1. Introduction

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for your next video interview? 

Without further ado, let’s get started!

2. What is a Video Interview?

A video interview is a form of job interview that is conducted virtually with the aid of video conferencing technology. Instead of meeting face-to-face, the interviewer and interviewee will connect over the internet. 

As remote work continues its steady rise, more organisations are resorting to candidate video interviews to screen candidates. 

This may not be as straightforward as it first appears. Candidate video interviews can take different formats. Don’t worry, as we’ll cover these later!

First, check out this short video that provides key insight on the concept of on-demand interviews and the nature of how pre recorded video interview questions and answers work:

Now that we know  a bit more about video interviews, let’s dive into what these pre recorded video interviews measure.

What Do Video Interviews Measure?

Video interviews or on demand digital interviews measure the following capabilities of the applicants:

1. Communication Skills: On demand interviews dictate how well candidates express themselves verbally, which is critical for roles that involve regular interpersonal interaction.
2. Cultural Fit and Professionalism: By observing a candidate’s behavior, tone, and attire during the on-demand video interview, recruiters assess how well they may fit the company’s culture and professional standards.
3. Technical Knowledge and Problem-Solving Abilities: For some roles, candidates may be asked technical on-demand video interview questions or situational challenges to gauge their subject expertise and approach to problem-solving.
4. Behavioral Traits: Many on demand video interviews use behavioral questions to understand a candidate’s past experiences, teamwork capabilities, and response to challenges.
5. Confidence and Presence: Candidates are also evaluated on their confidence, eye contact, and ability to stay calm, which is particularly important for client-facing roles.

Video interviews are often divided into three different categories. Read on to find out more about these different kinds of video interviews you may face during your assessment process.

3. Types of Video Interviews

What are the main types of video interviews?

Employers use different kinds of online video interviews when hiring new employees, depending on the entry-level, the role requirements and the company culture. Here are the top types of video interview used by employers:

1. On-demand or One-way Video Interview
2. Live Video Interview
3. Technical Video Interview

Now, let’s dive into each of these below, starting with the on demand video interview. 

On-Demand Video Interview

What is an on demand video interview?

A one way video interview or on-demand video interview allows you to record your responses to pre-set interview questions using an online video interview platform within a specified timeframe. Once your video responses are submitted, the hiring team will review them at their convenience. 

Some recruiters may use AI-powered tools that analyse your body language and speech patterns from your response to determine your suitability for the role. 

To pass this type of interview, see our following expert pre recorded video interview tips.

Top 5 Pre Recorded Video Interview Tips 

1. Practice timed responses: Time management is crucial during video interview practice. Practicing timing your responses can help you keep your responses concise and straight to the point to fit the time limit.
2. Understand the interview format: Try to make sure you familiarise yourself with the format and interview platform. Read the instructions to know how many questions you are required to answer and the time limit for each response.
3. Speak clearly and maintain good body language: Speak with confidence, maintain a good posture, and try to look directly into the camera when recording your answers. Avoid using slang or complex language.
4. Showcase your skills: Highlight your soft skills like communication, problem-solving and teamwork. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you have applied these in your previous roles.
5. Review before you submit: Most on demand video interview providers allow re-recording answers. Double-check the instructions, as you may be able to leverage this feature to ensure that you give the best response possible.

Having understood the above video interviewing tips, check out this short clip that reveals three common mistakes you must avoid in pre recorded interview for candidates.

That’s all for on-demand interviews. Let’s move on to another popular interview type: live video interviews.

Live Video Interview

What is a live video interview?

A live video interview or live video job interview is a traditional interview done virtually through a virtual interview platform. In this case, you and your interviewer connect in real time, and the interview proceeds as a regular conversation.

The following expert live video interview tips and tricks will help you understand this assessment better and answer questions for video interviews better than your competitors. 

