By | Umesh
Whenever we hear the word ‘interview,’ two people come to our mind – an interviewer and an interviewee: the one who asks questions and the one who answers. But times change, people change, and processes change. A new type of interview emerged over the years, a unidirectional way of communication – a one-way video interview.
To the uninitiated, here’s how a one-way video interview works – as a candidate, you send a short video recording of yourself to aid the screening process. Instead of facing a human interviewer, you face a computer answering pre-set questions and submitting them to the respective company. Once the video is submitted, the recruiter can not only view the candidate’s answers but also share them easily with other members of the hiring team.
But like the regular two-way interviews, you need to do your part well to land that dream job. All that it requires is some preparation and following some best practices to leverage the truest potential of one-way video interviews. Here are some tips for you –
Come up with the right set of question
This is a two-step process. First, put yourselves in the shoes of a recruiter. Find out what questions they would ask to identify whether you are the right fit for the role. These are some common questions asked by the recruiters –
- Tell me about yourself
- What are your strengths?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Why do you want to work here?
- Tell us about your key academic achievements (In case you are a fresher)
Next, find out questions whose answers you think they will not ask, but answering them can improve your chances of getting hired. For example –
- What is your ideal work environment?
- What are you looking for in your next job?
- What matters to you in your daily work?
- What are your interests besides work?
- Tell us about a time when you faced a challenge and solved it
Research! Research Research!
Do a thorough research of the company to understand its mission, vision, and overall goals. Also, understand the job description. If possible, talk to existing employees in the company. All this information will help you come up with the exact answers that the hiring managers are looking for in your one-way interview recordings.
It’s all in the environment
Try and take the video interview at your home if possible. Otherwise, anywhere quiet with a good internet connection is also fine. Avoid noisy or busy areas. Facing your light source is always better than having it at your back (which creates shadows). You must also set up your computer so that the camera is close to eye level. Despite the employers only being able to see a small view of you, it is still important to dress professionally.
Use body language to your advantage
Body language is very important in a video interview. It shows your confidence and preparation level. Sit up straight, establish eye contact and smile and try to engage the recruiter. This will create a positive vibe instantly around your candidature. Practice your speech multiple times. During your practice, it is important to identify little details like where you stumble or sound unsure of yourself—correct these mistakes. When you answer the questions in the final video, you need to sound natural.
Final Words
“Be confident and show them your true self,” says Muse career coach Adrean Turner. This should be your mantra to leverage the potential of a one-way video interview. Follow the best practices highlighted in this post and land that dream job you always wanted.
