The Complete Guide to Video Interviewing (For Hiring Managers)

by PMWorld 360

These days, video interviewing is a common practice. A video interview is a step in the hiring process where a candidate answers questions about their background and experience either on live video with a recruiter or via a pre-recorded video. Live video interviews take place over Skype, Google Hangouts, or another platform that allows the interviewer to chat with a candidate face-to-face via webcam.  We’re sharing a quick Hiring manager’s video interviewing guide.

In a one-way or pre-recorded video interview, the candidate records a video response to interview questions on their own time for the recruiter or hiring manager to review later. There are pros and cons to both one-way video interviews and live video interviews, but overall; video interviewing is a great tool for recruiters seeking to get more familiar with a candidate.

What you need to know about video interviewing

The use of video interviews is on the rise, with companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Dropbox all asking candidates to perform a video interview at some point in the hiring process. A recent survey by OfficeTeam found that 63% of human resource managers use or have used video interviewing.

Why are video interviews becoming more prevalent?

Video interviews help recruiters shorten the time to hire, provide new insights about a potential candidate, and broaden their candidate base to include remote applicants. A survey of 506 companies reported that 47% of hiring managers use video interviewing to shorten the time it takes to make a hire; 22% of those polled said they would “use video interviewing to help them reach candidates from other geographic regions.”

There are some clear benefits to using this tool, as well as some drawbacks to consider before using it in your HR team.

How do video interviews work?

Video interviews work one of two ways: as a live video interview, where the candidate speaks to a recruiter in person via video link, and as a one-way or pre-recorded video interview.

Live video interviews aren’t so dissimilar from interviewing in person. The hiring manager and the candidate set up a time and connect via video link. The connection is usually made in a specific web browser or online meeting room, though some recruiters prefer to use a tool like Skype or Facetime. It’s common practice to record a live video interview so the recruiter or someone else from the hiring team can go back if needed and reassess a candidate.

One-way video interviews are slightly different. In this format, the recruiter uses a platform to send through written questions, or the interviewer asks the question in their own pre-recorded video. The platform then allows the candidate a certain amount of time to think about and record their answer. Depending on the company and the platform, candidates can re-record their answers before sending through a final video within the allotted time. Once the video is submitted, a recruiter can view the candidate’s interview answers at their leisure and share the submission with other members of the hiring team.

Hiring manager’s video interviewing guide – Source: Vervoe

Similar Content:

You may also like