5 Top Tips to Ace Live Video Interviews

1. Practice your answers: Practice video interview questions with friends/family or even a mirror and use the feedback you get to improve your responses and structure your answers. This will help boost your confidence.
2. Dress smart: Research the company culture to know their dress code to help understand what to wear for your live video job interview. This will help make a good first impression on your employers.
3. Keep eye contact and body language: When speaking, look directly into the camera rather than your screen to give the impression that you are making eye contact with your interviewer. Sit up straight and avoid fidgeting.
4. Highlight your skills: Demonstrate your suitability for the job by highlighting your skills and competencies that are relevant to the role in your responses. Use your research to discuss what interests you in the company to support your answers.
5. Ask questions: Show that you are interested in the job by asking your employer questions about the company or the role at the end of the live interview. You could ask about the company’s work culture and short-term or long-term goals.

For more video interviewing tips to ace live interviews, check out our short video below: 

These tips are sure to help you ace your live video job interview. Now, let’s proceed with another type of video interview: technical video interviews.

Technical Video Interview

What is a technical video interview?

Technical video interviews are designed to assess your technical skills and abilities for the role. They may involve coding challenges, problem-solving exercises, or other tasks relevant to the job requirements. To complete these tasks in a technical interview, it can take between an hour to half a day. 

It may sound a little tricky, but don’t fret; here are some helpful pre recorded video interview tips to help you pass your next interview.

Top 5 Tips to Ace Technical Video Interviews

1. Practice interview questions: Regularly practice interview questions with coding challenges, technical problems, and reviewing algorithms and data structures to practice video interviews of technical nature. 
2. Test your technology: Before the interview, make sure that your computer’s internet connection, camera, microphone, and any other necessary software or coding platforms are all operational.
3. Understand the problem: Make sure you thoroughly understand the problem before you proceed to code. You can try to explain your thought process as you work on the solution.
4. Test your code: After you finish writing your code, test it with sample inputs and edge cases. You can mentally work through your code or use test cases to verify its correctness.
5. Ask for feedback: If the platform allows you to interact with your interviewer, then do not hesitate to ask for guidance if you are stuck or uncertain about a solution. Employers often appreciate your willingness to collaborate and solve problems together.

Now that we know more about these interviews, let’s find out what these on demand video interview questions look like in the following section.

4. Video Interview Questions and Answers

What are the most common on demand video interview questions? 

Your employer may ask you a range of questions during your video interview, especially if it is a live interview or pre-recorded. These on demand interview questions are mostly asked to get to know you better or to evaluate your experience or competence and will likely also include questions related to your field. 

What are some example on demand interview questions?

1. Tell me about yourself and your professional background
2. What activities energize you the most at work?
3. What is your greatest strength?
4. What excites you about joining our organization?
5. Can you describe a time when you had to handle a dissatisfied customer?
6. What skill or attribute do you possess that makes you a valuable asset to our company?

Looking for even more potential practice video interview questions?

How you respond to these recorded interview questions is crucial to landing the job. Here are some great one way video interview questions and answers.

One Way Video Interview Questions and Answers

Question: What activities energize you the most at work?

Good Answer: 

I thrive on problem-solving tasks that require creativity, innovation, and collaboration. I enjoy finding unique solutions to complex challenges. These challenges help me to keep focussed on my work and I often use these opportunities to improve my skills and form good relationships with my colleagues.

Question: Can you describe a time when you had to handle a dissatisfied customer?

Good Answer:

Check out this under-one-minute video to discover how you can effectively use the STAR+R format to answer competency recorded interview questions: 

Question: What is your greatest strength?

Good Answer: 

I possess a strong ability to adapt or adjust to changing situations. When faced with a new circumstance that may seem challenging, I try to focus on the positive side of the situation. 

This was handy in my previous role, when I and my team handled an urgent campaign for a client within a short period of time. It was challenging, but I used this chance to help develop my team working and problem-solving skills.

So who uses video interviews including pre recorded video interviews in their hiring process? Read on to discover more!

5. Which Industries Use Video Interviews to Hire?

On demand video interviews are widely used across various industries, especially those where hiring processes benefit from scalable, efficient, and remote-friendly methods. Key industries that commonly use pre recorded video interviews include the following. 

