How Do Video Interviews Work

Practice And Tech Set Up

To get used to the technology and the body language of a video interview, its useful to do some practice video calls with friends or family members. Ask them to give you candid feedback about your appearance and eye contact. Run through it a few times until things start to feel natural.

This practice can make all the difference in your interviews. Set aside time in your schedule in the weeks and days leading up to your interviewyoull find your confidence growing as you become more comfortable in front of the camera.

On the day of your interview, review this checklist as youre setting up:

• Ensure that you wont be interrupted, either by locking the door or by alerting others that you cant be disturbed .

• Clear the desk space, except for a notepad and pen/pencil for you to take notes.

• Have a copy of your resume and any other notes ready for you to reference.

• Set out a glass or bottle of water for yourself.

• Check that your webcam is working.

• Check that your audio is working.

• Close any windows, tabs or applications on your computer that youre not using.

• Check your internet connection and make sure youre not downloading anything in the background.

• Set your phone to silent.

• Check that the background behind you is neutral and free from clutter.

• Adjust the lights in the room. If things appear dark or dim, you may want to bring in an extra desk lamp to brighten the space.

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Managing The Environment And Background

Be mindful about your surroundings and whats in the camera frame its all a part of how you present yourself.

Set up your camera, and then check the frame. Is there clutter in the background? Is it possible for the lighting to change dramatically if, for instance, the clouds part? Are there any potentially embarrassing posters or photos on the wall behind you? A mirror that could accidentally show something awkward? Keep your background as neat, neutral and inoffensive as possible.

What To Do At The End Of Your Interview

At the end of an interview, its not uncommon for interviewers to ask if you have any questions for them. Be prepared for a few questions of your own. For example, you might ask for specifics about a typical work day or about next steps in the hiring process.

Once theyve answered your questions, politely thank the interviewer for their time and consideration. Later you might also consider sending those who interviewed you an additional note of thanks via email. This shows youre still interested in the position and keeps you top of mind, but dont be too pushy with your follow-ups. Allow the hiring team to arrive at a decision in their own time.

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Test Your Technology Beforehand

You will be notified of the software you need to have in order to successfully complete your interview well in advance. Maximize this time, download the software if you haven’t already, and make sure you understand the basics of how it works.

This is also a great time to test how your webcam interacts with the software. No two video technology services are the same. So, you’ll want to test your microphone, lighting, and camera to fix issues beforehand. You wouldn’t want to make it to your interview and find out your mic isn’t working.

What To Expect During Your One

If you receive an email invitation to interview on-demand, you should know what to expect going in.

On-demand interviews are not like one-on-ones, they do not have a live interviewer on the other end. Typically, you can think of these as one-way video interviews. Expect to respond to on-screen prompts, either through text or pre-recorded questions, rather than questions from a live recruiter or hiring manager. There are several different methods companies use to deliver questions for one-way video interviews, so it’s best to be prepared for any of the following:

• Questions asked via pre-recorded video. After the video finishes, you will be given time to respond.
• Questions asked in a simple text format. Normally 30 seconds are given for you to read the question and prepare your response.
• Questions requiring you to write . If you are applying for a role that involves a great deal of writing, expect to asked for a written response to a prompt. Often these will involve doing outside research – do not close the interview window! It will be helpful to first draft your response in Microsoft Word or another text editor, just in case.
• Coding challenges. If you are applying for a software development role, expect to be asked to code in response to a prompt. These challenges can be in any language- research what languages you will be expected to code in on the job. Be prepared to explain how and why you coded your responses in the way you did.

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How To Do A Recorded Video Interview Candidate Questions Answered

Setting up a one-way interview can feel awkward and strange talking to a camera. But you should internalise that there will be people at the other end watching your pre-recorded video.

So take this opportunity to demonstrate who you are confidently and with a smile on your face

Look relaxed and pretend youre talking to someone when answering each question. Lets look into this in more detail.

Maintain Good Eye Contact

We all know how important it is to make confident eye contact during a job interview. This is much tougher to do via video. When youre speaking to someone via video conference, your eyes naturally want to focus on the face of your conversation partner. Depending on where that face is on your monitor and the location of your webcam, this can cause you to appear on-screen as if you are looking down or away.

