Recruiters should invest in a decent pair of headphones for better interviews because it can improve sound quality, enhance communication, demonstrate professionalism, and provide added comfort during the recruitment process. Good headphones can help eliminate background noise, ensure clear communication, and make the recruiter look more professional. It can also make the experience more comfortable for both the recruiter and the candidate, especially during remote interviews.

Why invest in headphones?

Having a great pair of headphones in recruiting can be important for several reasons:

Improved Sound Quality: With a great pair of headphones, you can experience better sound quality, allowing you to hear every detail of a candidate’s response. This can be particularly important when conducting remote interviews where there may be background noise or poor internet connections that can affect the quality of the audio.

Enhanced Communication: Good communication is essential in recruiting. A great pair of headphones can help eliminate any background noise and ensure that you can communicate clearly with candidates. This can be particularly important when conducting remote interviews where there may be technical issues or language barriers.

Professionalism: Wearing a great pair of headphones can help you look more professional and polished during the recruitment process. It shows that you take the process seriously and are committed to providing a positive experience for candidates.

Comfort: Recruitment can be a long and tiring process, particularly if you’re conducting multiple interviews in a day. A great pair of headphones can provide added comfort, particularly if you opt for over-ear headphones that reduce pressure on the ears.

Overall, having a great pair of headphones can enhance the recruitment process, making it easier to communicate with candidates and providing a more professional and comfortable experience for all involved.

Headphones worth reviewing further: 

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones with Mic for Phone-Call and Alexa Voice Control

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are comfortable and lightweight, while also delivering excellent noise-cancellation and sound quality. Despite their similar appearance to their predecessors, the headphones offer significant upgrades such as multipoint pairing, conversational awareness, and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor. Additionally, they support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format and the LDAC codec for high-quality audio. Although they no longer support aptX or aptX HD, these headphones still deliver exceptional noise cancellation and advanced codec support, making them a great choice for wireless headphones.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones – Bluetooth Headset for Crystal-Clear Calls with Adaptive Noise Cancellation, 60h Battery Life, Customizable Sound 

Released in August 2022, these over-ear headphones offer a remarkable 60-hour battery life, an easy-to-use app, extensive features, on-ear controls, adaptive noise cancellation, and exceptional sound quality. Although they may be plain in appearance, the sound quality more than makes up for it. Sennheiser has included numerous features, including Sidetone for call clarity and Sound Zones, EQ, and ANC presets to create an immersive experience. The sound quality is open, detailed, expansive, neutral, and crisp, without any muddiness or congestion in the bass. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones outshine the Sony XM5 in every aspect, and they’re also slightly cheaper.

3. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones, Advanced Active Noise Cancellation, Compatible with B&W Android/iOS Music App, Premium Design, Offers 7-Hour Playback on 15-Min Quick Charge

To put it simply, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 wireless over-ear headphones are currently the ones to beat when it comes to sound quality. If that’s all the information you need, then thank you for reading this buying guide. However, if you’re curious why we specifically used the word “sonically” and why we didn’t give them a full five-star rating, keep reading.

The reality is that the B&W PX8 headphones come with a high price tag. This is justified by the addition of a new carbon cone 40mm drive unit, which replaces the bio-cellulose driver found in the more affordable Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2. Additionally, the headphones are built with die-cast aluminum arms, diamond-cut bright metal detailing, and Nappa leather trim, all of which elevate their build quality to a high-end level. However, for some people, the cost may be too steep, especially in the current financial climate.

4. Jabra Elite 45h, Titanium Black – On-Ear Wireless Headphones with Up to 50 Hours of Battery Life, Superior Sound with Advanced 40mm Speakers – Compact, Foldable & Lightweight Design

I really appreciate the combination of faux leather, memory foam, and sturdy plastic used to create a comfortable fit for the Jabra Elite 45h headphones. However, we did find that the ear pads tend to reflect body heat, which can make them feel warm after extended use.

In terms of technology, the Jabra Elite 45h headphones offer all the essential features. They allow for voice control through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. Additionally, Jabra’s Sound+ control app takes you through a brief hearing test to personalize the EQ settings for your ears, offering a surprisingly customized experience for headphones in this price range. Compared to other affordable headphones, the Elite 45h are impressively feature-packed.

5. Sony Wireless Headphones WH-CH510: Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with Mic for Phone-Call

I was impressed with the Sony WH-CH510 wireless on-ear headphones during our testing. Despite their low cost, they deliver decent sound quality, a USB-C port, and an impressive battery life of 35 hours.

As a buyer in this price range, you may expect to make some compromises. However, Sony has made mostly non-critical sacrifices with the WH-CH510. For instance, they lack an analog input, which is similar to the 3.5mm port that is missing on most modern smartphones. Though the construction may feel a bit plasticky, the headphones are lightweight, portable, and comfortable.

Although they may not have the same level of clarity, balance, and spaciousness as their WH-1000XM4 siblings, the sound quality of the on-ear headphones is better than expected, given their size and price. They perform well with most genres, although tracks that already have low mids and boosted treble may sound uncomfortably exaggerated.

6. Poly Blackwire 5220 USB-A Wired Headset (Plantronics) – Flexible Noise-Canceling Boom Mic – Ergonomic Design – Connect to PC/Mac, Mobile

This is what I’m currently using and I love it! The headset offers easy connectivity between devices, allowing you to connect to your PC or Mac using a USB-A cord and/or to a mobile phone via a 3.5mm connection jack. The audio quality is superb, with a noise-canceling mic that ensures callers can hear your voice clearly and SoundGuard DIGITAL technology that protects against high sound levels and sudden loud noises.

It’s designed for all-day comfort, with memory foam ear cushions wrapped in ultra-soft leatherette and a lightweight adjustable headband for a custom fit. It is collaboration ready, with plug-and-play compatibility with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other leading collaboration platforms.

It also features intuitive inline controls that let you answer/end calls, control volume, and mute. Additionally, it comes with a carrying case for easy portability and storage. The included components are the headset and carrying case.