Let’s look at some employers within the above industries that use video interviews as part of their assessment processes. 

Which Employers Use Video Interviews?

Several large companies across the globe have adopted the idea of using on demand interviews for recruitment. Here are some of the most notable employers:

Looking to practice for your upcoming employer interviews? 

Keep reading to discover the key reasons these employers are making the switch to pre recorded interviews for candidates.

Why Do Employers Use Video Interviews?

Here are the top reasons why many employers are now using online video assessments interview to hire you:

1. Cost and time efficiency: On demand video interviews save time and money for both the employer and the candidates. Candidates save money on traveling for in-person interviews.
2. Remote hiring: Online video assessment interviews make it easier to hire applicants from different locations or even foreign countries. This is especially helpful for companies seeking talent abroad or when the role involves remote work.
3. Larger candidate pool: Companies can examine candidates who might not have been able to attend an in-person interview by using video assessments. This expands the talent pool and increases the chances of finding the ideal candidate.
4. Faster recruitment process: Companies can conduct initial screenings more efficiently by using video interviews. As a result, hiring choices can be made more quickly, and top candidates can be hired much faster.
5. Flexible scheduling: Pre recorded interview for candidates offer more flexibility in scheduling, accommodating employers and candidates with different time zones or busy schedules.
6. Efficient candidate assessment: Interviewers can quickly assess and distribute applicant responses to other team members when using online video assessment interviews. As a result, applicants can be compared and evaluated effectively.

With the numerous advantages of video assessments, it is no wonder why a growing number of employers are using online video interview assessment software providers. 

But who are these providers?

Who Are the Top Video Interview Providers?

Here are some big online video assessment providers in the industry that many top employers around the world often use:

1. HireVue: HireVue online video interview tool offers real-time evaluation tools, interview guides, automated candidate routing, and shareable recordings.
2. Pymetrics: For on demand video interviewing, Pymetrics offers multiple scheduling, monitoring, and pre-recording for interviewers. For candidates, the platform offers re-recording for responses and the self-practice feature for upcoming interviews. 
3. SHL: The SHL video interview tool supports on-demand and live interviews. The platform also offers AI technology for analytics and a virtual portal for technical interviews that can assess developers in over 50 programming languages.
4. AON: AON prioritises analytics in its on-demand video interviewing service. The platform focuses on speech to text and uses natural language-processing artificial intelligence to scan words, code responses, and assign scores on specific competency areas.
5. Cappfinity: Cappfinity’s Snapshot tool or Cappfinity video interview tool allows candidates to record responses and submit multiple choice and written responses without a third-party app. The feature also supports scoring for recruits and detailed feedback reports.
6. Spark Hire: Spark Hire offers both live and on-demand video interviews. Along with analytics for one-way interviews, the on demand video interviewing software offers real-time collaboration for recruiting managers to assess candidates and share ideas.

So how do we prepare and pass these online video interviews? Check out the following sections to discover our top tips.

6. How to Pass a Video Interview

Check out our top 5 steps to prepare for your upcoming online video interview:

Top 5 Tips to Ace Your Video Interview

1. Research the employer: As you would in any other interview, thoroughly research the company you are applying for. Understand their value and the job requirements, and try to tailor your responses to align with these.
2. Practice interview questions before the interview: Practice video interviews and try giving succinct answers to typical interview questions online. Make sure you practice until you feel confident and your answers flow naturally for you.
3. Choose the right environment: Stay in a quiet and well-lit space for the interview with a clear background behind you. Ensure that there are no distractions or possible interruptions while you are in your recruitment video interview.
4. Check your connection: Make sure your camera, microphone, and internet connection are working properly. Do a test run ahead of the interview to be sure there are no technical issues with your device.
5. Stay positive: Show your enthusiasm for the opportunity and convey your interest in the position when applying by highlighting your career goals that align with the role as well as your relevant skills.

And with this, we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about online video interviews. 

But before you go on to ace your next one way video interview and land that dream job, here are some answers to popular questions other candidates have asked.

7. Video Interviews FAQs