You can avoid this by resizing and moving the window with the persons video image. Move it up or as close to your webcam as possible. This will give the closest approximation to real human eye contact.

PRO TIP: Theres a fine line between good eye contact and the serial killer stare. Webcam eye contact can feel a bit awkward at first and a lot of people respond by overcompensating. Just try to relax and act as usual .

A good rule of thumb is that if someone can see the whites all-around your pupil then your stare is probably too intense.

Michael Ellsberg, author of The Power of Eye Contact has this advice:

The kind of eye contact you want to have when you go into a job interview is neither too aggressive nor too weak. Its walking this perfect middle line that is called confidence.

There are also some cultural considerations depending on where you are in the world , but a good rule is to not sustain eye-contact for longer than 5 seconds at a time.

Break eye-contact, look away briefly, breathe, then reconnect.

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Prep For Optimal Eye Contact

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where they seemed to be looking over your shoulder or away from you entirely? Did you feel like you connected with that person? Probably not. So while actual eye contact isnt possible in a video interview, youll want to get as close as possible. Looking at someones face is usually enough to show that youre listening and engaged with what theyre saying.

To that end, make sure youve found a comfortable distance that allows you to look straight ahead rather than down at the camera. And place the window where your interviewer will appear on the same monitor as your camera and move it as close to the camera as possiblecentered is best. That way, when you look at them, as you naturally will during your conversation, youre also looking at the camera.

Coach Candidates Along The Way

Help candidates put their best foot forward by coaching them throughout the interview process. Review their answers in a one-way video interview, point out what they can improve on, and have them re-record, if necessary. Practice makes perfect, after all. And by being able to coach candidates along the way, clients can trust theyll be seeing the best a candidate has to offer.

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What Employers Say About Video Interviews

Using Spark Hire, we were able to take a 45 minute scheduled phone interview and replace it with a 15-minute one-way video interview. The videos are completed by the candidate in their free time and then reviewed by the hiring team at their convenience. This change has saved us countless hours in the screening process, and also given us the insights to only focus our time on the best applicants.

Amy Hargrove

All Web Leads

Once implementing Spark Hire, we experienced HUGE savings. The one thing we realized a year later is: the first people to do their video interviews are our most engaged and passionate employees. They love our company and you could see it from their first Spark Hire video interview.

Dustin Gordon

The Top 13 Best Video Interviewing Platforms

The best video interview software we’ve found after extensive research, along with pricing guidelines, benefits, ROI calculations, and more

Weâve updated this guide to reflect the need to conduct video interviews during COVID-19, in addition to all the advice that is relevant during more normal times. We hope it allows your recruiting team to stay nimble and keep moving talent through the funnel despite work-from-home and social distancing protocols.

If youâre looking to qualify more candidates faster, you should definitely start using a video interview solution. HR managers and recruiters are increasingly using these platforms to streamline and expedite their hiring processes as we can see in the data:

• Before COVID-19, a study revealed that video technology was being used by at least 60% of hiring managers and recruiters. Fast forward to this year, a poll of HR leaders found that as many as 86% of organizations are now using virtual technology to interview candidates.
• Not only do hiring managers like video interviewing, but as many as 57% of candidates do too. Moreover, 98% of candidates interviewed via video tend to perceive the employer as innovative – a reputation youâll definitely want to have.

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Although They Might Save Time Video Interviews Aren’t Paying Off For Job Candidates Or Employers New Research Shows

• Video interviews can present certain challenges that face-to-face interviews do not.
• Do not rule out a video interview it can be appropriate in some situations.
• Keep some important tips in mind before you begin a video interview.

Although they might save time, video interviews arent paying off for job candidates or employers, new research shows.

A study from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University in Ontario revealed that job applicants interviewed through video conferencing came across as less likable, while those doing the hiring were viewed as less competent.

Using simulated Skype sessions, the researchers found that candidates who were interviewed via video conferencing were rated lower by interviewers and were less likely to be recommended for hiring. On the other side of the webcam, candidates rated their interviewers as less attractive, less personable, less trustworthy and less competent.

Increasingly, video technology is being used in employment interviewing because companies feel it provides convenience and cost savings, said Greg Sears, one of the studys authors. Despite their growing use, our study shows that video conference interviews are not equivalent to face-to-face interviews.

