating long virtual interview processes risk losing stars. 
The blessing and curse of virtual meetings are they are easy to coordinate. To that end, personally I’ve seen interview processes extend to five, six, seven even up to north of 10 meetings primarily because “virtual meetings are easy to add one on”. Can anyone say Interview Fatigue? Great way to lose a candidate’s excitement and interest. 
Virtual is slick for screening, but in-person flips the switch. Mix it up—74% of employers screen for cultural fit (LinkedIn, 2025)—and nothing beats live chemistry. Tampa Bay’s talent pool is getting too hot to let virtual fatigue tank your hires—let’s chat about landing the right face, not just a face on screen. 
#VirtualInterviews #TampaBayHiring #CandidateExperience #CPACareers #RecruitingTrends
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