The study, which was funded by the Canadian governments Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, was published in the journal Management Decision.

Coronavirus And Job Interviews

COVID-19 is affecting the way businesses recruit new candidates. While a small number of business are still holding face-to-face interviews, the majority of organisations are unlikely to do so until the current social distancing restrictions come to an end. Because of this, it’s now more important than ever to make sure that your telephone and video interview skills are up to scratch.

Read on to discover how to ace a video interview.

While video interviews have always been a part of recruitment the COVID-19 pandemic has made them crucial to the application process

Traditionally used in the early stages of the interview process to filter out large numbers of candidates they can vary in style and length. However as COVID restrictions were put in place the majority of things moved online and interviews were no exception.

The obvious benefits are the money and time savings for both you and the company. It also means that the recruiter and their colleagues can watch the interview again rather than just relying on notes.

The format isn’t without its challenges though – the main ones being connectivity problems and time delays. Not everyone is comfortable on camera and this may put some candidates at a disadvantage. However, with some preparation these issues can be overcome and help you move on to the next stage of the process.

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Meet The Employers Deadline

The good news is that you can usually pick a time for the interview that is the best for you, after work or on weekends if you are employed. The employer usually sets a due date when the interview should be completed. Know that date, and meet that deadline to be considered.

If possible, beat that deadline by several hours or even days. Avoid doing the interview at the last possible moment to make the best impression on the employer.

What Do Job Seekers Think About One

Jaylin Gamboa, an Austin resident, recently asked for fellow job seekers thoughts on these one-way video interviews on the popular Facebook group Austin Digital Jobs aimed at connecting and supporting local job seekers.

The feedback was overwhelming against these interviews. It makes me nervous because I want everything to be perfect and I know I will replay myself a million times on the screen never feeling like it will be good enough to send in, Gamboa said.

Other commenters pointed out the amount of effort it takes to produce even a one-minute video: recording and re-recording to try to get the words right, finding the right lighting, and troubleshooting technology. Some said they dont bother at all and move on to the next opportunity.

Not all job seekers are up in arms against one-way video interviews. Maria Fuschimo, an English teacher currently working in Seoul, didnt mind this format. In person I get nervous and forget to mention things, but since this one was recorded I was able to say everything I wanted because it didnt put me on the spot, she told me.

This experience is largely dependent on the software thats used, as not all allow you to rerecord answers or even know the questions ahead of time. Our own Client Training Manager at CareerPlug, Kate Anton, reported doing an interview where a question would pop up on the screen and give the candidate 15 seconds to think of their answer before the recording would start.

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Show Up A Few Minutes Early

You wouldnt walk into the building where a 3 PM interview was being held at exactly 3 PM or even at 2:59 PM, so you shouldnt cut it so close for a video interview either. Prepare your computer by closing all extra windows and tabs. And if you have a portfolio or anything similar youd like to be able to show via screen share during your interview, make sure that its ready in an easy-to-access, but minimized, window.

Open up the program where your video interview will take place a few minutes early. Before you fully enter the meeting, a lot of the common video interview software will give you a chance to check your shot. Then, relax, says Turner. Be completely in place a few minutes early and do a few breathing exercises. That way, when you click to join the call and the interview starts, youre already ready to go.

Have The Login Information Handy

As part of the invitation, you should receive a URL where you will need to login to participate in the interview. Other login information, like the employers or the interviewers name, an identifier for the interview, and possibly a password, may be sent to you as part of the invitation process. Be sure to have that ready.

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How Can You Prepare Ahead Of Time

Your appearance will be more critical than ever during an on-demand interview. Make sure you have a plain, uncluttered backdrop with no noise in the background. Pick out a simple but professional outfit. Make sure your hair is combed and tidy, and your face bright and refreshed!

If youre lucky enough to have access to the interview questions prior to your on-demand interview, this is an incredible opportunity! Write your answers down multiple times and practice reading them aloud to friends or family. As youre recording your answers, you dont want to come off stiff, so avoid reading right off a page. Repeated practice will build up your muscle memory and help the answers roll right off your tongue! You can even practice recording on your laptop and watching your answers back. While uncomfortable, it can be a great way to expose your body language and any answers that may be slightly off.

For more video or general interview tips, be sure to explore our candidate resources.